the acts of the apostles-第33章
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corruption： but He； whom God raised again； saw no corruption。〃
And now； having spoken plainly of the fulfillment of familiar prophecies
concerning the Messiah； Paul preached unto them repentance and the remission
of sin through the merits of Jesus their Saviour。 〃Be it known unto you；〃 he
said； 〃that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins：
and by Him all that believe are justified from all things； from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses。〃
The Spirit of God accompanied the words that were spoken； and hearts were
touched。 The apostle's appeal to Old Testament prophecies； and his
declaration that these had been fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus of
Nazareth；
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carried conviction to many a soul longing for the advent of the promised
Messiah。 And the speaker's words of assurance that the 〃glad tidings〃 of
salvation were for Jew and Gentile alike； brought hope and joy to those who
had not been numbered among the children of Abraham according to the flesh。
〃When the Jews were gone out of the synagogue； the Gentiles besought that
these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath。〃 The congregation
having finally broken up； 〃many of the Jews and religious proselytes；〃 who
had accepted the glad tidings borne to them that day； 〃followed Paul and
Barnabas： who； speaking to them； persuaded them to continue in the grace of
God。〃
The interest aroused in Antioch of Pisidia by Paul's discourse brought
together on the next Sabbath day； 〃almost the whole city 。 。 。 to hear the
word of God。 But when the Jews saw the multitudes； they were filled with
envy； and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul；
contradicting and blaspheming。
〃Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold； and said； It was necessary that the word
of God should first have been spoken to you： but seeing ye put it from you；
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life； lo； we turn to the
Gentiles。 For so hath the Lord commanded us； saying； I have set thee to be a
light of the Gentiles； that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of
the earth。〃
〃When the Gentiles heard this； they were glad； and glorified the word of the
Lord： and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed。〃 They rejoiced
exceedingly that
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Christ recognized them as the children of God； and with grateful hearts they
listened to the word preached。 Those who believed were zealous in
communicating the gospel message to others； and thus 〃the word of the Lord
was published throughout all the region。〃
Centuries before； the pen of inspiration had traced this ingathering of the
Gentiles； but those prophetic utterances had been but dimly understood。
Hosea had said： 〃Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the
sand of the sea； which cannot be measured nor numbered； and it shall come to
pass； that in the place where it was said unto them； Ye are not My people；
there it shall be said unto them； Ye are the sons of the living God。〃 And
again： I will sow her unto Me in the earth； and I will have mercy upon her
that had not obtained mercy； and I will say to them which were not My
people； Thou art My people； and they shall say； Thou art my God。〃 Hosea
1：10； 2：23。
The Saviour Himself； during His earthly ministry； foretold the spread of the
gospel among the Gentiles。 In the parable of the vineyard He declared to the
impenitent Jews； 〃The kingdom of God shall be taken from you； and given to a
nation bringing forth the fruits thereof。〃 Matthew 21：43。 And after His
resurrection He commissioned His disciples to go 〃into all the world〃 and
〃teach all nations。〃 They were to leave none unwarned； but were to 〃preach
the gospel to every creature。〃 Matthew 28：19； Mark 16：15。
In turning to the Gentiles in Antioch of Pisidia； Paul and Barnabas did not
cease laboring for the Jews elsewhere； wherever there was a favorable
opportunity to gain a hearing。
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Later； in Thessalonica； in Corinth； in Ephesus； and in other important
centers； Paul and his companions in labor preached the gospel to both Jews
and Gentiles。 But their chief energies were henceforth directed toward the
building up of the kingdom of God in heathen territory； among peoples who
had but little or no knowledge of the true God and of His Son。
The hearts of Paul and his associate workers were drawn out in behalf of
those who were 〃without Christ； being aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel； and strangers from the covenants of promise； having no hope； and
without God in the world。〃 Through the untiring ministrations of the
apostles to the Gentiles； the 〃strangers and foreigners；〃 who 〃sometimes
were far off；〃 learned that they had been 〃made nigh by the blood of
Christ；〃 and that through faith in His atoning sacrifice they might become
〃fellow citizens with the saints； and of the household of God。〃 Ephesians
2：12； 13； 19。
Advancing in faith； Paul labored unceasingly for the upbuilding of God's
kingdom among those who had been neglected by the teachers in Israel。
Constantly he exalted Christ Jesus as 〃the King of kings； and Lord of lords〃
（1 Timothy 6：15）； and exhorted the believers to be 〃rooted and built up in
Him； and stablished in the faith。〃 Colossians 2：7。
To those who believe； Christ is a sure foundation。 Upon this living stone；
Jews and Gentiles alike may build。 It is broad enough for all and strong
enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole world。 This is a fact
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plainly recognized by Paul himself。 In the closing days of his ministry；
when addressing a group of Gentile believers who had remained steadfast in
their love of the gospel truth； the apostle wrote； 〃Ye 。 。 。are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets； Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone。〃 Ephesians 2：19； 20。
As the gospel message spread in Pisidia； the unbelieving Jews of Antioch in
their blind prejudice 〃stirred up the devout and honorable women； and the
chief men of the city； and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas； and
expelled them〃 from that district。
The apostles were not discouraged by this treatment； they remembered the
words of their Master： 〃Blessed are ye； when men shall revile you； and
persecute you； and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely； for My
sake。 Rejoice； and be exceeding glad： for great is your reward in heaven：
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you。〃 Matthew 5：11；
12。
The gospel message was advancing； and the apostles had every reason for
feeling encouraged。 Their labors had been richly blessed among the Pisidians
at Antioch； and the believers whom they left to carry forward the work alone
for a time； 〃were filled with joy； and with the Holy Ghost。〃
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Chapter 18
Preaching Among the Heathen
From Antioch in Pisidia； Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium。 In this place；
as at Antioch； they began their labors in the synagogue of their own people。
They met with marked success； 〃a great multitude both of the Jews and also
of the Greeks believed。〃 But in Iconium； as in other places where the
apostles labored； 〃the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles； and made
their minds evil affected against the brethren。〃
The apostles； however； were not turned aside from their mission； for many
were accepting the gospel of Christ。 In the face of opposition； envy； and
prejudice they went on with their work； 〃speaking boldly in the Lord；〃 and
God 〃gave testimony unto the word of His grace； and granted signs and
wonders to be done by their hands。〃 These evidences of divine approval had a
powerful influence on those whose minds were open to conviction； and
converts to the gospel multiplied。
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The increasing popularity of the message borne by the apostles； filled the
unbelieving Jews with envy and hatred； and they determined to stop the
labors of Paul and Barnabas at once。 By means of false and exaggerated
