The Remnant
Acts 13:42-52
"As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the LORD. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the LORD; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the LORD spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church, "again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches (Rom 11:11-16)." This explains the course taken by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, that they tried to preach to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were indeed "filled with jealousy" and "they began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him" (v. 45), this gets them deeper into the mire of transgression, for which they initially had the chance to get out of by accepting Jesus Christ. By rejecting this message, they are turning from eternal life itself (v. 46), and away from the door/gate of salvation and nourishing pasture (John 10:9), the only Way and the sole epitome of Truth (John 14:6). It is curious to me that the Jews at the synagogue in Pisidia, Turkey almost warmly welcomed the Gospel of Jesus Christ (vv. 42-43), but seemed to have stumbled that the message is for all humanity and not just theirs. The lesson for us here is that God had always kept a remnant even in the time of Christ, the Jewish believers, as most of the Apostles, are exactly these. In a still small voice God corrected (and reassured) the Prophet Elijah, "nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel— all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him (I Kings 19:18)." The Remnant acknowledges God's sovereignty and absolute authority to offer His grace to all against a pessimistic resignation of an Elijah, against a vengeful displeasure of a Jonah (Jon 4:1-3), and even an overwhelming despair of an Isaiah (Isa 64:1). Faith is trusting in God's will and ways and thereby being gracious to all just as He is full of grace and truth Himself (John 1:14). Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, "gracious souls are more affected by the tender mercies of the Lord, than by His terrors. The mild voice of Him who speaks from the cross, or the mercy-seat, is accompanied with peculiar power in taking possession of the heart." Let us pray that God's Holy Spirit pervade our hearts and those of people close to us, within our radars, family and friends, despite our preconceived notions about them and ourselves; and like the disciples, I pray that we be filled with joy (v. 52) irrespective of whether they accept or reject our message, the hope and love our LORD and saviour Jesus Christ brings.
"As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the LORD. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the LORD; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the LORD spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church, "again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches (Rom 11:11-16)." This explains the course taken by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, that they tried to preach to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were indeed "filled with jealousy" and "they began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him" (v. 45), this gets them deeper into the mire of transgression, for which they initially had the chance to get out of by accepting Jesus Christ. By rejecting this message, they are turning from eternal life itself (v. 46), and away from the door/gate of salvation and nourishing pasture (John 10:9), the only Way and the sole epitome of Truth (John 14:6). It is curious to me that the Jews at the synagogue in Pisidia, Turkey almost warmly welcomed the Gospel of Jesus Christ (vv. 42-43), but seemed to have stumbled that the message is for all humanity and not just theirs. The lesson for us here is that God had always kept a remnant even in the time of Christ, the Jewish believers, as most of the Apostles, are exactly these. In a still small voice God corrected (and reassured) the Prophet Elijah, "nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel— all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him (I Kings 19:18)." The Remnant acknowledges God's sovereignty and absolute authority to offer His grace to all against a pessimistic resignation of an Elijah, against a vengeful displeasure of a Jonah (Jon 4:1-3), and even an overwhelming despair of an Isaiah (Isa 64:1). Faith is trusting in God's will and ways and thereby being gracious to all just as He is full of grace and truth Himself (John 1:14). Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, "gracious souls are more affected by the tender mercies of the Lord, than by His terrors. The mild voice of Him who speaks from the cross, or the mercy-seat, is accompanied with peculiar power in taking possession of the heart." Let us pray that God's Holy Spirit pervade our hearts and those of people close to us, within our radars, family and friends, despite our preconceived notions about them and ourselves; and like the disciples, I pray that we be filled with joy (v. 52) irrespective of whether they accept or reject our message, the hope and love our LORD and saviour Jesus Christ brings.
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