When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord. Today’s Epistle taken from Acts has a huge backstory and exposition. The verse I just read is the climax of thirty-five prior verses. Paul, Barnabas, and their companions end up in Antioch of Pisidia. As is typical of their routine, they go the Synagogue.
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord
Today’s Epistle taken from Acts has a huge backstory and exposition. The verse I just read is the climax of thirty-five prior verses.
Paul, Barnabas, and their companions end up in Antioch of Pisidia. As is typical of their routine, they go the Synagogue. Since they were visitors, they were asked to speak a word of exhortation for the people. That they did.
Paul gets up to speak, and he leads the entire congregation through most of the history of salvation. He covers the journey of Israel from slavery in Egypt, to victory, greatness, the Judges, Saul, David, and all the way to John the Baptist and finally Jesus.
Paul is preaching powerfully, exposing what God had done finally in Jesus – giving those Jews and other faithful in the Synagogue – God’s promise. It was His promise delivered for them in Jesus’ resurrection all laid out in quotes from – Holy Scripture.
God’s words were plain, the words of His promise were clear, and here is the fulfillment of His word accomplished in the Word which is Jesus.
The excitement really built. It looked like a great success. As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again… When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
The God graced success of Paul, and his companions became evident when the whole city showed up next week. Yes, God’s word is that powerful. Considering this powerful word …the Jews were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.
That is when Paul and his companions turned to the Gentiles, who when they heard this, …were glad and praised the word of the Lord.
The reason for this Solemnity is to point to the source of our light and joy – the Word of God. Let us rejoice like those Gentiles for what we have and ensure we study and live it.
