Ordination of Paul and Barnabas
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When he had finished, and the Jews had left the synagogue, the
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Gentiles still lingered, and entreated that the same words might be
spoken unto them the next Sabbath day. The apostles created a great
interest in the place, among both Jews and Gentiles. They encouraged
the believers and converts to stand fast in their faith, and to continue
in the grace of God. The interest to hear the words of the apostles was
so great that the whole city came together on the next Sabbath day.
But now, as in the days of Christ, when the Jewish priests and rulers
saw the multitudes that had assembled to hear the new doctrine, they
were moved by envy and jealousy, and contradicted the words of the
apostles with blasphemy. Their old bigotry and prejudice were also
aroused, when they perceived great numbers of Gentiles mingling with
the Jews in the congregation. They could not endure that the Gentiles
should enjoy religious privileges on an equality with themselves, but
clung tenaciously to the idea that the blessing of God was reserved
exclusively for them. This had ever been the great sin of the Jews,
which Christ, on several occasions, had rebuked.
They listened, on one Sabbath day, with intense interest to the
teachings of Paul and Barnabas, who preached Jesus as the promised
Messiah; and upon the next Sabbath day, because of the multitude
of Gentiles who assembled also to hear them, they were excited to a
frenzy of indignation, the words of the apostles were distorted in their
minds, and they were unfitted to weigh the evidence presented by them.
When they learned that the Messiah preached by the apostles was to
be a light to the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel,
they were beside themselves with rage, and used the most insulting
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language to the apostles.
The Gentiles, on the other hand, rejoiced exceedingly that Christ
recognized them as the children of God, and with grateful hearts they
listened to the word preached. The apostles now clearly discerned
their duty, and the work which God would have them do. They turned
without hesitation to the Gentiles, preaching Christ to them, and leav-
ing the Jews to their bigotry, blindness of mind, and hardness of heart.
The mind of Paul had been well prepared to make this decision, by
the circumstances attending his conversion, his vision in the temple at
Jerusalem, his appointment by God to preach to the Gentiles, and the
success which had already crowned his efforts among them.