Gentiles hunger for the word of God.

Acts 13:42-48

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” Acts 13:42

When the Jewish people left the synagogues, the non-Jewish Gentiles begged Paul that he would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them next week also. The non-Jewish Gentiles were cautious about asking to hear more about Jesus Christ in front of the Jewish people, who fought against the Good News. Those of today’s culture oppose the testimony of Jesus Christ and people feel cautious about seeking the Lord Jesus in front of them.

Some may wonder why the Jewish people allowed the Gentiles to be in the synagogues. The Gentiles were allowed to sit during worship and teaching and were known as “God-fearers”. They were being exposed to the laws of Judaism, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then they heard Paul speaking of Jesus and wanted to hear more. The message of serving God by faith in Jesus Christ is far more attractive than living for God by the laws of Judaism. Some people want to be exposed to life, light, and Salvation, not darkness, destruction, and death. They want to hear about the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, not the earthbound and worldly teachings of today’s society.

Those who live for today’s culture want people to be exposed to the beast that governs through thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. They want people to be open and aware of that entity which gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through them. They want people to be groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

The Gentiles were not allowed into the inner courts of the temple. Likewise, today’s culture restricts non-members from entering into the “inner chambers” of their social networks. “….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’” Revelations 2:24-25

“Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Acts 13:43

Many Jews also wanted to hear more about Jesus Christ from the prophecies of the Old Testament, along with the “devout proselytes”. The devout proselytes were those who were devoted to the laws of Judaism, and Jesus said this about those Jewish proselytes, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:15 This was quite a miracle of Salvation for these proselytes and their Jewish teachers to follow Paul and Barnabas as they were encouraged to continue in the grace of God.

The Holy Spirit works within the good soil of hearts receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” Acts 13:44

“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.” Acts 13:45

The hearts of the Jewish people were not receptive to the Holy Spirit, and the thorns of envy crowded Him out. They saw the multitudes coming to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they contradicted, blasphemed, and opposed what Paul was saying in the name of Jesus. Those who live and govern for today’s culture prohibit the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They squash large multitudes of people coming together in belief in God, sharing the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and encouraging living in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The work of the Holy Spirit in us is to remove the attitudes of envy, conflict, and fighting against the Holy Spirit. This is the work of sanctification to bring us closer to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to do a work of Holiness within us. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” Hebrews 12:14-15

Today’s culture despises anyone or anything that stands in the way of the body, the temple of God, being the home of the beast that governs through thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. Jesus teaches that our body is the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit. That is why today’s culture, which is global, contradicts, blasphemes, and opposes the word of God. They serve the one “… who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4” The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47

Isaiah 49:1-26 is an excellent text to read about the ministry to the Gentiles [non-Jewish people].

When the Jewish people rejected Jesus Christ, this could have put an end to Christianity right there and then. If that would have happened, then the promise God made to Abraham to multiply his seed would never have happened. God promised this to Abraham, “…blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore…” Genesis 22:17 Abraham’s seed was multiplied through the non-Jewish Gentiles [you and me], as quoted, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29

The Holy Spirit says this about our Lord Jesus, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48

From the time of Jesus Christ, up to around 1945 when the United Nations was formed, multitudes upon multitudes around the world came to believe in God through Jesus. The United Nations brought the government of the beast as described in Daniel 8:1-14 and Revelations 17. We are living in the times where the global falling away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ has happened as described in 2 Thessalonians 2. The world follows the beast that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelations 13:8 The “he” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

As a Baby Boomer, born in 1959, I remember Billy Grahm who was a preacher who drew multitudes to hear him speak about Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, who forgives sin and gives eternal life. He had yearly four-day televised crusades on major networks such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. The time slot was around 8pm or so, a prime slot for viewers. However, his ministry came to an end, and he was never replaced. Never again would a major network dedicate four days [in a fruitful time slot], not even one hour, to a true Believer and Gospel preacher such as Billy Graham.

Migrants have been crossing the US border by hundreds of thousands, and even millions, every year. It would seem like this would be prime territory for bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those looking for better opportunities, a new life, the forgiveness of sin, and even eternal life. However, no such ministry exists. Those who govern and live by the beast that gives them what to do, say, think, and feel, covet these migrants for their own unGodly purpose and agenda. That agenda is global, as quoted, “The United Nations emphasizes the importance of accepting migrants as part of global society…The UN encourages international cooperation to manage migration effectively, recognizing it as a key driver of development and prosperity. Furthermore, the UN promotes the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, which aims to address the challenges and opportunities of migration.” {quoted from an internet search}

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11