Acts 13:13-52: A Man without Corruption: Prophecy Fulfilled

Let’s take our Bibles together and turn to Acts 13. In today’s message, I want to introduce you to a “Man without fault.” I want to introduce you to “A Man without Corruption.” 

There’s a great scene in the 1995 BBC miniseries “Pride and Prejudice,” where the protagonist of the story, Elizabeth Bennett, questions whether Darcy, a potential suitor of hers, could possibly be a man without fault. He was called that by another person. She questioned it. And Darcy responds by saying, “[A man without fault.] That’s not possible for anyone.” True enough. 

But two-thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul preached a message in Pisidian Antioch that argued for a man without fault. A man greater than Moses. A man greater than David. A man who wasn’t just without fault, he was also without corruption. Look at verses 36 and 37. 

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 

His body decayed. It decomposed. Ashes to ashes; dust to dust.

37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

This “man,” according to Paul, like David, died. But this man, unlike David, didn’t stay dead. His body was raised and never experienced corruption. And if that’s true, wouldn’t you want to know about it? 

Look, today’s message is a simple message. It’s very simply about the good news of Jesus Christ. And the very simple question that I want to ask you this morning is this—do you know this man without corruption? If I could ask it simpler, I would ask it this way—are you saved? Have you experienced the forgiveness that this “man without corruption” has offered you? 

Forgive me for being direct, but life is short. We’re not promised another day. And I don’t want to mince words or beat around the bush. I just want to ask a simple pointed question—are you saved? When you die in this world, are you going to leave this earth and enter into an eternity with the Lord, an eternity of bliss and celebration and sinlessness and perfection and indescribable joy? Is that your destiny? Or are you going to be eternally separated from God in perpetual, interminable, everlasting torment?

In our text today we’re going to hear a two-thousand year old sermon preached. And even though this sermon was preached two-thousand years ago, its impact on the world has been incalculable. Others have preached this same message again and again for twenty centuries. And countless people have come to faith in Jesus Christ and received the free gift of salvation. Are you one of them? Have you believed this message?

Today we are going to hear from one of the greatest preachers ever in the history of our world, a man named Paul. And as Paul preaches, I want you to consider how this message has a bearing on your life. Paul preaches the gospel message in a way that is clear and compelling and passionate. And there’s an urgency in his message. If I can come anywhere close to Paul with my own sermon in clarity and passion and urgency, I’ll be happy. 

And as we hear Paul’s sermon, I want to address the following two questions from the text: (1) What are the central components of the gospel preached? In other words, what are the essential pieces to the gospel message that Paul delivers? I’ll give four answers to that question. And secondly, here’s what we’ll explore after Paul’s sermon is preached: (2) What are the typical responses to the gospel preached? I’ll give three answers to that second question.        

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now look with me at Acts 13:13, and let’s set the context for this great gospel sermon that Paul’s about to preach. 

13 Now Paul and his companions [John Mark and Barnabas] set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 

Now, just by way of review. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark were sent out by the church in Antioch at the beginning of Acts 13. They were unleashed by the Holy Spirit to travel about the ancient world and preach the gospel (see the map below). 

[Map]

They started this missionary venture on the island of Cyprus where people got saved, churches were planted, and a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus got a Holy Spirit smack-down from the Apostle Paul. And after the proconsul of the island (the most powerful government figure in Cyprus) got saved, Paul and Barnabas moved on in their missionary journey. And verse 13 tells us that they came to Perga in Pamphylia. Let me show you this progression on the map below. 

[Map]

They left the island and set sail for Perga in Pamphylia, which was north and a little west of Cyprus. This is modern-day Turkey, and it’s in the same region where Jesus addressed his seven letters to seven churches in seven cities in the book of Revelation.

And from Pamphylia they travelled north by foot to Pisidian Antioch (not Syrian Antioch where they started). There’s a Paris in France, but there’s also a Paris, Texas. Don’t get those two confused. There’s a Decatur in Illinois, and there’s also a Decatur in Texas. Those aren’t the same places. So just to summarize—Paul and Barnabas went from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia, and then to Pisidian Antioch. 

