Today’s passage: Acts 13:42-52
Helpful thoughts:
- The Jews at Antioch were motivated by envy. Their joy was not in pointing people to God, but in gathering a crowd of followers for themselves.
- Those who were persuaded to “continue in the grace of God” were Jews and proselytes who had truly been saved by faith in the coming Messiah, who now upon learning of the Messiah who had come continued in the grace of God. Had they rejected Jesus, they would have shown their faith was not in any savior at all…only in keeping the rules (Legalism).
- This is the underlying theme of the book of Hebrews.
- Paul quoted the Old Testament in order to rebuke these Jewish men.
- Read Isaiah 49:1-7 to get the context.
- The “preserved of Israel” were to take the gospel to the nations. Paul and Barnabas were doing just that. In quoting this passage, these others Jews who rejected the gospel were being told who they were as well (Not the preserved!).
- When Jews would leave Gentile cities in those days, they shook the dust off their feet to show their contempt for the heathen people. Paul and Barnabas were shaking the dust off their feet toward the unbelieving Jews.
Questions to consider:
- Who put their faith in Christ (“Believed”) on this occasion at Antioch? (Verse 48) Why should this give us confidence to share the gospel with others? In what way are we guaranteed success?
- What did Paul and Barnabas signify by shaking the dust off their feet? Who are God’s people? Who are the heathen? (Be careful, the answer is not Jews or Gentiles…Our blood does not save us!)
- In the midst of opposition and being chased out of town, what emotion did these disciples feel? (Verse 52) How can this encourage us today to obey the Lord in making disciples?