Act 13:44 | KingComments | STEP | We now get the effect of Paul’s speech. The people are very impressed. There is no jealousy yet, there is only a desire to hear more. Many cannot wait until the next Sabbath and follow Paul and Barnabas, not for the sake of the persons, as often happens, but to hear more. From now on, with a few exceptions ( ), the order is no longer Barnabas and Paul, but Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas gladly fulfill this desire by further teaching them about the “grace of God”. The exhortation is to continue in the grace of God that has been proclaimed to them in the gospel and also to become doers of the Word and to live out and by that grace. They will need it in the resistance they will encounter in their following of a rejected Christ, for as long as He has not yet returned to establish His reign on earth. When the next Sabbath has come, we see that the Word spoken on the previous Sabbath has made a deep impression. It was not spoken to forgetful hearers. These two men, unknown to any man, had not brought their own word, but God’s Word. They must have used the week well for proclaiming the gospel. When they have another meeting on the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembles. They want to hear the Word that comes from the glorified Lord and has Him as its subject. To Him the word of the gospel is related.

‏ Acts 13:44

Effect of the Preaching

We now get the effect of Paul’s speech. The people are very impressed. There is no jealousy yet, there is only a desire to hear more. Many cannot wait until the next Sabbath and follow Paul and Barnabas, not for the sake of the persons, as often happens, but to hear more. From now on, with a few exceptions (Acts 14:14 ; Acts 15:12 ; 25), the order is no longer Barnabas and Paul, but Paul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas gladly fulfill this desire by further teaching them about the “grace of God”. The exhortation is to continue in the grace of God that has been proclaimed to them in the gospel and also to become doers of the Word and to live out and by that grace. They will need it in the resistance they will encounter in their following of a rejected Christ, for as long as He has not yet returned to establish His reign on earth.

When the next Sabbath has come, we see that the Word spoken on the previous Sabbath has made a deep impression. It was not spoken to forgetful hearers. These two men, unknown to any man, had not brought their own word, but God’s Word. They must have used the week well for proclaiming the gospel. When they have another meeting on the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembles. They want to hear the Word that comes from the glorified Lord and has Him as its subject. To Him the word of the gospel is related.