Gentile Believers (Acts 13:46-48)

the mission of Paul and Barnabas had shifted.

46 Paul and Barnabas boldly replied,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first.
Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life,
we are turning to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord,
and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Application Point:
God uses His people to take the gospel to those who are far from Him.

Discuss:

consider why it was necessary for the word of God to be spoken to the Jews first.

46) Paul and Barnabas declared it was necessary that the word of God be spoken to the Jews first.
The gospel had to be given to the Jews first because they were God’s covenant people.
Jesus proclaimed that salvation is for all nations
but would start in Jerusalem (Luke 24:45-47).
Years later, Paul wrote that the gospel was the power of God for salvation
to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16).

Explain:

verse 47 includes a quotation from Isaiah 49:6.

6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Contrast the Jews’ negative response to the open and joyous acceptance of the Gentiles.

Ask:

Key Words

Reject . . . unworthy

As when Jesus was tried and crucified,
the Jews were rejecting the One God sent to meet their deepest needs.
The Greek word translated reject means to push away or throw aside.
It implies putting space between yourself and something offensive or repulsive.

By refusing God’s gift, the Jews counted themselves as unworthy of eternal life.
Eternal life relates to partnership in the kingdom of God,
but the Jews were eliminating themselves from such participation with God and His plan.
The Greek word for “unworthy” suggests assigning weight or value.
It is the image of coming up short and being undeserving.

Ask:

• What barriers might we need to overcome to engage with others about the gospel?
• How have you had to adjust your approach to reach different kinds of people with Christ’s good news? (p. 23)

Transition:

When Paul and Barnabas shifted their focus to the Gentiles,
they experienced both positive and negative results.