Acts 13:42-52
The gospel brings division: some believe and rejoice, others reject and oppose, yet God advances His saving purpose among the nations.
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”
48 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
49 The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
52 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The gospel brings division: some believe and rejoice, others reject and oppose, yet God advances His saving purpose among the nations.
To record the mixed response to Paul’s sermon in Pisidian Antioch and to mark a decisive turn toward Gentile mission in the face of Jewish rejection.
This section completes the Pisidian Antioch episode. It shows the typical pattern in Acts: synagogue proclamation, divided response, Gentile receptivity, and persecution-driven relocation. Luke underscores both divine appointment and human responsibility in belief and rejection.
Following Paul's sermon, many Jews and God-fearing proselytes respond positively. The next Sabbath draws large crowds, including Gentiles. Opposition arises from jealous synagogue leaders who contradict Paul. Paul cites Isaiah 49:6 to justify Gentile mission. Gentiles rejoice and believe, while local leaders incite persecution and expel Paul and Barnabas from the region.
The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles
Acts 13 shows that the Holy Spirit sends the church into mission, the risen Christ fulfills Israel's promises, and rejection of the word cannot stop Gentile joy or the spread of the gospel.