Acts 18:1-6
New International
Version (NIV)
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of
Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had
ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and
because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he
reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and
Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching,
testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and
said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
I find it interesting
that when Paul was by himself he ministered to both Jews and Gentiles but when
Silas and Timothy came he ministered solely to the Jews. Maybe he was waiting for them to come for
backup support. He had a pretty good
idea what the reactions of the Jews would be when he began to preach that Jesus
was the Christ and he wanted other Jews to be there to support him. When I read this in the New King James
version it stated that “he was compelled by the Spirit”. Have you ever been “compelled by the Spirit
to say or do something that you really didn’t want to do? What I read next kind of shocked me, “he
became abusive” at this point I decided I needed to read that in another version
or two. As I read in the King James and
New King James Versions I was surprised that neither of these used the term “abusive”
they both just say that he shook his garment . . . I am not sure why the NIV used the term “abusive”
maybe it because of the words he said to them, “your blood be on your own heads”
or his action of shaking his garment were both indications of anger. Yet he had tried to reach them and when they
refused to listen and accused him of blasphemy he realized he needed to go to
those who would listen. The ironic thing
is that he was once one of those who did not listen and persecuted the church
even to the point of death as in the case of Stephen.
Do you know anyone he has
simply rejected the Word of God? They
have rejected the Words He has spoken and they refuse to listen. It can become very frustrating because you
know their destiny as they continue to refuse to listen and receive the Lord
Jesus Christ. It is especially difficult
if they are one of you, a family member, a church goer but not a believer, or
simply someone you used to have close ties to.
There comes a time when you have to let go of them and go to others, praying
all the while that the Lord would convict.
I really don’t believe that Paul was “abusive” yet we can see his words
were straight forward, his actions revealed that he wanted nothing to do with
these people, and he stated the reason why.
He was moved by the Spirit to bring the truth to the Jews and a few
received that truth but more Gentiles and prominent woman were receptive than
were Jews. There came a point that Paul
knew that he need not waste his time with those who did not listen and believe and
go to those who would receive. I believe
he was moved by the Spirit when he responded to them in the manner that he did
although it does not record that.
It is frustrating when
those you love have no desire to hear what the Lord has spoken to you. When they reject you and turn a closed ear to
you. Sometimes the Spirit of the Lord
tells us to turn from them and go to those who will listen. That is one of the hardest steps to take and
I am sure it was difficult for Paul, a true, blood born, trained up Jew but he
did it so others may know Christ. What a
testimony of a true faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As you seek Him today
ask Him who it is that He would have you spread the Gospel to and go and spread
the word whether it is in your comfort zone or not.
Seeking Him with all my
heart,
Sheila
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