יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 53 :: מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ וּזְרוֹעַ יְהוָה עַל־מִי נִגְלָֽתָה׃
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Paul and Barnabas SENT with the Gospel
Now in the church that was at Antioch [Syria]..
.. the Holy Spirit said,
“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
ACTS of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 13:1a,2b NKJV
Saulos of Tarsus has just completed an exhortation in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch.
Who is asking to hear more of the Gospel?
The response of the brothers gathered for worship on the Sabbath will determine who has believed the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ (Χριστός Greek) of the Jews.
Many proselytes also sought the message of God in this Hellenist-Roman city near Pisidia Antioch.
Who has heard these messengers of Good News?
Acts of the Apostles 13:
“Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
‘Behold, you despisers,
Acts 13:40-41 NKJV
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”
ACTS 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Although some Bibles translate from the Greek, ‘the people,’ Luke clearly points to the Goyim or gentiles [ethnos] included in the Sabbath, many who are proselytes seeking the true God.
Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas,
who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Acts of the Apostles 13:43 New King James Version
The physician and gospel-writer Luke has included some details in his account of their response:
- πολύς Ἰουδαῖος
- MANY of the Jews
- AND of the
- σέβω προσήλυτος
- God-fearing proselytes
Mission accomplished?
So it would seem..
One week later:
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
We might speculate from Luke’s account that too many gentiles in this capitol city of Galatia, Antioch (with most of the citizens either Roman or Greek) may have shown up to hear Paul at this little local Jewish synagogue.
So it may have been surrounded by much bigger crowds than a small synagogue could hold.
- “MANY JEWS,” but also many “God-fearing” Greek and Roman citizens of Antioch
- PLUS crowds from nearby towns.
What should the Jews expect?
Judean or Hellenist, the Jews knew their Scriptures.
Each Sabbath the Law and the Prophets were read not only in the Temple of Roman-occupied Jerusalem, but read in every synagogue throughout the Roman Empire.
Context of this time of Paul's first mission; A.D. 47-49, the years of this mission trip: Claudius is Emperor of Rome. Claudius had intended to bestow Judea to his family friend Herod Agrippa but instead appointed a Prefect or Governor. Tiberius Julius Alexander, a Roman general born of a Jewish father became Judea's Governor (And closer to Cypress, Asia and Pisidian Antioch) Sergius Paulus may have been the first of several successive senators named Lucius Sergius Paullus, of Antioch, Pisidia - source Could the Roman Governor of Galatia have been one in the same as we just convinced of the Gospel in Paphos?
The renowned Saul of Tarsus has just proclaimed that those in Jerusalem
.. had fulfilled all that was written concerning a savior iēsous..
“But God raised Him from the dead.
Last Sabbath the Jews of Antioch heard Saul proclaim the gospel of Christ crucified and risen! We are now more than a decade after this fulfillment of Scripture. Furthermore, by now many more must have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Those who seek God MUST know more!
So they go to Antioch to hear Paul’s Gospel.
What did the Gentiles expect?
What rumors and witness had circulated among these Romans of Galatia and Greeks seeking Good News of the One God?
(For these Gentiles had formerly worshiped many gods.)
- .. the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
- – Acts 10:45
- Some Jews in Jerusalem had said, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
- – Acts 11:18
- Several years ago a Roman Centurion in Capernaum had met Jesus, who healed his paralyzed servant by only His word.
- – Matthew 8
- Other Roman Centurions had followed The Way once they had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion personally.
- “Truly this was the Son of God!”
- – Gospel of Matthew 27:54
- Many Romans knew the witness of Cornelius of the Italian Regiment from not so long ago:
.. I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing [and Jesus’ Apostle Simon Peter proclaimed to me and my family in Caesarea] “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.“
Witness of the Roman Centurion Cornelius, excerpts from ACTS 10
So the Crowds converged in Antioch to hear the Gospel
Acts in Pisidian Antioch continued:
The next Shabbat almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
But when the Yehudim saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Sha’ul, and blasphemed.
Acts of the Apostles 13:[44,]45 Hebrew Names Version
No Second Sermon in the Synagogue
Now what?
ACTS of the Apostles 13 of Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress in Pisidian Antioch: To be continued…