And by the way, just a few things about this trip: (1) they sailed about two hundred miles by boat. That’s no easy task in the Mediterranean. Shipwrecks were common. 

(2) They hiked uphill about a hundred miles from Perga to Pisidia. Pisidian Antioch was something like 3,600 feet above sea level. This was a treacherous journey through steep passes and flood-prone rivers. I’ve switched that second map to “terrain mode” so that you can see that this was a perilous, mountainous journey.

(3) Also, the Taurus Mountains which they travelled through were full of thieves. Again, this is no easy task. Paul says later in his letter to the Corinthians, “[I have been] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea” (2 Cor. 11:26). Probably one or more of those dangers took place on this trek to Pisidian Antioch. 

4) One of the three travelers deserted them, John Mark. And he returned all the way to Jerusalem. He quite literally went running home to his mama in Jerusalem. We don’t know precisely why he abandoned Paul and Barnabas. But we do know that Paul wasn’t happy about it. John Mark probably just got fed up dealing with magicians and opposers and dangers at sea and dangers by land. So he quits and goes back home to Jerusalem; Paul and Barnabas soldier on. 

I think it’s important for you to know that this is a hard journey. This wasn’t a posh vacation with hotel rooms and amenities. This wasn’t a glamorized, romanticized missionary endeavor. This was hard, labor-intensive, dangerous missionary work for Jesus. And Paul and Barnabas were compelled; they were driven to press on so that they might continue preaching the gospel to those who haven’t heard.

And so finally, after an exhausting trek through the mountains, they reach Pisidia (look at verse 14) and go into a synagogue and sit down. Watch what happens next in verse 15!

15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”   

What? Seriously? They give Paul and Barnabas carte blanche to preach whatever they want to preach. What do you think Paul’s going to preach about? 

What do you think Paul’s going to do with this opportunity? “Well, thanks but no thanks. I’m just here to observe. Carry on.” Do you think Paul’s going to say that? “I’m sorry I left my notes back at the hotel, I’m not prepared.” Do you think Paul says that? I don’t think so. What does he do? 

Look at verse 16.

16 So Paul stood up

 Sometimes in some Jewish settings you would sit to preach. Not Paul. Not here. Paul’s got something to say and he stands up to deliver it. 

“Do I have a word of encouragement? You bet I do. I’ve got a message that’s going to change your life forever. I’ve got a message that is the most important message you will ever hear in your entire life.” By the way let me just say this. Just step out of the story with me for a moment. When you get a chance to share Christ with someone, you take that opportunity. Take it. Those are precious. Don’t back out. Don’t wimp out. Don’t say “evangelism’s not really my gift.” Don’t say, “Well you know I’d rather live out the gospel than share it with someone.” Don’t miss an opportunity to share the most important message in the world. You do like Paul, here.

16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand 

What do you think that looked like? Paul motioning with his hand? I don’t know, but I bet it was emphatic. And then Paul delivers his message. 

Now here’s what I want to do. I want to read to you Paul’s sermon in verses 16–41. And I want you to imagine yourselves as this audience in Pisidian Antioch. Okay? Let’s just kind of transport ourselves back in time two-thousand years ago to this synagogue. You be the audience. I’ll be Paul. I’ll motion with my hands. And let’s live in the reality of this text. Can we do that? 

Here’s what he says, 

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan [Deut 7:1 – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites], he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior,  Jesus, as he promised. 

24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 

30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way [Isa 55:3], “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm [Ps 16:10], “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 

38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about [Hab 1:4]: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

Go ahead and take your notes and write this down. Here are the four central components of the gospel that Paul preached.

1) Jesus Christ promised in the Old Testament (13:13–23)

Jesus Christ is the promised deliverer of the OT. Jesus Christ is the culmination of human history. He’s the one, the Messiah that the Jews had been anticipating for centuries. 

I don’t have time to go through all the details of Paul’s sermon, but let me just summarize what Paul says here: (1) God chose the Israelite forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (2) God made the nation great in Egypt while they were in captivity. (3) God freed them from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. (4) God put up with them in the wilderness. (5) After entering into the Promised Land, God appointed judges for them until the time of Samuel the prophet. 

