The missionary journeys of Paul, as articulated
in the books of Acts, were filled with adventure, danger, and drama. Among
other things, Paul was arrested, stoned, persecuted, escaped from prison, and shipwrecked.
His deep commitment to proclaiming the gospel and sharing God’s love compelled him
to persist and persevere.
In many places Paul had success in
sharing the gospel, but just as often he found resistance. This pattern emerged
on Paul and Barnabas’ first journey.
Paul’s first sermon came at a synagogue in Antioch (13:13-16) after e
had been invited to share. Paul
proclaims the gospel by recalling the mighty works of God throughout history
and situating Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises (13:17-41). When he was finished the people initially
responded well and asked them to return the following Sabbath. By the time the next week came, the initial welcome
given to Paul and Barnabas had shifted:
The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to
hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the
crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what
was spoken by Paul. Then
both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the
word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge
yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. Acts 13:44-46
The leaders of the Jewish community
turned against Paul because of jealousy. The gospel was compelling to the
people, but the leaders felt threatened and insecure. Paul and Barnabas were
driven from the city (13:50) so they continued to the next community.
This pattern of initial success followed
by deep resistance was the norm for Paul in his mission work. It is no surprise
the leaders would find Paul to be a threat to their power and self-interest. What is surprising is the deep faithful
witness and persistence of Paul. Despite
the many setbacks and tribulations, he keeps going for years and years. He
never stops believing that the gospel is a message worth sharing. He never
stops putting his trust in God to deliver him from danger—and churches sprung
up throughout the Gentile world because of it.
Very often those who are called to serve
God face such resistance. Both within
the church and outside of it, people resist deep change. But transformation and
change are the inevitable result of encountering Jesus Christ. The gospel
reminds us of God’s unfailing love for us, but following Jesus calls us to a
new kind of life—a life of faithfulness, a life of service and sacrifice. The
example of Paul should give leaders and faithful followers inspiration and
hope. His life demonstrates that trust in God and persistence allow us to reach
our full potential. His message of grace and love remind us that God’s mercy and
forgiveness are available when we fall short.
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