No Joy

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:44-52)

This is a nasty reading from Acts because it demeans and attacks the “Jews.”  For example, the “Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.”  Moreover, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.”  The “Jews” are said by Luke, the author of Acts, to be condemned because they did not believe Jesus was their Messiah.  So, the torch, so to speak, is passed to the Gentiles.

Again: “The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory.”  Those envious “Jews!” [sarcasm].  It's no wonder Christians have historically persecuted and killed people of the Jewish faith because they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah.  Why should they?  Those arrogant followers of Jesus their Christ who would not apply Jesus’s teaching and commandments to their own behaviors.  Hypocrites!

I find it hard to read out loud scripture of this sort.  When I do, I feel Jewish Jesus’s sad eyes on my back and from the cross.  If he could, Jesus would shake the dust from his feet in protest against me.  I don’t feel joy or the presence of the Holy Spirit when I preach in a way he would find offensive.

Deacon David Pierce