Perhaps it was my interest in Cyprus, with family there, that prompted me to turn to Acts 13. On his first missionary journey, Paul & Barnabas traveled across Cyprus from Salamis to Paphos, from East to West.  They crossed the Mediterranean, landed on the coast of Cilicia, in Modern Turkey, and reached Antioch.  Let’s observe two great evangelists at work and learn from them about the preaching of the Gospel.
They followed a clearly defined procedure: to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. So on the Sabbath Day they entered the synagogue. They listened to the readings of Scripture, first from the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses and then from the Prophets, which included the Old Testament history books! After the readings, the authorities invited Paul to speak since he was a rabbi & scholar.


PAUL SPEAKS TO TWO DISTINCT GROUPS

He asked for their attention, Acts 13 v 16: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.”  The Jews were the ‘men of Israel’; ‘you who fear God’ were Gentiles who attended the synagogue regularly but were not circumcised.  So he deliberately included both groups in attendance at the synagogue.  In those days many Gentiles attended Jewish synagogues to hear Scripture, which was highly regarded in the Roman world.
Paul starts his message by reviewing Israel’s history from slavery in Egypt to the reign of King David.  From David, a man after God’s own heart, God raised up for Israel a Saviour, Jesus, Acts 13 v 23.  Again he includes both groups, Acts 13 v 26, “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, (Jews) & those among you who fear God (Gentiles), to you the word of this salvation has been sent.”  
 That is the application of his message of salvation: to you is this Word of Salvation sent. He is challenging them: What will you do with this word of salvation which God has sent to you & for you?
Paul explained that the rulers of Jerusalem, not knowing Christ nor their own Scriptures, put Him to death; but God raised Him from the dead.  He quotes Scriptures anticipating the resurrection of Christ.  Then he reaches the climax of his sermon with this exhortation: “Let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all who believe are justified.”


DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO THE GOSPEL

How then did people react to the sermon, to ‘the word of this salvation’? Acts 13 v 42, “the Jews went out of the synagogue!” They walked out without a comment - no response! no interest! They cleared off, as so many do after ministry with nothing to say - except about the weather or a stabbing complaint!  It happens every Sunday in churches everywhere.  Some hear the Word of Life and get out quick with pointed disinterest - lest the Gospel catch them!
By contrast, “the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath!”  Unlike the majority of the Jews, these God-fearing Gentiles believed God’s Word.  The outsiders believed; the insiders took little interest!  To the Gentiles present it was no mere ‘tradition of the elders’; it was the living Word of the living God!  That is how they heard it – in the fear of God!  After hearing it, they wanted to hear more!  So they begged Paul not to be put off by negative reactions but for their sakes to speak the same Word again next Sabbath.  ‘Preacher, don’t go silent on us! Don’t go away! I beg you, give us the Word!’
That is a sign of life, that we love the Word, need the Word, desire the Word and beg for the Word!  It’s a sign of death when we walk away!  Today, though Islam threatens to silence the Gospel in this land, the Gospel is met with wide-spread apathy & disinterest.  Few receive the Word with open-faced gladness. Don’t we care if we loose the Gospel?


THEY COULD NOT WAIT A WEEK

So did they wait for the next Sabbath to hear the Word again?  Not at all!  Acts 13 v 43, “when the congregation had broken up - literally, when the synagogue loosed - many Jews and devout proselytes (Gentile God-fearers) followed Paul and Barnabas.”  The congregation loosed, scattered but some did not want to scatter; they followed Paul – literally, they took the same road!  They stuck to Paul and Barnabas and gave them no peace; they refused to be put off; they were determined to get hold of the Gospel.  They needed no urging, no persuasion.  Wild horses could not keep them from the preachers.
So they forced themselves on Paul and Barnabas. The preachers’ concern was to “persuade them to abide, to continue in the grace of God.”  They were determined to follow the preachers; but the preachers wanted them to cleave to the grace of God.  The Word of this Gospel is the Grace of God.  When we deserve judgment as sinners, God heaps blessings upon us in the Gospel! That is grace, God’s unmerited favour n Christ Jesus! So abide, remain, continue in the grace of God – don’t walk away from the grace of God; don’t grow cold!


THE NEXT SABBATH DAY

By the next Sabbath the whole city turned out, Acts 13 v 44, not so much to hear Paul the preacher as to hear the Word of God spoken through His servant.  
 Strangely what annoyed the Jews was not Paul’s message so much as the crowds who showed an interest, Acts 13 v 45.  In those days, Jews thought Scripture belonged to them, not to Gentiles. They didn’t mind proselytes attending their synagogue on their terms.  But this was too much!  The whole city wanted God’s Word from this rabbi, Paul!  The Gentiles were taking over the Gospel! Motivated by envy, they found fault with everything Paul said; they contradicted him and spoke blasphemies against his Gospel & opposed all the things he said.
 Have you noticed that?  Religious people don’t like it when outsiders show more interest than they do in the Scriptures!  The outsiders show them up!  And have you noticed that once a negative spirit gets hold of us, we find fault with everything?

 Paul’s main concern was not to be polite and avoid giving offense, but to tell the truth, whether people liked it or not!  So Acts 13 v 46 says that Paul and Barnabas became “bold” as they confronted their opponents.  They explained their God-given evangelistic policy, their method & procedure, Acts 13 vs 46-47. “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’.”
Paul says: 1st In the plan of God this word of salvation is sent to you first. You get first opportunity.  2nd If you reject it, we turn from you, we withdraw from you! You have ‘judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life’!  3rd So we turn to the Gentiles, to outsiders, to sinners in the world, because God has commanded us to undertake a global mission and reach the ends of the world with the Gospel.


THE SAME PATTERN OF REJECTION IS HAPPENING TODAY

This same pattern is happening in our world today. This country, once the most Christian in Europe, is possessed by a spirit of unbelief and delusion, to believe a lie.  God is therefore with-drawing the light of the Gospel and giving us over to pagan religions, from Satanism and spiritism to Islam and Hinduism.
Is the same pattern happening in Workington? To you, God has sent the word of this salvation.  But there is little interest.  Take care lest God remove His servants and cause there to be a famine for the Word of God in town.
Is the same pattern happening in your heart?  Do you hear the Word of life and walk away and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life?  It took only two weeks for the Jews in Antioch to reject Paul!  They lost the Gospel after two weeks Gospel preaching!  God has been more patient with you than with the Jews of Antioch!  Beware lest time run out for you!  Beware lest God give you the desires of your heart and sends leanness to your soul – lest God take His Word from you or you from His Word.
There is no middle ground.  Either you must side with the rulers of Jerusalem who crucified the Christ!  Or, you must side with God Who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead?  Which is it to be?
Do not resist the Spirit of God a moment longer.  Hear the Gospel as the Word of God and continue / abide in the grace of God!  Lay hold on eternal life with such determination than the threats of unbelievers cannot deter you, for “to you is this Word of Salvation sent!”