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mission accomplished
Acts 13:44-52 (JDV)
Acts 13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.
Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas openly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and have decided that you yourselves are unworthy of a permanent life, notice – we are turning to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 You see, this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring rescue to the end of the land.”
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to a permanent life believed.
Acts 13:49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Acts 13:50 But the Jews incited the respectable God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They woke up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.
Acts 13:51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Sacred Breath.
mission accomplished
This is an important transition point in Luke’s narrative. The missionary work at Pisidian Antioch had begun among the Jews, and centered on the synagogue. But it appears that most of the Jews in that city rejected the gospel, and incited persecution against the missionaries. Therefore, Paul and his team when where the faith was. They were eventually expelled from the district, but left a newly formed congregation, consisting mostly of Gentiles.
Behind the scenes, God was at work. He had appointed some to a permanent life, and they believed the message. The others decided that they were unworthy of this grace gift, so they rejected the gospel. As for the missionaries, their expulsion from the district was not considered a failure. Their mission had been accomplished, so they traveled on, full of joy and the Sacred Breath.