By the way who’s doing all these things? Who’s the actor in this great recounting of Israelite history? It’s God. The spotlight is on him from start to finish. I think that’s theologically significant. 

(6) God gave the Israelites a king, Saul, who stunk it up as a leader for forty years. (7) After Saul, God appoints a man after his own heart, David, to be king. 

By the way, what does it mean to be a “man after God’s own heart” or “a woman after God’s own heart”? Does it mean that we are perfect? Was David perfect? Hear me on this: David was guilty of cowardice (1 Sam 21:10-22:1). David was guilty of adultery (2 Sam 11:1–4). David was even guilty of murder (2 Sam. 12:9). A man after God’s heart is not a perfect man; it’s a man who sees his sin and repents of it. “David may justly be termed a man after God’s heart because (unlike Saul) his greatest desire came to be the doing of God’s will.” 

Finally Paul says in verse 23, after recounting all this Israelite history, 

23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 

That is a “boom goes the dynamite” statement right there. The Savior has come. The true and better David from the line of David has appeared, just as God promised.  

By the way, Mary was of the line of David. We see that in Luke 3. Joseph, Jesus’s adoptive father, was of the line of David. We see that in Matthew 1. Jesus is the true and better David. He is the promised son of David, who would save his people from their sin. 

Jesus is the Messiah that the Israelites waited centuries for. How important do you think this statement would have been to a synagogue full of Jews in Pisidian Antioch who had been waiting, along with their forefathers, for centuries for Messiah to come? “He’s here” says Paul. “He’s here. The Messiah is here.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write this down #2. What are the central components of the gospel preached? Jesus Christ promised in the OT.  But also…

2. Jesus Christ executed by sinful men (13:24–29)

After Paul’s “boom goes the dynamite” statement in verse 23, he says in verse 24, 

24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 

This crowd in Antioch might have been familiar with John the Baptist already. John the Baptist was famous, and word traveled far in the Jewish community. But Paul wants to make crystal clear that John the Baptist was the forerunner to the Messiah, not the Messiah. “I am not he,” says John. 

And here’s where Paul makes an appeal as a Jewish man speaking to a Jewish audience.

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 

“It came to us first,” says Paul. “We are privileged with this as God’s people.”

27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning [Jesus]. 

I was translating this verse from Greek to English this week, and it took me like ten minutes. This is a complex sentence grammatically. But it’s not a complex idea. The people who should have received Jesus rejected him. The readers of Scripture rejected the Messiah of Scripture. 

And look at verses 28–29.

28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 

They killed him. They killed an innocent man. They collaborated with the Gentile leaders to execute the Messiah on trumped up charges. Pilate wanted to wash his hands of the whole matter. Nevertheless they murdered him. And they used the most despicable, monstrous, form of execution known to man at that time. They crucified him. 

If you had a family member who was crucified in this era, you wouldn’t even mention that person’s name. Crucifixion was universally viewed with horror in the ancient world. And among Jews the horror of the cross was even greater because of Deuteronomy 21:23: “Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God’s curse.” It’s interesting that Paul uses the word “tree” here instead of the cross. I think he knows his Jewish audience would pick up on that. The Bible says this in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” Christ did that for us. God the Son did that for you! Can you believe that? Do you believe that?

Now I don’t know how Paul preached this sermon. But I bet Paul’s eyes welled up with tears as he told this room full of Jews about what Christ had done for him. Paul, this hateful, vengeful, murderous, sinner… Christ died for him. And here’s the thing—there is no sin that Christ can’t atone for. And there is no sinner too far gone that Christ cannot save. Do you know that? If Paul, this murderous, hell-bent, church-destroying sinner can be saved by the blood of Jesus, then you can be too.  

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So what’s next? What’s next in this gospel presentation? Do you know? Is Jesus’s body rotting in some tomb somewhere in Jerusalem right now? Could we go collect his bones and put them in a mausoleum if we wanted to? Can we enshrine Jesus’s body as a holy relic? No! Why not? He’s alive. 

