Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
The event took place in Pisidian Antioch, in the Antioch district, where the Jews moved against Paul and Barnabas. Those Jewish opponents were unbelieving. They were driven by prejudice.
They aimed not only to close the synagogues against Paul and Barnabas but to drive them from the region and district. They worked by subtle methods and false reports to turn influential people against the apostles. The people they stirred up were the devout and honorable, influential and respected women and the chief, leading and prominent men of the city. Those influential people complained to the authorities, who expelled Paul and Barnabas from the region and district. This stirring up produced persecution against Paul and Barnabas and their expulsion from the district.
Behind this human opposition, Satan stirred up the people in hatred against Paul and his work. Such opposition and persecution stirred up by Satan is the best evidence that the work being opposed is of the Lord. The expulsion did not discourage the apostles, for persecution for Christ is a reason for joy because the prophets were also persecuted. The believers left behind continued the work with joy and the Holy Spirit.