Acts - Week 7 / Wednesday

Reading for today: Acts 13:42-52

First of all, my apologies for this being so late in the day. I started early this morning with a tight schedule, and plumb forgot about writing the blog.

There was a good response to Paul's message on that first Sabbath in Antioch of Pisidia, with many people deciding to follow Christ. By the next Sabbath, nearly the whole town is gathered to hear God's Word.

The sight of the crowd filled the Jews with jealousy, and they began to speak against what Paul said. The implication is that they were afraid of losing their influence over those Gentiles who had been looking to them for teaching. It may also imply that they had a zeal for a Judaism that had no room for blessing on Gentiles who did not first become Jews.

But Paul and Barnabas are not frightened by this attack. They boldly declare that they intentionally had come to the Jews first with this message,, but since the Jews were rejecting their message, Paul and Barnabas would now go to the Gentiles.

Needless to say, this delighted the Gentiles, and many of them chose to follow Christ. Consequently, the Word of God spread through the whole region.

But, as usual, opposition soon arose in the form of persecution against Paul and Barnabas. As a result, they were expelled from the region. But what interests me is their response to this opposition. You don't find them complaining, or moaning about being picked on, or whining, "Why me?"

It says they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that the two are connected?

How do you find yourself responding when you are faced with some opposition because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Honestly, I find myself saying, "Why me?" far too often. I'm going to work on that one.

Tomorrow: The fickleness of the crowd!