JEWS AND GENTILES AND SALVATION

Jesus twelve apostles were Jewish. But Jesus wanted the gospel to go to the whole world (Matt. 28:19-20). And the book of Acts tells us much about how the gospel went beyond Jewish borders and was also given to Gentiles.

In today’s OYB reading from Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas had had a great response in Pisidian Antioch (geographically in modern day Turkey) to Paul’s powerful message, and “many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God,” (13:43).

“The next Sabbath… when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy,” (13:44-45). There was controversy with Paul and Barnabas.
 
So, “Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth,’ ” (13:46-47).

I’m grateful for the obedience of those first Jewish missionaries who were commanded to be “a light for the Gentiles.” Bringing “salvation the end of the earth.” Till it reached us. And our Faith Bible congregation is continuing the story—bringing the light of the gospel to both people in our own community and “to the end of the earth.”