⁵⁰But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Conflicts are a part of life, and being the apostle Paul was not a free ticket to avoid them. How could anyone conceivably criticize the apostle Paul, who was commissioned by God to preach the message of grace through Jesus Christ? The answer: jealousy is an insidious monster that takes over all rational functioning, and razes the mind with its “scorched earth” vengeance against the object of its passion. That is what we have here (Acts 13:45). There was a positive response to Paul’s teaching, that is, until the masses came out to hear him the second Sabbath.

How could these Mosaic Law-abiding Jews, among whom God-fearing Gentiles felt compelled to join in worship, act with such venom and hatred that they would instigate a persecution against the messengers of grace, Paul and Barnabas? Even those who had an appearance of religiosity (those described as “devout women”) dropped their façade, their spiritual veneer. The writer of Hebrews answers the question:

. . . we have had good news preached to us [Christians], just as they [the Jews] also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Heb. 4:2)

I am sure the leading rabbis in Pisidian Antioch could have crafted their diatribes replete with copious Scripture quotations, but they resorted to physical violence and moved to get rid of the evangelistic duo. However, this persecution did not ruffle Paul and Barnabas’ feathers, and they saw no value in resisting it. The seed had been planted; the God-fearing Gentiles who believed were capable of carrying on the work there. Paul and Barnabas simply “shook off the dust of their feet in protest.” One can only imagine them doing this within sight of their detractors. This was their way of saying, “You had your chance; we are leaving you behind just like we are leaving even the dust collected on our feet behind” (see Matthew 10:14, where Jesus instructed the disciples He sent out to preach the word in surrounding towns and villages).

The end of the story? The joy of the new believers in receiving the message of grace overshadowed the persecution they faced (see Acts 5:41, Heb. 12:2). As Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10b).

Lord, I do rejoice in all that You have done for me. And that gives me strength.