Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.

The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming (Acts 13:43-45).

Notice how there was a change in attitude from one Sabbath preaching to the next. The Jews were favorable toward Paul while he was preaching to the Jews and the proselytes (i.e. Gentile converts to Judaism) in the synogogue; however, when Paul's preaching began to draw a large interest even from the non-proselyte Gentiles, the Jews became jealous and started to contradict and attack what he taught. Their interest in the truth was overshadowed by their ethnocentricistic attitude against the Gentiles. This ethnocentricism was not based on Scripture but on their own man-made traditions and biases. 

Friends, we must guard against this ourselves. We too can allow our personal feelings, biases and traditions to overshadow the priority of God's truth.

I remember sitting in a congregation, where a pastor I know gave a sound exposition of Scripture. I turned to my companion and commented that he had given a really good message. My companion commented, "How can you say that? After all that he's said and done against you behind your back, how can you compliment him?" I remember responding to my companion, "He gave a clear and sound message. Why shouldn't I compliment him? What he has done or said about me is nothing to me. God will judge him for those things. But it's right for us to recognize and praise God when His Word is preached well."

Friends, I am reminded of these words from Paul. He was languishing in a Roman prison, and some preachers of the Gospel were taking advantage of his situation. They were preachng the Gospel, but they were doing it with wrong motives and in a self-serving way. But listen to Paul's perspective:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18).

Paul's words are a sobering reminder to us of what is truly important. Christ is preached! When a pastor gives a sound exposition of Scripture, I will praise God. Now, if he distorts the Scriptures, he must be called out for this, but the realm of motives and selfish interest are the realm of God's sovereign insight and judgment, not ours. 

The Jews of Pisidian Antioch did not judge Paul's words on the soundness of his teaching but on the basis of their jealous ethnocentricism against the Gentiles. They were the complete opposite of the Berean Jews, who examined the Scriptures daily to test Paul's teaching with the truth of God's Word. Of them we are told,

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11).

Friends, let us be like the Berean Jews and not the Jews of Pisidian Antioch. Let us not allow our personal biases and man-made traditions to overshadow the priority of God's Word being rightly proclaimed and embraced by many.  

When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). 

The simplest and plainest way to read this verse is to understand a causative relationship between the divine appointment to eternal life and belief by the Gentiles. In other words, those that God first chose for salvation are the very ones that then believed. The perfect tense of the participle translated "appointed" indicates an activity that happened in the past with a present enduring effect. This is certainly not the only verse that teaches this. Consider what Paul wrote:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Ephesians 1:4-5; cf. Revelation 13:8; 17:8).

We also find this truth of God's foreordination to eternal life affirmed here:

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30).

And here:

What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:23-24).

It is because God had first predestined us for eternal life that we have come to believe in the Gospel. From the days of Adam to this day, no one, except Christ, who is called the "second Adam", has chosen God of their own free will. This is Paul's assessment,

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God (Romans 3:10-11). 

When Paul preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, many of them believed, even rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord; however, the biblical witness makes clear that not everyone believed so as to be saved, but only those that "had been appointed to eternal life". 

God's predestination does not negate the activity or necessity of our faith. To the contrary, it ensures the genuineness and effectiveness of our faith. For though the Gospel was preached in times past, people still did not believe. Faith does not come simply by the preaching of the Gospel, it comes by God's decree. 

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (i.e. decree) of God (Romans 10:16-17).

If it is by God's decree, then it is not by our free will. For our will, apart from the regenerating work of God's Spirit, can neither understand nor accept the things of God:

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

As Jesus also taught,

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again (i.e. born of the Spirit), he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Now, we can understand why there is absolutely no room for any kind of boasting (Ephesians 2:8-10). Not only has God accomplished salvation through the substitutionary death of Christ, He has also enabled the faith to understand and accept this as personal truth. What is more, all of this, He has not left to chance but ordained it even before He founded the world. 

Again, just as a disclaimer, this is not to say that He predestined everything. The Bible does not teach this. What it does teach is that God predestined everything with respect to our salvation. We can freely choose our jobs, our mate, and what color socks we want to wear each morning. But being spiritually dead (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3), we cannot freely choose the Lord. He must first choose us (cf. John 6:44, 65; Ephesians 1:4).

