Acts 13:42-52

Paul preached to the Gentiles and is persecuted Acts 13:42-52: The people were eager to hear more of the preaching done by Paul and Barnabas on the next Sabbath. Many of both the Jews and Gentiles became Christians. They were encouraged to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost everyone in town came to hear the message about the Lord. This led the Jews to begin a persecution of Paul. They blasphemed and denied the truth that Paul taught. The Jews heard God's word first but they rejected it. By rejecting the gospel the Jews had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life.

God had sent Paul to be a light of the Gentiles. No person will be either saved or lost by any predestined decree. The Jews had the opportunity of salvation but the rejected the gospel. So now Paul turned to the Gentiles with the word of God. "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." How wonderful it must have been when the message about the Lord spread all over that region.

The Jewish leaders started making trouble and drove Paul and Barnabas out of their city. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from that place off their feet and went to the city of Iconium. Notwithstanding the opposition of the Jews the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. The Lord's followers are happy in His service.