History: The Israelites and Satan

Read Acts 13:13-52
Title in NIV: Paul and Barnabas minister in Pisidian Antioch.

I love chapters in the Bible that give history. I will put it in list form. It is easier that way and I like lists.
The prophets and synagogue rulers urged Paul to speak.

1. God chose our fathers.
2. God made them prosper during their stay in Egypt.
3. God led them out of that country with mighty power.
4. God endured their conduct for about 40 years in the desert.
5. God overthrew 7 nations in Canaan.
6. God gave the land to his people as their inheritance.
7. All this took about 450 years.
8. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
9.  Then the people asked for a king and God gave them Saul.
10. Saul ruled for 40 years.
11. After God removed Saul, He made David their king saying, "He is a man after my own heart."
12. From David's descendants, God brought Jesus as he promised.
13.  Before Jesus, John preached baptism to all the people of Israel.
14. Paul said, "It is to us this message of salvation has been sent."
15. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus.
16. Condemning Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets.
17. When all was carried out that was written about Jesus, they nailed him to a tree.
18. God raised him from the dead.
19. Many witnesses traveled with Jesus after his resurrection.
20. Paul said, "We tell you good news: What God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us, his children, by raising up Jesus."
21. David saw decay, but Jesus whom God raised from death, did not see decay.
22. THEREFORE, through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
23. Through Jesus everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Paul and Barnabas were asked to come back next Sabbath and continue talking about the grace of God. The Jews saw the crowds and were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 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." The Gentiles honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The Word spread through the entire region. Jews incited God-fearing women of high standing and leading men to stir up persecution against Paul and Barnabas.  They were expelled from the region so they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

A few things that caught my attention: 1) The men spoke boldly. Do I speak boldly about the Lord and what he does in my life?
2) In verse 48, it says the people appointed for eternal life believed. I have a thought about this concept. Last night at church, we read two verses that talked about the devil and his angels falling to earth. So, when I put these two thoughts together, I think that those that are the Lords are appointed for eternal life and Satan's angels are appointed for hell. So, of course, only the one's appointed for eternal life will believe. I still have hope that Satan's angels can be turned to God and that is why we need to be so bold.
3) Even those God-fearing people it talks about can be swayed to do evil. So, be careful to stand firm.
4) There comes a time when you just have to shake the dust off your feet and wipe your hands clean. There comes a time to stop throwing your pearls to swine and move on to be able to do some good in some one who has an accepting heart.


Blessings to you!!