But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. (43) Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. (44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. (45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (46) Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. (47) For so the Lord has commanded us: “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” (49) Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. (50) But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region. (51) But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. (52) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke as primarily a historical narrative which provides information on the first 3 decades of the existence and miraculous explosion of the early church. In our verses today the apostle Paul is front and center and as the apostle to the Gentiles the remainder of Acts is describing his activity. Paul and Barnabas are chosen by the Spirit to embark on their first missionary journey. When they reached Antioch of Pisidia they went to the synagogue there on the Sabbath – Jews and God fearing Gentiles were in attendance – and at the end of the ritual, the rulers of the synagogue asked them to speak. (Paul was a rabbi). Paul responded by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ from the prophets and the promises of the Old Testament. For the first time Paul is speaking the truth; he is preaching Jesus as Messiah and justification by faith in Christ. And he tells the Sabbath gathering that the Law of Moses could NOT justify them. The offer of the gospel had been made and our verses indicate that some had accepted it. The following week we are told that almost the entire city came together on the Sabbath – including large numbers of Gentiles – to hear the word. Once more Paul pronounces the word of condemnation for unbelief. The offer of salvation was refused by most of the Jews – although there were many Gentile disciples who did receive the truth – and Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the city by the envious and antagonistic Jews. Paul now announces that he is to be the apostle to the Gentiles although his manner was to continue of preaching first at the synagogue – first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Shaking the dust off their feet when they left Antioch of Pisidia was a graphic way the Jews historically illustrated their separation from unbelievers.

We don’t like controversy and conflict and taking a stand for Christ almost always encounters opposition. There is something inherently divisive about the Christian message; we see this in our text. Paul and Barnabas caused division where some believed and followed and others rejected their message and created strong opposition. In verse 49, Scripture is clear that appointment is based on God’s choice; our choice is to believe. The gospel is not why God elected us – God’s electing us is why we chose to believe the gospel. None seek after God of their own free will. We are born in corruption and can’t and won’t seek God. Salvation is always of the Lord.

God ordained that the means by which the elect are saved is the preaching of the gospel. In Romans 10:14 the apostle Paul writes “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” It is our duty as Christians to behave as we believe and to be bold and unafraid to live our faith.