Incited
August 16, 2025
“Incited”
Blessings folk!
Read the reaction of the various people to the Good News…
Act 13:44-52
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
But when the Jews saw the crowds,
they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
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.
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.’”
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.
And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
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.
But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
ESV
The whole city, almost, gathered to hear the Word of the Lord.
The Jews, specifically the Jewish leadership, were filled with jealousy (due to large crowd).
They began to contradict what Paul was saying.
They could not effectively contradict, so they attacked him personally.
Paul/Barnabas spoke boldly.
- It was necessary to bring the Word of God first to you…the Jews
- The Jews (leadership) thrusted the Word aside
- The Jews judged themselves unworthy of eternal life by rejecting the Good News
- We are turning to the Gentiles
- The Lord commanded them
- They were a light for the Gentiles
- They were to bring salvation to the ends of the earth…Jew and Gentile
The Gentiles heard this…
- They rejoiced
- They glorified the Word of the Lord
- They believed, as many as were appointed to eternal life (This is important. Simply know it as the truth of the Lord. Allow the Lord to put together the pieces of this truth in our minds as we learn more from the Word.)
The Jews then incited…
- Women of high standing
- Leading men of the city
- To stir up persecution against Paul/Barnabas
I have seen this happen.
High standing women.
Leading men.
Manipulated by religious leaders.
Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the district.
They simply shook off the dust from their feet and pressed on.
The disciples who remained?
The believers of Iconium?
They were filled with the Holy Spirit.
They were filled with joy!