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Tuesday 11 May 2010

Acts 13:42-52

Paul and Barnabas were invited to speak again the next Sabbath. Note that there was a considered response. It is right to think about the things we hear and to weigh them up.

Some of them followed Paul and Barnabas, wanting to know more sooner. Paul urged them to continue in the grace of God. The Law was good, but it was given as part of God's grace, leading them ultimately to Christ. If they held on to the Law as the means of salvation, then they would leave God's grace. The message can be right, as the Law and the Prophets are, but we can still get it wrong if we attach the wrong importance to the message (as the Pharisees and Sadducees did). 

The next Sabbath large crowds gathered to hear Paul, but this aroused jealousy in the hearts of the Jews, so thay argued and abused Paul and Barnabas.

Paul answered them boldly, and declared that they would now take the message to the Gentiles. Paul understood the purposes of God. Note also that the large crowds gathered would have helped with this. The word spread, as did opposition. Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the region, and shook the dust off their feet. However, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.

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