Acts 13:41
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
The work spoken of was Paul's Sabbath sermon at Antioch in Pisidia, given after the reading of the law and the prophets at the invitation of the rulers of the synagogue. It traced God's dealings with the Jews from deliverance from Egyptian bondage to the promise of a Saviour of the seed of David. It preached Jesus as that Saviour, the Messiah of prophecy, a light to the Gentiles as well as the glory of Israel for salvation to the ends of the earth. That preaching of Christ was first spoken to the Jews and then, upon their rejection, turned without hesitation to the Gentiles.
The Jewish hearers fulfilled the warning by rejecting that preaching from envy and jealousy at the multitude of Gentiles, from bigotry that God's blessing was reserved exclusively for them, and from rage at a Messiah for Gentiles, contradicting with blasphemy. Blinded in mind and hardened in heart by envy, prejudice and anger, they could not weigh the evidence. They put the word from them and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, while the Gentiles rejoiced that Christ recognized them as children of God and listened with grateful hearts. Their refusal to believe God's work even when it was declared to them is the very fulfillment of the warning to despisers.
God carries forward His work in this world through imperfect human instrumentalities, having a people on earth whom He recognizes as His own as the agents through whom He accomplishes His designs. The verse warns of the danger of being among those who do not discern where God is working. For criticizing His agents is working against God.
The despisers who wonder and perish are the ungodly who despise the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days and put on the throne a false god of their own defining, altogether like themselves. They arise even among God's people as hirelings and wolves in sheep's clothing who persuade the flock to sacrifice to other gods. As agents in Satan's hands they corrupt the faith of the unwary and of youth not rooted and grounded in truth. In this last work they sneer at the conscientious, truth-loving, God-fearing people and at the God of heaven Himself, while the Bible is disregarded and human wisdom is exalted.
Despisers marvel at God's work yet perish because they refuse to believe it even when it is declared to them. Trifling with truth in any manner brings sure results because God will just as surely fulfil His word as in times past. Those who close their hearts against Jesus when He speaks hold themselves in bondage to Satan while supposing they are preserving dignity as free men and maintaining the right to think and act for themselves, to believe or doubt.
The unbelief exhibited in apostolic times warns of just as much danger in the present day when the Lord speaks through delegated messengers. The warning applies both to those who rejected the gospel then and to those who reject truth spoken through God's messengers now. A first rejection need not be final, but when another opportunity comes people must beware of hardening their hearts through prejudice and pride, or they may finally reject the message that would save them.
God will do an unexpected work in the present day, one that few anticipate. He will raise up and honor people taught by the Spirit rather than relying only on the outward training of scientific institutions, showing He is not dependent on learned or self-important people. Those who turn from God under the world's influence may be rejected while His work proceeds through others.
The verse requires God's people to seek the Lord most earnestly, study the light given in Acts, and humble the heart before God. It requires receiving the Holy Spirit sitting as a Refiner and Purifier of silver to refine, enlighten, sanctify, cleanse, purify from dross, and convert. The Lord will not encourage false theories and a low moral standard, but requires a higher moral standard upheld in printing establishments and office, every sanitarium cleansed, sanctified, refined and purified, and every line of work. With this decided change, reformation and reformatory work extended throughout America, the glory of God is revealed and the message of warning can go forth as a burning lamp into the highways and byways.