So
when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:42-46
Acts 13 [41.] ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish;
for I work a work in your days,
a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
Acts 13 [42.] So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
Acts 13 [46.] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,
‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles,
that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”
Acts 13 [48.] As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.
Meaning:
Paul’s sermon in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch ended with an offer of forgiveness and a warning against scoffing (Acts 13:38-41). These verses record the reactions over the following week: eager interest, then a huge crowd, then fierce opposition, and finally a turning point in the mission.
- “The Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath”
The Gentiles who attended the synagogue had heard something new: forgiveness and justification offered to “everyone who believes,” without first becoming Jews. They wanted to hear more. Many Jews and “devout proselytes,” Gentiles who had fully converted to Judaism, also followed Paul and Barnabas to learn more.
- “Urged them to continue in the grace of God”
The new believers were not left with a single sermon. Paul and Barnabas encouraged them to keep relying on God’s grace. Barnabas had done the same at Antioch in Syria (Acts 11:23), and on their return journey the missionaries would again urge the disciples “to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22). Beginning well matters; continuing matters too.
- “Almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God”
Within a week the news had spread through the city. A crowd of Gentiles filled and surrounded the synagogue, people who had never before shown interest in the God of Israel.
- “They were filled with jealousy”
Some of the Jewish leaders reacted with jealousy, the same response the high priest’s party had shown in Jerusalem (Acts 5:17). Perhaps they resented the crowds drawn by these visitors, or objected to Gentiles being welcomed without circumcision and the law. They “contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed,” speaking abusively against the message and, by implication, against Jesus. Paul later hoped that the Gentiles’ blessing would one day move his own people to a better kind of jealousy: “by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy” (Romans 11:11).
- “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first”
Paul and Barnabas answered “boldly,” with the courage the believers had prayed for (Acts 4:31). It was “necessary” because of God’s plan and promises. Jesus had sent the twelve first “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6), and Peter told the people of Jerusalem that God had sent his servant Jesus “to you first to bless you” (Acts 3:26). Paul’s principle was the gospel “for the Jew first, and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
- “Judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life”
No one had declared these opponents unworthy; by rejecting the message, they passed judgment on themselves. Jesus said, “He who doesn’t believe has been judged already” (John 3:18).
- “Behold, we turn to the Gentiles”
This was a turning point in Antioch, but not the end of Paul’s concern for Israel. In the next city he went straight to the synagogue again (Acts 14:1). The same pattern was repeated at Corinth (Acts 18:6) and Rome (Acts 28:28), yet Paul insisted, “God didn’t reject his people, which he foreknew” (Romans 11:2). Paul then quoted Isaiah to show that the turn to the Gentiles was the Lord’s command (Acts 13:47-48).
The Significance of Acts 13:42-46
- Hunger for God’s word
The Gentiles begged to hear more and returned a week later with the whole city. God still creates spiritual hunger, often among people no one expected to be interested.
- Responding to opposition
Paul and Barnabas neither gave up nor returned abuse. They spoke boldly and moved on to those who would listen. Rejection of the message is not the end of God’s work.
Cross-References:
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek." Paul’s order of preaching.
Acts 3:26: "God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you," The gospel came first to Israel.
Romans 11:11: "But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy." Paul’s hope for his people.
John 3:18: "He who doesn’t believe has been judged already," Rejecting the message is self-judgment.
Conclusion: After Paul’s sermon, Gentiles and many Jews and proselytes wanted to hear more, and a week later almost the whole city came. Jealous opponents contradicted and abused the message, and Paul and Barnabas boldly answered that God’s word had to come to Israel first, but since it was being rejected they would turn to the Gentiles. God’s offer of eternal life went out to all who would receive it.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible