Acts 13:46, commentary and pictures

It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to the Jews as Christ's own people, and only after they put it from them did the mission turn to the Gentiles. At Antioch in Pisidia the Jews listened with interest on one Sabbath but on the next were filled with envy at the multitude of Gentiles assembled, and from jealousy, prejudice, pride and hardness of heart they contradicted and blasphemed and refused to let Gentiles share equal privilege. By putting the word from them they judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life and were left to blindness of mind and hardness of heart, while Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and turned to preach Christ to the Gentiles. That turn fulfilled God's purpose that salvation as a light should reach to the ends of the earth, and the Gentiles rejoiced to be recognized as children of God, welcomed the message and glorified the word, with those ordained to eternal life believing, as when servants go to the highways and hedges after those first bidden despise the marriage supper. The apostles' turn marks the termination of Daniel's seventy weeks of 490 years in A.D. 34 from the decree of Artaxerxes in 457 B.C., showing the confirmation of the covenant with Daniel's people was complete. The same rejection stands as a warning now, for when thousands neglect the great salvation they prove themselves unworthy of eternal life and messengers must turn with zealous effort to those in moral darkness to the ends of the earth, and church members place themselves in the same danger by selfishness and want of practical religion.

First to Jews at Antioch

It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to the Jews, Christ's own people to whom the message was offered first, and only upon their rejection of it did the mission turn to the Gentiles. The word of life was to have been received first by Christ's own people, but since they did not receive it the message turns to others who will hear it, carrying the gospel beyond Judaism and inviting all classes of people. Their bold announcement marked the gospel's extension to the Gentiles, not an end to preaching to Jews wherever there was an opportunity.

The setting was Antioch in Pisidia, where the Jews had listened with interest on one Sabbath. On the next Sabbath they were filled with envy and indignation at the multitude of Gentiles assembled to hear, so that they could not weigh the evidence.

Their rejection was driven by envy and jealousy, bigotry and prejudice, hatred, self-righteousness, pride and hard-heartedness. They refused to let Gentiles share religious privileges equally, and when they learned that the promised Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles as well as the glory of Israel they contradicted and blasphemed. They distorted the apostles' words and answered with rage, insult and derision.

Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, speaking without hesitation after clearly discerning their duty and the work given them to preach Christ to the Gentiles. Paul was prepared for this decision by his conversion, his vision in the temple at Jerusalem, his appointment by God to preach to the Gentiles, and the success already given to his work among them.

By putting the word from them the Jews judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life and were left to bigotry, blindness of mind and hardness of heart. The apostles therefore turned to preaching Christ to the Gentiles, who rejoiced that Christ recognized them as children of God. This extension to the Gentiles did not end preaching to Jews wherever there was opportunity.

Gospel Fulfillment and Prophecy

The word of God had first to be spoken to the Jews, but when they rejected it and judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles. That turning carried the gospel beyond Judaism under God's direction and command, to be a light bringing salvation to the ends of the earth and to people throughout the earth. It was made in response to the Gentiles' welcome of Christ.

The Gentiles rejoiced that Christ recognized them as children of God, heard gladly, welcomed the message and glorified God's word, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. In this the invitation from the Lord Jesus went to all classes of people. So, though those first called put the word from them, the wedding was still furnished with guests.

The call of the Gentiles was foreshadowed by the marriage supper which the Father prepared for His Son. Those first bidden despised the message and cruelly treated the messengers, so servants were sent into the highways and hedges to compel guests to come. Refusal of that solemn invitation brings exclusion, for none of those bidden who make light of it will taste the supper. Only those who are ready when He returns will go in to the feast, for after the master has shut the door there will be no further admittance, and putting God's work away and judging oneself unworthy of everlasting life leaves no reason to expect entrance into the kingdom.

The apostles' turn to the Gentiles marks the termination of Daniel's seventy weeks of 490 years in A.D. 34. That period is reckoned from the decree of Artaxerxes in his seventh year in 457 B.C. After the Jews had been given the gospel, this turning showed that the Jews had ceased to be God's chosen people and that the confirmation of the covenant with Daniel's people had reached its completion.

Warning and Mission Today

The word of life was to have been received first by Christ's own people, but since they did not receive it the message turns to others who hear it. Those who hear the Word of God may receive it if they will, yet receiving it is a cross that must be lifted through denying self and following Christ, not trampled underfoot.

The gospel was first preached to the Jews, but when Jewish hatred and self-righteousness rejected it, Paul and Barnabas turned to proclaim it to the Gentiles. That rejection arose from the same hatred, hard-heartedness and pride that later brought persecution on Paul and drove God's servants to seek protection among non-Jews. This rejection of God's messengers is also a pattern of persecution that God's people will face in a coming crisis.

When thousands at home neglect the great salvation they prove themselves unworthy of eternal life, and messengers must then turn with zealous effort to those in the midnight of moral darkness and gross darkness in foreign countries and unto the ends of the earth. The field is the world, and the work must pass rapidly from place to place and country to country, from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria outward, even when only a small proportion accept. In that going God speaks to the unenlightened and shines light amid darkness.

Those who put the word of God from them judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life, and church members place themselves in that same danger and will be found unworthy unless converted. That danger comes by want of practical religion, selfishness, fondness of dress, self-idolatry, and dishonoring God. It comes also by contentment to work only for self instead of exerting a vigilant, earnest, sociable influence for others outside the church, from which they must be converted.