Look at verse 30. This is a great, glorious statement after the description of Jesus’s execution.

30 But God raised him from the dead

Write this down as #3. What’s the third component of the gospel preached? 

3. Jesus Christ raised from the dead (13:30–37)

If Jesus Christ wasn’t raised from the dead, your faith is meaningless! Do you get that? If Jesus Christ wasn’t raised from the dead, we’re wasting our time here. I’m wasting my time. I’m wasting my life preaching this.

“Why do you say that, Pastor Tony? You got a verse for that, Pastor Tony?” I do. 1 Corinthians 15:17 - “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 

But I’m not wasting my time. Because I believe what Paul preached so many years ago. 

30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 

Think Peter and John and Matthew and Thomas, his apostles. Think Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdelene. Think James the brother of Jesus who is now leading the church in Jerusalem. They are his witnesses. They saw the risen Christ. So did Paul on the road to Damascus.   

Look at verse 32.

32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 

That’s Isaiah 55:3. The book of Psalms is quoted more times in the NT than any other OT book, except for the book of Isaiah. Paul references both here in his preaching.

Look at verse 35. Here’s another psalm in Paul’s sermon. 

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 

That’s Psalm 16:10. That psalm can’t be about David!

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 

Now let’s be clear about this, David’s soul survives. David’s soul is in the presence of the Lord just like all the other OT and NT believers who died. Theologically this is what Christians call the intermediate state. Paul knew this as well as anyone because he wrote about it. He said, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). So David’s soul is in the presence of the Lord. But it is also absent from the body, awaiting a future resurrection with a new resurrection body. So David’s body, just like your great grandmother’s, is in the grave experiencing corruption. It is decaying and decomposing back into the earth.  

And that’s true of all dead saints. That’s true of all men and women, believers and unbelievers alike. Their bodies are decaying. The exception to that is the “Man” without corruption. Jesus’s body didn’t experience corruption. There wasn’t enough time for decomposition. Because God the Father raised him up on the third day. 

And that’s really important to us, because according to Paul’s writing elsewhere, Jesus’s resurrection is the firstfruits of our own resurrection (1 Cor 15:20–23). We get resurrection bodies just like Jesus’s at his return! 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Which leaves us with a fourth answer to that question: “What are the central components of the gospel preached?” Here it is.

4. Jesus Christ provided the only means of forgiveness (13:38–41)

Paul has preached the objective truth of Christ’s death and resurrection. But now he brings this home with a gospel challenge. Now he calls his audience to do something. Look at verse 38.

38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Wow, that sounds like the book of Romans. It’s almost like the same guy here wrote the book of Romans. And what is he saying here. He’s saying, “Legalism won’t save you. Good works won’t save you. Religiosity won’t save you. False religions won’t save you. Doing nothing and just waiting for eternity won’t save you. The only way that you are going to find freedom and forgiveness of your sins is through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the gospel. 

Now in just a moment, we’re going to see the radically different ways in which Paul’s listeners respond to this gospel presentation. As you might expect, some receive it; some reject it. But I would be remiss if I didn’t say like Paul says in verse 40, “Beware.” 

40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 

This is a quote from the prophet Habakkuk, by the way. Habakkuk 1:5.

41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

Beware. Don’t scoff at these truths. Don’t miss an opportunity today. Maybe God brought you here today to hear this message and this is your chance to finally believe and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. Don’t miss that opportunity. Don’t live another day in this world unsure about your eternity. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Let me just turn down the preaching knob and turn up the pastoral knob for a moment. I have a tendency to throttle up the boldness so high that I miss opportunities to speak tenderly from my heart. I care about every person in this room. And I don’t want any person here to be unprepared for eternity. And I believe Jesus Christ is the only means of forgiveness in this world. And if you haven’t accepted that free gift… if you haven’t embraced Christ as your Savior, do that today. Do that right now. Admit your sinfulness before a holy God. Believe in his death and resurrection. And confess him as your Lord. 

