The Book of Acts Lesson 27

Acts 13:44-52

A. The Response to Paul’s Preaching (vv. 44–45)

Acts 13:44–45 “The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.”

1. The crowd gathers – Nearly the whole city comes to hear the word of the Lord (v. 44)

2. Jewish opposition – The Jews become jealous and begin to contradict and revile Paul (v. 45)

Gospel’s success with Gentiles and God-fearers

Greater zeal for the law

Acts 14:2 “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.”

Acts 17:5 “But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.”

B. Paul and Barnabas Turn to the Gentiles (vv. 46–47)

Acts 13:46–47 “And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ””

1. Bold response – Paul and Barnabas declare the necessity of preaching first to the Jews (v. 46a)

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,” Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 9:27–28 “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.”

Paul’s preaching

Acts 14:3 “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Speaking the truth with boldness

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,”

2. Rejection and turning point – Since the Jews reject it, Paul turns to the Gentiles (v. 46b)

It was necessary to proclaim the gospel truths

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Jews rejected it and rendered themselves unworthy of eternal life.

New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

3. Scriptural justification – Quotation from Isaiah 49:6 to affirm their mission to the Gentiles (v. 47)

Isaiah 49:6 “he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Exodus 19:5–6 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.””

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Isaiah 49:6 “he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

Mark 1:14–15 “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

Revelation 7:9–12 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””

C. The Gentiles Rejoice and Believe (v. 48)

Acts 13:48 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”

1. Gentile joy and glorification – They rejoice and glorify the word of the Lord

2. Salvation of the elect – As many as were appointed to eternal life believed

All who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Daniel 12:1 ““At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” Psalm 69:28 “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.”

D. The Spread and Opposition of the Gospel (vv. 49–50)

Acts 13:49–50 “And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.”

1. Spread of the word – The word of the Lord spreads throughout the region (v. 49)

(2:41, 47; 4:4, 31; 5:14; 6:7; 8:25; 9:31; 11:24; 12:24)

2. Jewish-instigated persecution – Leading women and prominent men are stirred up against Paul and Barnabas (v. 50a)

So there are three stages of opposition—the synagogue officials convincing these wealthy and powerful women who then in turn convince the city leaders that Paul and Barnabas are dangerous and must go

3. Expulsion from the region – Paul and Barnabas are driven out (v. 50b)

E. The Disciples’ Response (vv. 51–52)

Acts 13:51–52 “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

1. Symbolic rejection – Paul and Barnabas shake the dust off their feet against them (v. 51)

Luke 9:5 “And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.””

2. Joy and fullness – The disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (v. 52)

Antioch

Cyprus

Bar-Jesus

Sergius Paulus

John Mark

Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Repent and Turn to Christ

Conversion and Persecution

Boldness in Persecution