Paul and Barnabas

Apostles Paul and Barnabas

ACTS 13 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 13:38-45 Forgiveness of Sins

Acts 13:46-52 Paul and Barnabas

ACTS 13:46 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the gentiles.

Why did Paul and Barnabas say, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to" (Acts 13:46) the Jews first?
The good news about the long-awaited Messiah was first shared with those who had been told about and waiting for Him.

Did Paul and Barnabas plead to reconcile with the Jews who opposed them?
No, they declared that the opposing Jews' rejection of the "word of God" (Acts 13:46) judged them to be "unworthy of everlasting life" (Acts 13:46) and that they - Paul and Barnabas - would now "turn to the gentiles" (Acts 13:46).

Was it Paul and Barnabas' place to pronounce judgment on anyone?
It wasn't, and that isn't what they did. Paul and Barnabas' declaration was an observation of the judgment that the Jews' own rejection of the Gospel pronounced regarding where they will spend the rest of eternity.

Should a Christian today tell someone else that that person will end up in heaven or hell?
Since only God knows who are truly saved when they die, no. But when asked where people who die without believing in Jesus end up, every Christian has a Biblical duty to answer that they will go to everlasting punishment in hell instead of "everlasting life" (Acts 13:46) in heaven, as Paul and Barnabas told the unbelieving Jews above.

ACTS 13:47-49 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 48 Now when the gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

Who "believed" (Acts 13:48)?
"As many as had been appointed to eternal life" (Acts 13:48).

Appointed by whom?
Since the verb is "appointed" and not "self-appointed," it is God who appoints those who believe in Him.

ACTS 13:50-52 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

How did the Jews raise up "persecution against Paul and Barnabas" (Acts 13:50)?
They went after the city's political elite: "The Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city" (Acts 13:50).

How did Paul and Barnabas react?
They "shook off the dust from their feet against them" (Acts 13:51).

Why?
To obey Jesus: "And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them" (Mark 6:11).

Why were "the disciples ... filled with joy" (Acts 13:52)?
Apparently Paul and Barnabas had stayed long enough that "the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region" (Acts 13:49).

So why did the Holy Spirit let them be "expelled" (Acts 13:50)?
To have them share the Gospel as well in "Iconium" (Acts 13:51), which was about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of where they were, in Antioch of Pisidia.