Receiver or Rejecter

Introduction

We find Paul and Barnabas preaching the Word of God in Antioch to Jews and Gentile proselytes.

In the early stages of their time there it seems that both groups are receptive to the Word of God but the next time the Word of God is preached we see that one group will ultimately reject the Word of God and one group chooses to receive it.

Paul and Barnabas spent a full week encouraging those who had begun to receive the Word of God to continue in the grace of God not returning to the legalistic teachings of Jewish tradition.

This passage will reveal to us the dangers of rejecting the Word of God and the joys of receiving it.

Their Demeanor

The Jews initially rejected the Word of God, not because they did not agree with it, but because their pride and their prejudice provoked envy in their hearts and they began to speak out in opposition to Paul’s (God’s) message.

There are any number of reasons that individuals reject the Word of God but most of them can be traced back to pride or prejudice.

They were not content to simply reject the Word of God but they sought to turn others away as well by contradicting and blaspheming the message as Paul preached.

The Jews’ rejection of the Word of God caused Paul and Barnabas to turn away from them to go to a people who were more receptive to the Word of God.

We can see the hostility and rage of those who rejected the Word of God. They were filled with anger and bitterness.

If you and I persist in rejecting the Word of God we may find ourselves in the same position, cut off from the voice of God.

Those who reject the Word of God are often quite intolerant of those who hold a different viewpoint.

Paul also pronounced God’s judgment on these unbelieving Jews. Their rejection of the Word of God had sealed their fate and removed them from any hope of eternal life.

We see quite the opposite in those who received the Word of God. They are rejoicing and praising God. They are filled with joy and not one of them is angrily approaching the unbelieving Jews to try to force them to believe.

When the Word of God is preached we will either decide to receive it or reject it. Those who receive it will have joy and peace knowing they are right with God and in fellowship with Him. Those who reject it will often find themselves angry, envious, bitter and intolerant.

Their Destination

When Paul recognized that the Jews had rejected the Word of God he pronounced judgement upon them.

Those who reject the Word of God have sealed their fate. In rejecting the Word of God the unbelieving Jews had judged themselves unworthy of God’s offer of eternal life.

There are many today who have done the same. You will not find eternal life apart from the Word of God.

This is also true of the believer who would reject the Word of God, they have judged themselves and will be held accountable for their choice.

Those who received the Word of God found themselves in possession of eternal life. The reception of the gospel is what gains for us eternal life.

It is also the reception of the Word of God that will help us to remain in right relationship with the Lord and will help us to live as God would have us to.

Their Desire

The desire of those who rejected the Word of God was to remove Paul and Barnabas from Antioch so that they did not have to hear their preaching any longer.

They stirred up other religious zealots and engaged in persecution of Paul and Barnabas all in an attempt to stop the Word of God.

They were not content to just get away from the Word of God they wanted to remove every reference to God’s Word from their society.

This is still true today. The desire of those who reject God’s Word is still to remove any reference to it from the public knowledge.

Those who received the Word of God were just as intent to publish the Word of God and make it known.

Those who received the Word of God published it throughout the entire region.

The problem today is that the rejecters are greatly outworking the receivers. Those who reject the Word of God are working harder than ever to remove any reference to the Bible and to the God of the Bible from our society.

The problem is that those of us who have received the Word of God often sit by silently and seem to have no desire to publish it abroad.

Ultimately when Paul and Barnabas recognized that the Jews intent on rejecting the Word they did exactly as they were commanded to do and shook of the dust of their feet against them as a sign of God’s judgment for their rejection of the Word.

Though they were forcible expelled from the region those who had received the Word of God flourished being filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.