Acts 13:42-52·~1 min

A Light for the Gentiles

As Paul and Barnabas leave the synagogue, the people urge them to speak again the next Sabbath, and many Jews and devout converts follow them and are urged to continue in God's grace. On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathers to hear the word of the Lord.

A⁴²s Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath. ⁴³After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

When the Jews see the crowds, they grow jealous and begin contradicting Paul. Paul and Barnabas answer that the word had to be spoken to them first, but since they reject it they are turning to the Gentiles in line with the Lord's command.

⁴⁵But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying. ⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

The Gentiles rejoice and glorify the word of the Lord, and many believe as the word spreads through the region. But local leaders are stirred up against Paul and Barnabas, who are driven out, shake the dust from their feet, go on to Iconium, and leave behind disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. ⁴⁹And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region. ⁵⁰The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Section summaryAfter the synagogue service, many Jews and devout converts follow Paul and Barnabas, and by the next Sabbath nearly the whole city gathers to hear the word of the Lord. Jewish jealousy leads to contradiction and persecution, but Paul and Barnabas say the word had to come to Israel first and now turns to the Gentiles, who rejoice and believe while the missionaries move on to Iconium.

Role in the chapterThis closing movement shows the divided response that will keep recurring through the journey. The same proclamation draws eager crowds, jealous resistance, Gentile joy, and another onward step in mission.