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Sunday, October 18, 2020

Acts 13:36-52

Introduction

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

We’ve returned to Antioch this week, and we find Saul of Tarsus, also known as the Apostle Paul, preaching to Jews and Gentiles and witnessing phenomenal results. The messenger is a devout Jew, a Greek-speaking “Hellenist,” and a Roman citizen. His message is revolutionary to the Jews, overflowing with grace for the Hellenists, and irrelevant to the Romans. His audience includes “scoffers” and shrewd political operators whose plan is threatened by the message and its effects.

A Demographic for the Ages

An old saying declares that there are none so blind as those who will not see. It describes what is meant by supposing that the Romans represent indifferent people. Paul must have seen many such persons in his audiences when he preached. He likely had them in mind when he said that some would never receive the grace of God. (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5) His teaching about predestination stirs the human sense of justice and is therefore worthy of its own discussion. For now, let us understand that some people “will not see.”

The Hellenist, or commoners who spoke Greek represent the unchurched or irreligious. They are usually busy tending to life’s day-to-day needs. They are mothers caring for children, feeding their family, attending elders, and helping neighbors. They are fathers striving to provide for their wives and children, finding purpose in their labors, caring for elders, and protecting the community. They are young people who desire a better quality of life, rich relationships, and justice. They are older people who hope for comfort and courage in their declining years. They are civic leaders with conflicting convictions, political pressures, and social concerns. Antioch’s Hellenists are the people of the middle who are wary of false promises, get-rich-quick schemes, and the religion’s moral superiority. 

The Jews represent the religious church-attending who consider themselves “good” as long as their religious peers say so. They have self-identified according to cultural traditions and religious affinity. There are very devout persons within the community. Still, the vast majority practice the religious customs out of a sense of duty more than as an irresistible expression of faith and devotion. They often claim a unique and superior religion but are, in fact, syncretic “cultural jews.” In Antioch, there are also Jewish Christians who have become syncretic too. 

Finally, the scoffers are those whose agenda is threatened by anything that upsets the status quo, especially if their identity, perceived authority, and personal comfort seem to be at stake. Their religion is idolatrous devotion to the flesh. They care little about others and mainly seek personal gain, wealth, and power. They are the persons who eventually drove Barnabas and Paul out of Antioch. 

Conclusion

Each of the representatives above needs a radical paradigm shift. A paradigm shift is a change in perspective. As you’ve heard, some simply will not see from another perspective, and then some are too frightened to change their point of view. But, among the syncretized religious and Hellenist middle class are those who hunger for more. They earnestly desire more meaning. They are the ones who “begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.” They experienced a paradigm shift. 

The change resulted from the Holy Spirit’s work through the Church in Jerusalem, the Church in Antioch, and the Spirit-filled evangelists. The Church in Jerusalem strategically chose Barnabas, a Cypriot Hellenist, to nurture the movement in Antioch. He strategically chose to partner with Saul of Tarsus, a radically devout Jew who gave his life to Christ. Each of them brought relatability to the people in Antioch. Their credibility combined with Spirit-filled teaching and preaching to broaden the perspective of their hearers. 

Have you ever experienced a paradigm shift? Did you change as a result? Is that happening right now? As Spirit-filled servants of Christ, we must also think strategically and pray that His will be done in and through us. We too, can identify with some people better than others, so why not trust that it is within the Spirit’s design that we should bear witness to them?