Acts 13:45

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. BUT WHEN THE JEWS - meaning the zealots for exclusive Judaism, saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, [ zeelou (G2205)] - rather, 'with indignation,' AND SPAKE AGAINST THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY PAUL, CONTRADICTING AND BLASPHEMING. There is nothing more awful even to this day, than Jewish fury and execration of the name of Jesus of Nazareth, when thoroughly roused....

45._They were filled. _It is no new matter for the rage of the wicked to be inflamed when the light of the gospel is set somewhat nearer; especially when they see the increase of sound doctrine, they break out with greater violence to resist. And it is to be doubted whether Luke do mean, by the word _zeal, _that they were moved with a certain wicked indignation, to set themselves against Paul and Barnabas, as ambition is the mother as well of envy as of all contention; or he take _zeal _for_indignation _conceived thereupon, because they did lament that the Gentiles were made equal with the people of God. For they counted this a very unmeet thing, that the holy treasure of doctrine, which was the proper inheritance of the children, should he, as it were, at all men’s feet. _Gainsaying and blaspheming. _They were so sore set upon resisting, that they brake out at length into blasphemy. And...

42-52 The Jews opposed the doctrine the apostles preached; and when they could find no objection, they blasphemed Christ and his gospel. Commonly those who begin with contradicting, end with blaspheming. But when adversaries of Christ's cause are daring, its advocates should be the bolder. And while many judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the glad tidings of salvation. This is according to what was foretold in the Old Testament. What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises! Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual, Romans 8:30. As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, in whom Go...

Verse 45. _THE JEWS - WERE FILLED WITH ENVY_] Acts 5:17. These could not bear the Gentiles, who believed in Christ, to be _equal_ with them; and yet; according to the Gospel, it was really the case. _CONTRADICTING_] The arguments and statements brought forward by the disciples; _and blaspheming_, speaking impiously and injuriously of Jesus Christ. This is probably what is meant....

THEY WERE FILLED WITH ENVY - Greek: “zeal.” The word here denotes “wrath in dignation,” that such multitudes should be disposed to hear a message which they rejected, and which threatened to overthrow their religion. SPAKE AGAINST - Opposed the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah; that the Messiah would be humble, lowly, despised, and put to death. CONTRADICTING - Contradicting the apostles. This was evidently done in their presence, Acts 13:46, and would cause great tumult and disorder. AND BLASPHEMING - See the notes on Matthew 9:3. The sense evidently is, that they reproached and vilified Jesus of Nazareth; they spake of him with contempt and scorn. To

EXPOSITION ACTS 13:1 _At Antioch., in the Church that was there _for _in the Church that was at Antioch, _A.V.; _prophets, _etc., for _certain prophets, _etc., A.V. and T.R.; _Barnabas, _etc., for _as Barnabas, _etc., A.V.; _Symeon _for _Simeon, _A.V.; _the foster-brother of _for _which had_ _been brought up with, _A.V. AT ANTIOCH, IN THE CHURCH, etc. Κατὰ τὴν οὖσαν ἐκκλησίαν rather means "the existing Church," just as at αἱ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι_ _means "the existing powers," "the powers that be," in Romans 13:1, A.V. and T.R. _The then Church _seems mere the meaning than _the Church there. _Luke writes from the standpoint of

BUT WHEN THE JEWS SAW THE MULTITUDES,.... The vast number of people, the inhabitants of the city, the Gentiles, that were assembled together to hear the word. This must be understood of the unbelieving Jews, who came with no good design: THEY WERE FILLED WITH ENVY; at the Gentiles, that they should have the word equally preached to them, as to themselves, to whom the oracles of God were committed; or at the popularity of the apostles, that such numbers should follow them; and they might fear many converts might be made by them, from among them: AND SPOKE AGAINST THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN BY PAUL; concerning Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah, which they denied; and concerning free justification by his righteousness, which they affirmed to be by the works of the law: and they went on CONTRADICTING AND BLASPHEMING; publicly opposing him, and speaking evil of him, and of his doctri...

Acts 13:13. _Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down._ They would be noticed as strangers who had come thither. The synagogue did not generally contain a very large assembly, and the Jews of the place would be well known to one another, and they would notice that two or three men had come in whom they had not been accustomed to see in their company. Acts 13:15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and

ACTS 13:45 blasfhmou/ntej {B} A majority of the Committee preferred the shorter text, regarding the longer reading as a Western expansion. The reading evnantiou,menoi kai, appears to be an attempt to avoid the tautology that avntile,gontej makes with avnte,legon....

PART III The Witness to the Gentiles. The Apostle to the Gentiles; his Ministry and Captivity. Chapter s 13-28 CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The Divine Choice. Barnabas and Saul separated unto the work (Acts 13:1)._ 2. The Beginning of the Journey and the events in Cyprus (Acts 13:4). 3. The Gospel in Galatia. Paul's Address (Acts 13:13). 4. The Gospel rejected by the Jews (Acts 13:42). The thirteenth chapter is the beginning of the third part of this book. The second great center of Christianity comes to the front. It is no longer Jerusalem, but the city of Antioch. The gospel which had been preached in