“And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,
this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus,
as also it is written in the second Psalm,
‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’”
Acts 13:32-33

One of the most unpredictable things you can do at a gathering is to give a stranger the microphone for a little bit. It might turn out great, or it might be something totally unexpected. This is exactly that Paul and Barnabus are given while they visit Psidian Antioch in Acts 13:13-52.Paul is given the go-ahead to preach a few words to the Synagogue they’re visiting, and he walks that group through a rapid-fire history of God’s people, confirms Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic hope, and offers a blistering warning against ignoring what he has to say.

And some people love it, they want to hear more! And the next week the whole city gathers to hear about it. And some people are not so happy about it, because the good news is suddenly for everyone. Not just the religious folks, or the devout folks, or the people of high standing, it’s for the Gentiles as well. This sort of “everyone’s invited” stance isn’t received so well, and Paul and Barnabas are driven out of the district. But when you try to box the truth in, it will explode out, and pretty soon the whole region hears about Jesus.

Join us this Sunday as we read what Paul’s very loose interpretation of a brief exhortation is, and what effect that had on the people who heard it.