Acts 13:50

‘But the Jews urged on the devout women of honourable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.'

If only he could have cut off the story with Acts 13:49. But Luke could not, for he was declaring the truth. And the truth was that once God began to work, opposition began. For the highly positioned devout women, those who were married to men in important positions, women who had become Jewish proselytes or God-fearers, and the chief men themselves (the city magistrates responsible for law and order) probably contacted mainly through their wives' influence and urged on by them, found themselves being urged by the Jews to have these men expelled from the region, an expulsion that would be carried out roughly and forcefully. It was like an ejection from a night club. They would be able to come back later if they were ready to behave themselves. The description is historically accurate. Wealthy women had much more influence in Asia Minor than they did elsewhere.

So one week these Jews had stood at the door of the synagogue saying, we must hear more of this. Now they were making plain that they wanted no more of it. But what is wore, that they wanted to prevent anyone else having more of it. That was what was inexcusable. It was a shameful and evil thing to do.

Part of the truth was, of course, that they were afraid. Their synagogue life had previously become comfortable. They had it all organised and everything was in place. Life went on smoothly as it was. Each had his settled status. Now they had visions of hordes of Gentiles swamping the synagogue weekly. They saw everything changing. It was going to be difficult refusing people admittance. Their own position was going to be watered down by newcomers. They were going to lose control. Their little world was going to be turned upside down. They did not see the opportunity, they only saw the dangers. They would not have stated it but their view was, that if God wanted to work it would be better if He did it somewhere else. And the only way that they could think of in which they could maintain the status quo was to rid themselves of the ones who had caused the disturbance.

But that is not the whole explanation, for had it been they would have left things alone once Paul and Barnabas were gone. The truth was that an evil bent of mind had also taken possession of them which would result in their carrying their hatred to Lystra. They had become bitter people.