Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.There is so much here that the commentary cannot be topical, but expository. Let's take this one verse at a time and see what was happening then and if there are any modern parallels.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (the Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And 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.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
(Verse 43) - They were both devout Jews and religious proselytes. Yes, some Jews became Christians and still do! Since Jesus Christ was God's plan from the beginning, Christianity is inherent in Judaism. The prophets all understood that and wrote about it. Many Jews understood that Judaism is all about Jesus! Those Jews who were devout (devoted) to God, got the message of Judaism which is: salvation is in the Messiah. Because they were faithful they were pliable in their acceptance.
The religious proselytes are those who were swayed from changing from a pagan religion or unbelief, to believe in Jesus Christ. In context it becomes obvious that those persuaded the easiest, even here, were Gentiles. In the apostolic age those folks were heathens. Because Jews were of the true religion, heathens were those outside the Jewish faith. Although Arabs are Semitic as well, at this time they too would be Gentiles because they were heathens.(In this modern day gentiles are anyone outside the race of Jews. Yes, the meaning of words has changed over time, but the word is basically the same.). The Gentiles had been converted from false Gods to Christianity. They were called "proselytes" because they had once been "foreigners" to Christianity, but were now members of the kingdom of God!
Note that the Jews were not "proselytes". They did not have to change their faith to become Christians! True Judaism was always Christianity. Christ was what Judaism is all about! Those Jews merely continued in their faith because the faith of their fathers, was indeed, all about Jesus!
Conversion to Christianity was a first step in having the hope of salvation. The second step is to exercise that new faith. Paul and Barnabas "persuaded them to continue in the grace of God." Salvation isn't a one time event. It's for a lifetime, but it's still a choice. As the Jews and proselytes made their decision to believe, to continue on something else was required: an enduring faith.
(verse 44) - The early church was still meeting on the Sabbath because it was mostly Jews who were meeting. There are many who are "Sabbath Keepers". There is nothing wrong with keeping the Sabbath for God. It won't earn any crowns for you in heaven, but if it keeps a person obedient on the others, it's not a bad thing. It's customary for Christians to honor the Lord's Day (Sunday) which is basically the idea of shifting the Sabbath. Whether it's the Sabbath or Sunday, that day must be set aside for the Lord.
The whole city (Antioch) came together to hear about Jesus. They came to understand him! It appears that even the Gentiles joined the Jews in the synagogue. Antioch was the cradle of Hellenistic Judaism. That's Greek influenced Judaism. These Jews weren't orthodox, but secular. They were more open to change than those who kept the letter of the Law. Mosaic Law put orthodox Jews in bondage. When those regulations were relaxed, proselytizing Jews was made easier, remembering that most Jews were not strict adherence of Judaism.
Now, not only does the whole city NOT turn out to hear the word of God, few do! The western world was at one time a fertile ground of those seeking truth. Since "the Enlightenment", spiritual interest has been preempted by the seeking of knowledge. Without regard that the wisdom of the world has no saving power, those with modern inquiring minds pay dearly for their skepticism. The answer to life's (and death's) questions can be found only in Holy Scripture. The people of Antioch were wise to seek truth rather than die in spiritual ignorance!
(verse 45) - Paul spoke truth. The Jews there began to get skeptical. What Paul taught, they failed to make the connection with what they first believed. The Jews argued against truth. They opposed what Paul said with their own beliefs. If they had examined scripture, they would have understood. Christ came to fulfill their own belief. They missed the point! Sometimes we put God into such a tight box we use his own words to box him in. The Jews failed to understand that the Law and the prophets were all about Jesus! As a result they blasphemed! They showed contempt for the words of Jesus. That's dangerous footing, because blaspheming against the Holy Ghost (Ghost of Jesus) is the unpardonable sin! (Luke 12:10). Those who blaspheme are reprobate and in danger of hell fire. Those who say that they don't believe Holy Scripture are in danger of hell fire!
(verse 46) - The Jews are God's chosen people and as such got first chance. This is because of the "Abahamic Covenant", but what the Jews chose to forget is that Abraham had two sons. Although all are Shemites, those not of the line of Isaac are considered Gentiles. The promise was for Isaac's seed, but Esaw wasn't left out! His was also part of the seed of Abraham and part of the promise.
Paul spoke tongue-in-cheek. He put the unworthiness "monkey" on the backs of the Jews. As such they gave up their birthright which Isaac had stolen from Esaw. When Isaac stole that birthright, he sinned. Now divine justice intervenes to make wrongs right, even after all these generations! Now Paul, at God's inspiration, turned to the Gentiles!
(verse 47) - Then it's made plain that salvation is for everybody everywhere! That's why I'm a Christian. God planned it that way and Paul obeyed what God inspired him to do. Now the Gentiles, a dark people are the Light. It's through us unclean people that cleansing words covered the world.
(verse 48) - Before Antioch Judaism was for the Jews. Judaism does include Christ, you might be surprised. Now Judaism is for the Gentiles, but unlike calloused Jews, the Gentiles accepted Jesus as a component of Judaism. It would have never entered their minds that Christianity was no more than an extension of Judaism because they were taught from scripture, the same words taught in Judaism. It just seems that the Law wasn't able to block their acceptance because they didn't practice all those regulations!
Gentiles praised God and glorified him for his word! (The Old Testament by the way). They were ordained for eternal life. As such they were set apart as destined for heaven. If you have been born again, God has set you apart from the world in preparation for heaven, Your ordination is that you're made holy by God and you become a new person in Christ! The criterion for your reward is belief. That type of belief is one with trust in the Lord.
(verse 49) - The word of the Lord was published throughout the region. This word "published" means that people talked about what happened. True, some wrote about it, but the primary venue was excitement by telling others about Jesus. That's The Great Commission; we're to take the gospel to the world. The Gentiles did that then and are still doing it. I'm doing it right now! My motive for writing is to convince others to be different from the Jews who rejected Christ, but to be open to the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus and the subsequent belief that he can save you, is how one is saved!
(verse 50) - Then the persecution begins. It was the Jews who thought themselves holy who did the most unholy things. They were the ones who blasphemed by stirring up trouble. Just as the serpent did, they turned to women to stir the pot. Let's not forget Adam! The chief men were riled as well!
Note that God didn't use irreligious people to stir up trouble. He used devout and honorable women. It's those who had sincere motives, but sincerely wrong motives. It's odd that God used the chief sinner (Paul) and the devil used devout and honorable women for each of their initiatives! No wonder the church doesn't seem to be of one accord. Satan uses those most honorable to dishonor Jesus. It's more effective when some abandon their own!
(verse 51) - When people won't listen to God's word after continually trying, Christians are to move on! Hard-headed people are self-centered and whatever interferes with their wrong-thinking is of no avail. As such these blind people damn themselves. They are what scripture calls "reprobate". Those who reject the Holy Spirit and his guidance blaspheme and are damned (reprobate). Let them lie in their bed. Perhaps prayer and fasting may be the answer, but words seem to be ineffective.
(verse 52) - Because a new mission field was opened, the disciples didn't dwell on the lost souls of the Jews, but thanked God for the salvation of the Gentiles. They looked at the half-full glass and ignored that it was half-empty. Jesus told them that the gate was strait and the path narrow. This half-empty glass was the words of Jesus being fulfilled. The Holy Ghost provided comfort and joy to them. They lost a battle, but won the war, so to speak!
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