Friends, if you can understand and accept this, it is one of the most liberating and comforting truths of the Bible!

Acts 12 

²¹ On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. ²² And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³ Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

The death of agrippa (Herod Agrippa I) was thought to be a poisoning or a stroke.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia:

His sudden death at the games in Cæsarea, 44, must be considered as a stroke of Roman politics. His death, while in the full vigor of his years, was deeply lamented by his people, notwithstanding the fact that he had made many considerable concessions to heathen manners and customs. The Christians looked upon his death as a judgment for his undisguised hostility to their young community

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath (Acts 13:27).

Notice that the Bible says the the Jews did not recognize Jesus as their Messiah; therefore, they condemned him. Yet, Paul says, even as they were condemning Him, they were fulfilling what the prophets had already foretold would happen. In other words, they were actors in God's pre-written script, a script that they had but did not perceive they were acting out. 

It is unclear whether it was simply that they would not recognize Jesus or that they could not do so. The Bible says that the Gospel is veiled to those that are perishing:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Here Paul says that "the god of this age," perhaps a reference to Satan, has "blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light othe gospel." In other words, unbelievers cannot understand the Gospel unless these blinders are taken away.

Here's a remarkable Scripture, which appears to suggest that even the disciples did not understand or believe in the Gospel that Jesus Himself preached to them:

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about (Luke 18:31-34; cf. Mark 9:30-32; Matthew 17:22-23; Luke 9:44-45; Matthew 16:21-22).

Even after walking with Jesus for three years, it appears the Twelve did not understand the Gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection.

What does this suggest? It is not simply hearing the Gospel message that brings about understanding and conversion. I would suggest that even for these disciples, who were with Jesus, apart from the prior and supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, they would not and could not believe. 

But notice what we read after Jesus' resurrection:

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him... Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:31,45).

We are told that their eyes and minds were opened so that they could understand. It was not until after Jesus' resurrection that the disciples received the Holy Spirit. We are told that Jesus breathed on them so that they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). It may well be that on this occasion the disciples truly believed and were saved. Now, this is prior to the events in Acts 2, where they would be filled with the Holy Spirit such that they would be able to witness with supernatural empowerment, as Jesus had promised them in Acts 1:8 just prior to His ascension into heaven. 

But apart from the special empowerment of the Spirit in Acts 2 (also Acts 8, 10, and 19), there is an indwelling, baptizing and sealing work of the Holy Spirit that every believer experiences at conversion (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14). Every believer also experiences the rebirthing (John 3:3) and enlightening work (1 Corinthians 2:14-15) of the Holy Spirit. As extensive as this sounds, this is all a credit to God, who does this awesome and supernatural and necessary work by the Holy Spirit, to transfer a person from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from unbelief to belief. 

Apart from this work of God, we would be just like the Jews, who "did not recognize Jesus." We also would not have known Him, nor believed in Him. 

---------------------

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).

Why were Jews unable to obtain justification under the law of Moses? Could it be that God gave them a Code of Law that they could not keep? Yes! Or it might be more accurate to say that He gave them a Code of Law they would not keep. As Paul writes, "All have sinned and far short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). 

That's all good and fine, but I have a follow-up question for those of you that still cling to the inviolability of human free will. The Bible clearly says that people do not seek God, go the other way, and cannot even understand or accept the Gospel. Yet, free-will advocates argue, How could Jesus command people to believe when they could not believe? It is the same way that God commanded Israel to obey the Law, even when He knew they would not and could not obey it.

The Mosaic Law was a righteous standard, but rather than justifying anyone, it simply revealed the depth of human sinfulness and the necessity of God's grace. As Paul would write in Galatians, it drew people to Christ. But what some "believers" fail to realize is that the same supernatural work that was required for people to obey God's Law in Christ is also required for people to believe in Him. 

Even in our present reading, we have this truth expressed by Paul, as he turned to the Gentiles from the Jews, who rejected the Gospel:

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed (Acts 13:48).

