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The Acts of the Apostles
ers,” who “sometimes were far off,” learned that they had been “made
nigh by the blood of Christ,” and that through faith in His atoning
sacrifice they might become “fellow citizens with the saints, and of
the household of God.”
Ephesians 2:12, 13, 19
.
Advancing in faith, Paul labored unceasingly for the upbuilding of
God’s kingdom among those who had been neglected by the teachers
in Israel. Constantly he exalted Christ Jesus as “the King of kings,
and Lord of lords” (
1 Timothy 6:15
), and exhorted the believers to be
“rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith.”
Colossians
2:7
.
To those who believe, Christ is a sure foundation. Upon this living
stone, Jews and Gentiles alike may build. It is broad enough for all and
strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole world.
This is a fact plainly recognized by Paul himself. In the closing days
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of his ministry, when addressing a group of Gentile believers who had
remained steadfast in their love of the gospel truth, the apostle wrote,
“Ye ... are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”
Ephesians 2:19, 20
.
As the gospel message spread in Pisidia, the unbelieving Jews of
Antioch in their blind prejudice “stirred up the devout and honorable
women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them” from that district.
The apostles were not discouraged by this treatment; they remem-
bered the words of their Master: “Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you.”
Matthew 5:11, 12
.
The gospel message was advancing, and the apostles had every
reason for feeling encouraged. Their labors had been richly blessed
among the Pisidians at Antioch, and the believers whom they left to
carry forward the work alone for a time, “were filled with joy, and with
the Holy Ghost.”
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