For those of you in this room, who know Christ as Lord and Savior, I want to encourage you to throttle up the boldness a little bit. Don’t miss opportunities to speak about your faith when someone’s listening. Don’t waste chances to share the gospel. Speak about him at work, at home, at the gym, at your kid’s t-ball game, etc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, finally. What happens when you share? What happens when the gospel is communicated? What’s the aftermath of Paul’s sermon here in Acts 13? Write these down:

Typical Responses to the Gospel Preached

1) Truth polarizes (13:42–49)

2) Persecution mobilizes (13:50–51)

3) Joy maximizes (13:52)

Look at verse 42.    

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 

When was the last time you left church and begged the pastor to preach again next week? Paul got through to them, didn’t he? They had just had their world turned upside down by Paul’s message.

43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas

That word “followed” intimates the start of the discipleship process. So these guys, Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, got saved. And now they can’t wait to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. “Let’s do this! Let’s get it on! I’ve been waiting my whole life for this!” 

And what were Paul and Barnabas doing at this time?

43 …. Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 

What were they doing? They were discipling the people. They were making disciples. They were “urging them” to continue to persevere in the grace of God. 

And look at verse 44.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 

“Almost the whole city!” Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel. People get saved. News spreads and almost the whole city gathers. This is fantastic, right? This is the greatest job in the world. We just preach and people get saved. And nothing bad ever happens if you preach the gospel. Isn’t that right? It’s as if Satan just goes on vacation. He doesn’t even care if people get saved. Is that right? 

Do you remember this paradigm from last week? God calls. God sends. We serve him. Opposition comes. Believers boldly and courageously persevere. And then there’s fruit. Last week I said that faithful, fruitful Christian ministry requires fortitude in the face of opposition. Well, here comes the opposition. 

Look at verse 45.

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 

So at first, they started to argue with Paul. They tried to contradict him. But when that didn’t work, they just started reviling him. “O yeah, well, you’re an idiot.” It’s as if they couldn’t defeat his argument, and so they just degenerated into ad-hominem attacks. “O yeah, well, you’re a jerk, Paul. You’re a liar.” They revile him. 

Isn’t it amazing how the same truths that energize people and bring joy to new believers, makes others into angry dissenters and naysayers? I marvel at that. Here’s the thing—truth polarizes. It polarizes. Just get used to that. If you think there’s a way that you can frame the gospel and soften its blunt edges or ease a belligerent person into faith in Jesus Christ, you’ve got to give that up. 

The truth is that Jesus Christ polarizes. Just get used to it. 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” If you’re not willing to be the fragrance of death to some, you won’t be a fragrance of life to others. You’ve got to be willing to do that. You’ve got to be willing to polarize your audience. 

So what do Paul and Barnabas do when they face a little opposition? We’ve seen this before. Look at verse 46. They press on with boldness.

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.’ ” 

“Go be my witnesses” Jesus said. “Go be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That started with the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul’s modus operandi was to start with Jews and then move to Gentiles whenever he entered into mixed company. That’s what he does here. And he again quotes the book of Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied that the Jews would be a light to the Gentiles and would bring salvation to the ends of the earth. And sure enough, that’s happening. 

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.

There it is again. Some people reject; some people rejoice. Truth polarizes. Some people oppose; some people rejoice. And the word of God keeps getting preached.  

So back to my second question—what happens when the gospel is preached? What happens? 1) Truth polarizes. And secondly…

2) Persecution mobilizes (13:50-51)

Look at verse 50,

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. 

“Here’s your dust back, Antioch.” Paul and Barnabas are disappointed in the reaction of these disbelievers, but they are not surprised. 1 Peter 4:12–14 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” Are persecution and joy mutually exclusive? Not according to Peter. Not according to Luke and the book of Acts.

Because finally,

3) Joy maximizes (13:52)

Look at verse 52.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ll close with this. Why would Paul and Barnabas go through this? What made this persecution worthwhile? It was the gospel. It was the truth about Jesus Christ. Paul said in the book of Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the [Gentile]” (Rom 1:16). Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He was not ashamed. And neither are we.