This verse (especially in the original Greek) clearly puts the appointment to eternal life prior to faith. What does this mean? It means that those that came to saving faith had already been chosen by God beforehand. As other Scriptures attest, it was not that these Gentiles chose God, but rather He first chose them.

Yes, people need to believe. But believers need to realize that their faith did not arise out of their own free will but rather the sovereign election by God.

---------------

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him (Acts 13:44-45).

Isn't it amazing how petty jealousy can move people from faith to hostile unbelief? May I suggest that there was no faith to begin with here. People are always hostile and unbelieving to the Gospel of Christ until the Holy Spirit does a supernatural work in them.

-------------------

But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium (Acts 13:50-51).

I found this passage to be an interesting link back to what Jesus commanded the Twelve and the Seventy-two to do when a town did not receive them. He commanded them to shake the dust off their feet as warning of pending judgment upon the town:

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgmentthan for that town (Matthew 10:14-15).

I point out this connection because it appears that Paul both knew and practiced Jesus' instructions to those He originally sent out to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Those of you that have read my other sharings may remember that I showed that Paul also refers to these very instructions by Christ in 1 Corinthians 9:14, when addressing the matter of support for itinerant preachers. I made the connection that Paul's general rule was that if itinerant ministers choose to receive support, it should be limited to their basic needs. I also showed that there is very tenuous biblical justification, if any, for a pastoral salary (see my comments on the following readings: 10/26/2012 on Mark 6-7; 12/30/2011 on 1 Timothy 1-6; 12/20/2011 on 1 Thessalonians 1-5;11/29/2011 on Acts 18-20). 

Paul and Barnabas are preaching in Antioch (of Syria) to Jew and non Jew (Gentiles).

(Acts 13:42-48)

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

"‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth"

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed

The disciples have been going out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and now to the ends of the earth (as Christ instructed in Acts 1:8). For Jews association with Gentiles was frowned upon and in many cases forbidden by Jewish custom. Yet the disciples (and Apostles) preached boldly to Gentiles and many were converted.

Tonight I was thinking about the obedience of the apostles and how they were filled with the spirit. God had asked the Jewish believers to take the good news of Christ to all nations (to the ends of the earth) and while their entire life had been protected from Gentiles they now share the gospel boldly with them. God will often call us out of our comfort zone, to participate in his plan. We can be called to tell our family, our friends and co workers about Christ - or maybe take a mission trip half way around the world. Let us never be ashamed of the gospel, but proclaim boldly the good news of salvation to the gentiles and Jews alike.

Friends, as I mentioned to you before, the tension between the Jews and Gentiles extends throughout the Book of Acts. This tension existed even among believers. So we read more about this today:

Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them! (Acts 11:1-3 NKJV)

But when they heard Peter's testimony, especially the part about how God gave the Holy Spirit in the same way that He gave the Spirit to them, then they were willing to accept the Gentiles as co-heirs with them of eternal life through Jesus Christ:

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said,  John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as  He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life. (Acts 11:15-18 NKJV)

God had to give these unbelieving Jews a sign before they would embrace the Gentiles as Christian brothers. In fact, in another place, Paul argues that unlike Gentiles Jews always seek after signs (1 Corinthians 1:22). And what sign was given to them so that they would recognize that God had granted salvation to Gentiles? It was the sign of "tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:22-23). This was the sign that convinced the Jews, who were with Peter in Cornelius the Gentiles' house, that God had accepted the Gentiles as He had the Jews (Acts 10:44-46). By this, they also recognized that God also accepted the despised Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17). And by this means even those that only knew John's water baptism was accepted (Acts 19:1-6).

I mentioned this before but the inclusion of Gentiles with Jews as one body in Christ was a "mystery" in the Old Testament. It was only revealed in the New Testament through visions (e.g. Peter and his vision of unclean animals in Acts 10) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the sign of tongues. Paul writes extensively about this mystery:

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. (Ephesians 3:1-7 NKJV)

Notice that Paul says that the mystery was not know before but was "now" (that is, in the 1st century) revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets by divine revelation. And notice the content of that mystery: "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel."

This is a magnificent revelation, because by it both you and I are included with a remnant of Jews in the hope of eternal life. Praise God! Hallelujah!