October 31

Acts 13: 43-52

43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and 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 blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. 46 Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49 Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The pattern is now established for the work of Paul and Barnabas. They enter a community and start their work in the synagogue. If they are opposed in the synagogue they then move to the greater community. The gospel is shared with the Jews and converts first. The new news is that if it is rejected there, then it is shared with the whole community.

The early church is face with opposition on many fronts. The fact that there is opposition does not limit the proclamation of Jesus. In fact it moves the church to new communities and to people that were not part of the original thinking of the apostles.

The Gentiles are now being received into the church. Paul and Barnabas now see that they are called to be a light to the Gentiles. This pattern will continue with increasing opposition from the leaders of the synagogues. The Christian movement is not intentionally leaving the synagogue, it is being forced out.
The movement still sees itself connected to the story of Israel, but it also sees its call to reach out to the whole world.

Reflection questions:
1. Note the tension between the proclamation of the gospel and the personal jealousy of the leaders of the synagogue. What role does your personal feelings play in reading and interpreting the scriptures?
2. How does opposition affect your witness? Silence it? Move it in new directions?
3. The early church faced opposition, today we see apathy more often than opposition, how is the response to apathy different than the response to opposition?