Rejected Here, Welcome There
[ READ ] Acts 13:42-52
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
My daughter loves playing with toys that other people are playing with. It doesn’t matter if she hasn’t touched the toy in three months. When she sees someone else enjoying her toy, all she wants to do is play with that toy.
I read this passage and feel the same way. The Jews loved Paul and Barnabas’s teachings. They even “urged them to continue in the grace of God.”
But notice when the Jews’ tone toward Paul, Barnabas, and Jesus’s message changes. It wasn’t until they saw the crowds. It wasn’t until everyone else followed the power of Jesus’s messages that the Religious Leaders felt threatened by the teachings.
This is just another example of the power of Jesus and the Gospel. What other story or testimony would fill someone (or a group of religious leaders) with such jealousy?
- Brandon Beylo
I read this passage and feel the same way. The Jews loved Paul and Barnabas’s teachings. They even “urged them to continue in the grace of God.”
But notice when the Jews’ tone toward Paul, Barnabas, and Jesus’s message changes. It wasn’t until they saw the crowds. It wasn’t until everyone else followed the power of Jesus’s messages that the Religious Leaders felt threatened by the teachings.
This is just another example of the power of Jesus and the Gospel. What other story or testimony would fill someone (or a group of religious leaders) with such jealousy?
- Brandon Beylo
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think the Jews enjoyed Paul’s message until they saw the crowds?
+ Where else in the Bible do we see jealousy and envy cause someone to sin?
+ Why do you think the Jews enjoyed Paul’s message until they saw the crowds?
+ Where else in the Bible do we see jealousy and envy cause someone to sin?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are there any areas of my life where I’m letting envy and jealousy hold me back?
+ What can I do today to give that control over to Jesus?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are there any areas of my life where I’m letting envy and jealousy hold me back?
+ What can I do today to give that control over to Jesus?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, help me shed the bondage of jealousy and envy. Help me lean into Your Will, regardless of how I feel about it or how it messes with my life.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, help me shed the bondage of jealousy and envy. Help me lean into Your Will, regardless of how I feel about it or how it messes with my life.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
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