A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES

Passage: Acts 13:42-52

Key verse: 46b,47

NIV

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,(A) the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.(B)

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying(C) and heaped abuse(D) on him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.(E) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.(F) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you[a] a light for the Gentiles,(G)
    that you[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[c]”(H)

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;(I) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord(J) spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.(K) 51 So they shook the dust off their feet(L) as a warning to them and went to Iconium.(M) 52 And the disciples(N) were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.(O)

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  2. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  3. Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and (A)devout (B)converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them (C)to continue in (D)the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 (E)But (F)when the Jews[a] saw the crowds, they were filled with (G)jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, (H)reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God (I)be spoken first to you. (J)Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves (K)unworthy of eternal life, behold, we (L)are turning to the Gentiles. 47 (M)For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

(N)“‘I have made you (O)a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may (P)bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and (Q)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. 50 (R)But the Jews incited the devout (S)women of high standing and the leading men of the city, (T)stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and (U)drove them out of their district. 51 But they (V)shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled (W)with joy and (X)with the Holy Spirit.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 13:45 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 50
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God's blessing and jealous men (42-45)

Many Jews and Gentile converts to Judaism received the message of the gospel gladly and wanted to hear more. When the apostles spoke the next Sabbath, almost the whole city turned out to hear them. How thirsty they were for God! But the Jewish leaders were filled with jealousy and began to talk abusively against Paul and what he was saying. Paul was sorry that these jealous Jews did not consider themselves worthy of eternal life. They lost the opportunity. God's history must pass them by.

2. Now we turn to the Gentiles (46-52)

Paul was not daunted by the Jewish rejection; he saw a wider door. He turned to the Gentiles. Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus was fulfilled: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth' (Isa 49:6). The Gentiles were glad, and they honored the word of God. Jewish persecution became more severe, and Paul and Barnabas had to leave, but the word of God spread.

Prayer: Lord, let the light of Jesus shine through me to the ends of the earth. Help me not be discouraged by rejection, but to see your broader purpose.

One Word: A light for the Gentiles