Check out all the previous Acts readings here.
**NOTE: Next week, we’re taking a break from Acts for three weeks and will be doing daily readings that relate to the the weekend message series, Grab A Fork. We will return to Acts after the Grab a Fork series.
Acts Reading Plan | Week 10 | Day 5
Prayer
Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” You come before a merciful God today. You can safely spend time in HIs presence because of His love, mercy and grace. Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body and then pray thanking God for His mercy.
Bible Reading: Acts 13:44-52
Read these verses three times slowly.
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Reflection & Questions
Yesterday we read of Paul’s sermon and that many believed in response to it. Today, we see the other side of the coin. The Jews were jealous and “heaped abuse” upon Paul.
However, this didn’t deter Paul and Barnabas. Did you notice how they assessed the “why” behind the Jews jealousy? They said, “You…do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life.” The Jews couldn’t accept the good news of the gospel. They couldn’t accept that forgiveness wasn’t something to be earned but received. They wanted to be worthy of it. And their lack of faith and humility led to them harshly reject Paul and Barnabas’ message. In contrast, when the Gentiles heard the gospel, “they were glad and honored the word of the Lord.”
The gospel is an offensive message. It says there is a God, who created us, but we have ignored and rejected Him. Because of that, we have been alienated from Him. And that there is nothing we can do on our own to be reconciled with Him. It is only through the forgiveness offered by His Son Jesus that we can be restored. We shouldn’t be surprised when some react harshly to this message and others respond with joy and give their lives fully to Jesus. What might surprise us though is who responds to the gospel with joy and acceptance and who reacts with rejection and even anger.
- Why is the gospel offensive to some?
- Have you experienced rejection like Paul when reaching your ONEs? What might be his advice to you?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
