W𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕝𝕪 B𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕠𝕗 A𝕔𝕥𝕤 13 43-52

43 After the service, many Jews and a number of Gentiles who worshiped God went with them. Paul and Barnabas persuaded them all to remain faithful to God who had treated them with undeserved kindness and grace. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when some from the synagogue saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying and were heaping abuse on him! 46 But Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. [To Israel, they did after all birth Messiah/“savior of the world”after being separated (quarantined?) to do so.] Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of aionion [pertaining to an age, eonian] life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles! [God’s plan. HE blinded them, so all have been blind, Jn.12:39,40.] 47 The Lord has given us this command, "I have placed you here as a light for the Gentiles. You are to take the saving power of God to people everywhere on earth." 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Lord's message. And those who had been appointed for aionion/of the age life became believers. 49 And the word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 Then the Jewish leaders stirred up the influential religious women and the leading men of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (/Presence of God).

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     Very Brief Outline of Acts:

Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).

The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.

The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).

     Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.

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