40-41. “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”
The Jews had received full and complete testimony through the prophets, from the Lord Jesus Himself, and now from His disciples of His person and work and of their guilt in rejecting the Messiah. Paul, having declared to them the truth, solemnly warns of the serious consequences of their rejections.
May we allow this same spirit of godly fear and reverence in reading the Old Testament Scriptures. They are part of the Word of God and, as such, contain vital principles which, if we are to be happy, must be put to practical use in our lives.
42. “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.”
If God’s people (the Jews) would not listen, there are still those who will (the Gentiles). Here we find a most vital principle: God will never disappoint earnest seekers of the truth. Oh! that we may earnestly seek and buy the precious truth of God, that we might daily walk in its divine light.
43-44. “Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”
This is one of the manifest differences between keeping the law and continuing in the grace of God. The whole city desired to hear the Word of God.
The grace of God is a wonderful and deep subject. May we learn, in our measure, what His matchless grace has made us (sons of God) and where it has placed us (in boldness with confident access into the presence of God), that we might walk in the enjoyment of His divine love and favor.
45. “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.”
When Jesus saw the lame, blind, dumb, maimed multitude, He healed them (Matt. 15:3030And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: (Matthew 15:30)); the Jews withstood the very truth that would have healed.
This same spirit may overtake believers.
Do we envy a servant being used in blessing, criticizing his service rather than rejoicing?
Do we begrudge caring for the Lord’s servants, resulting in hindering the truth that brings healing and comfort?
Do we allow spiritual jealousy of the way in which others are being used, resulting in spiritual starvation for the masses of hungry souls around us?
May God give each to prayerfully and unsparingly consider our spirits in view of these things.
46. “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
Opposition did not discourage the Lord’s servants. If He has given us a work to do, what does it matter if others don’t encourage or understand our service? It is enough that He has bidden us serve Him.
47. “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”
Here we have the lovely, simple principle upon which each carries out his service for the Lord Jesus: “For so hath the Lord commanded us.” Further, it was not just their personal desire; rather, they had the Lord’s command for their service.
48. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
What a contrast! Gladness and glorifying the Word of God, rather than contradicting and blaspheming the truth! Let us judge our hearts unsparingly before Him!
49. “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”
Blessing and liberty freely and abundantly flow where there is submission to the Word of God.
50. “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”
When faced with God’s truth, which makes nothing of man, finding him lost, guilty and helpless (Eph. 2:1,51And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5); Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21)), cultural sophistication and political correctness quickly throw off their veneer of respectability, violently opposing the truth.
The elite of society—religious, benevolent, responsible people—are incited by the enemies of Christ to banish those who preached the “words of this life.”
51-52. “But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”
What a solemn condemnation of these who spurned and opposed the truth of God. The richest, highest levels of society were marked as condemned rejectors of the gospel by dust—the most insignificant thing in God’s creation.
However, man’s hatred and opposition of the gospel of the grace of God cannot touch either the joy of the disciples or the wonderful reality of the indwelling of the Spirit of God. May it be so with us that we be found praying, preaching and persevering, in spite of all the opposition which the enemy would use to discourage and turn us aside.
Ed.