Acts 13:42-52

13:43 | One of the greatest temptations facing Jewish converts was to return to legalism. So Paul encouraged them to remain in grace, a recurring theme in his epistles, particularly to the Colossians and Galatians.

13:45 | As in Jesus’ trial, envy was the primary motivation behind the Jews’ attack on Paul, and contradicting and blaspheming was their method to make the crowd disbelieve him (1 Pet. 4:4; Jude 10).

13:48-49 | Paul turned to the Gentiles – just as Jesus had commissioned him to do. And thus the ship of salvation began its slow turn from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

13:52 | One characteristic of the early church, especially in the aftermath of Paul’s preaching, was great joy among the believers. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are also filled with joy – a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) – even in the midst of trial and persecution.