Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Though not stated, the names “Paul and Barnabas” were added by most translators. The KJV sees the word “they” (autōn) as “the Jews.” The context better supports “Paul and Barnabas.”

2. As Paul and Barnabas were leaving when the “people” (KJV adds “Gentiles”) began “begging” (imperfect of parakaleō - call alongside or implore) them to teach more on these things the following Sabbath. The context suggests both Jews and Gentiles (cf. vs. 43).

3. Obviously, the ministry of the Holy Spirit caused great interest in what Paul had just preached.

B. They Were Encouraged to Continue in Grace (Ac 13:43)

1. When the meeting had officially “broken up” (luō - dissolved, dismissed), some from both groups, Jews and God-fearing proselytes, followed Paul and Barnabas for more instruction.

2. The parting words of Paul and Barnabas were for them to “continue in the grace of God.” Though this phrase could suggest that some were saved, we do not see evidence of this until vs. 48.

3. The meaning could have been for them to keep pursuing an understanding of God’s grace, which was unfolded in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Having come to the threshold of salvation, the people were encouraged to go forward rather than reject the Savior (cf. He 2:1-3 cf. Ac 13:46).

C. The City Assembled to Hear the Word of the Lord (Ac 13:44)

1. The interest in the “word of the Lord” grew in the city for the almost all the city showed up the following Sabbath.

2. App: Again, this demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the many through interest in the Word of God. There are numerous evidences of the work of the Spirit, but none so evident as that which revolves around the Scriptures. The Spirit having authored the Scriptures (2Pe 1:21), skillfully utilizes His Word as a “sword” (Ep 6:17) to convict of sin (Jn 16:8), point to Christ, and enlighten the eyes of unbelievers. Love for the word and its truth is an evidence of the Spirit’s work in believers (Ps 119:97, 127; Jn 16:13; Col 3:16) (cf. “Word” Ac 13:44, 46, 48, 49).

II. UNFAVORABLE RESPONSE OF THE JEWISH LEADERS (Ac 13:45-46a)

A. The Jews Became Jealous (45)

1. However, the response was not favorable by everyone. For the Jews and their leaders became “jealous” (zālos - in a good sense, zeal, in a bad sense, envious action) of the popularity of the Paul and Barnabas (cf. Ac 5:17; 17:5).

2. In order to turn the people away from Paul and Barnabas, the Jews began to “contradict” (antilegō - speak against or contradict) Paul’s teaching. Yet from Ac 13:16-41, Paul’s teaching was accurate, biblical, and from God. Therefore, their jealousy was causing them to resist and fight against God (Ac 5:39).

3. In addition, they no doubt resorted to personal attack against Paul, but essentially were “blaspheming” against God and His truth.

B. The Ministry was to the Jews First (46a)

1. The response by Paul and Barnabas was that of “boldness,” courage, and steadfastness to the truth.

2. They replied that they had fulfilled their initial commitment, which was to take the Word to the Jews first. Though Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (Ga 2:8-9; Ro 11:13), he was not prohibited from sharing the gospel with the Jews. On the contrary, he understood that sharing the gospel to the Jews was of first priority.

a) Christ’s ministry was to the Jewish people (Mt 10:5, 6; 15:24).

b) The message that Jesus was the Messiah was to the Jews first, being the fulfillment of the promise made to their fathers (Lk 24:47; Ac 13:26, 32).

c) The Savior was raised for salvation for the Jews first (Ac 3:26).

d) Though the gospel was for all, it was for the Jews first (Ro 1:16).

e) Therefore, it was Paul’s custom to go to the synagogues first with the message of salvation (Ac 13:5, 14; 14:1; 17:1, 10, 17; 18:4, 19, 26; 19:8).

III. PAUL’S MINISTRY TURNED TO THE GENTILES (Ac 13:46b-49)

A. Paul Fulfilled His Ministry to the Gentiles (46b)

1. These Jews “repudiated” (apotheō - to thrust away, strongly reject, cf. Ac 7:39) the message that Jesus was the Messiah.

2. In so doing, they removed all hope of eternal life through Christ and show that even as God’s chosen people, they were not “worthy” (axios - used with the weighing of scales, i.e. equivalent or comparable) of it. At the threshold of salvation by faith, they themselves refused enter.

3. Since the Jews turned away from the gospel, Paul would turn to his commanded commission to the Gentiles (Ac 9:15; Ro 1:5; Ga 1:16; 2:8-9; Ep 3:1).

4. After sharing the gospel with the Jews in Pisidian Antioch, Paul was “turning” (strephō - turn to or turnabout) or rather turning again to his ministry to the Gentiles (cf. Ac 13:12). In truth, Paul would make many similar returns throughout his ministry (Ac 13:47; 18:5-6; 22:17-21; 28:28-29).

B. Quotation from Is 49:6 (47)

1. In addition, there were biblical grounds for Paul turning to the Gentiles to which he quoted Is 49:6.

2. Is 49:3 referred to the Messiah as the Lord’s ultimate “Servant,” (Is 42:1; 49:3; 52:13; 53:11). Although the nation Israel is sometimes called the Lord’s “servant” (Is 41:8–9; 43:10; 44:21; 49:19), in Is 49:3, the Messiah is called “Israel” to show His relationship with God’s chosen people as their king. His mission would be to bring Israel back to the Lord (Is 49:5-6a cf. Mt 10:5-6; 15:24; Ro 11:25-27).

3. However, the Lord’s Servant would also be a light to the Gentiles (Is 49:6b cf. Is 9:2; 42:6; 60:1-3; cf. Lk 2:32) and bring them salvation through His atoning death (Is 53:5, 11).

4. Paul saw his apostolic ministry in light of this Messianic prophecy, as being a commissioned witness to declare the Savior’s salvation to the Gentiles.

C. The Gentiles Rejoiced in the hope of the Promises (48a)

1. Having previously heard that Gentiles were outside the commonwealth of Israel (Ep 2:12), when the Gentiles heard Paul’s statement regarding Is 49:6 and their inclusion into God’s plan of salvation, it was cause for great “rejoicing.”

2. In fact, they glorified the “word of the Lord” that once being outside of the “commonwealth of Israel” (Ep 2:12), they were now “fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ep 3:6)

D. The Gentiles Were Appointed to Eternal Life (48b)

1. Luke makes an unparalleled statement regarding the predestination of the Gentiles’ salvation. In fact, it is difficult to see how this statement could be taken any other way.

2. The grammatical position of the relative pronoun, “as many as” (hosoi - nominative), shows that the phrase “as many as had been appointment to eternal life” is the subject of the main verb “believed” (episteusan). In other words, the appointment to eternal life preceded belief, not vice versa, not even from eternity past.

3. The degree of quantity is clear. “As many as” (hosos - degree of quantity) had been appointed, suggests no more or no less, but a precise number of individuals.

4. The meaning of “appointed” (perfect passive participle of tassō - ordered arrangement, appoint, KJV “ordain”) can only imply God’s sovereign election to “eternal life,” for man cannot appoint himself. The perfect passive reveals that this appointment took place in the past (Ep 1:4), with present results acting upon a precise number of individuals.

5. The vast number of Scriptural references regarding election implies that the context speaks of God’s election (Jn 15:16, 19; 1Co 1:26-27; Col 3:12; 2Th 2:13; 2Ti 2:10; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:1; 2:9; Ro 8:30, 33; 2Jn 1:1, 13).

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516