44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gatheredto hear the word of the Lord.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled withjealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was sayingand heaped abuse on him. - P126
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad andhonored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the wholeregion.
whout that region. - P127
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with theHoly Spirit. - P127
The people at the synagogue invite Paul and Barnabas to speak again thenext Sabbath. When they do this, some Jews get jealous because there is alarge crowd, and they speak against them. - P127
Paul and Barnabas tell them theyfirst spoke to them as the Lord commanded, but now they will preach to theGentiles. The gospel continues to spread as persecution increases. - P127
Paul and Barnabas are once again speaking in the synagogue, wherealmost the whole city is gathered. Encountering opposition from agroup of jealous Jews, Paul and Barnabas clearly state that their rejectionof God‘s message shows that they have chosen to disqualify themselvesfrom eternal life. - P128
The situation is tense, but there is also great rejoicingon on the part of the Gentiles upon learning that God‘s path to salvationand eternal life is also open to them. - P128
The apostles, too, rejoice as theWord of the Lord spreads and souls are saved, even though oppositionfollows wherever they go. - P128
Those who know the gospel lack no reason tobe glad. The good news of God‘s provision for our salvation brings joyto all who receive this free gift. - P128
Let our rejoicing grow even greater as wesee more and more people hear the gospel and accept it. - P128
Dear Jesus, You brought salvation for everyone. Help us to stand firm in the truthand to prepare our hearts and minds to face all sorts of opposition and ridiculewith joy in the Holy Spirit. In Your name, amen. - P129
In the aftermath of a thirty-six-year civil war that ended in 1996, Guatemala is still in recovery.
- P128
Gangs and mafia are prevalent, around half of Guatemalans live in poverty, and more thanforty percent of young children are undernourished. Christianity in Guatemala is a mix ofCatholicism and Mayan religions. - P128
More than half the population are Mayan descendants andalthough Spanish is their official language, there are twenty-two Mayan-based languagespeople still use. - P128
The good news is that the Bible has been translated into all those minorlanguages. - P128
3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there.
speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the mes-of his grace by enabling them to perform signs andwonders.
4 The people of the city were divided; some sided withthe Jews, others with the apostles. - P130
8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had beenthat way from birth and had never walked.
9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul lookeddirectly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 andcalled out,
"Stand up on your feet!" At that, the manjumped up and began to walk. - P131
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, theyshouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods havecome down to us in human form!"
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they calledHermes because he was the chief speaker. - P132
15 "Friends, why are you doing this? We too are onlyhuman, like you. We are bringing you good news, tell-ing you to turn from these worthless things to the livingGod, who made the heavens and the earth and the seaand everything in them. - P133
Paul and Barnabas preach at Iconium and some Jews and Gentiles plot againstthem. Once they find out about it, Paul and Barnabas flee to Lystra and Derbe.
- P131
Paul heals a lame man there. The crowd sees this and worship the apostles asgods. - P131
Paul tries to make them see that he is just a human being and that theyshould worship the living God. - P131
Though the Greeks in Lystra had faith, their faith was misdirected. Itwas a faith that knew only the gods of the Greek pantheon. So, whenthey see Paul heal a lame man, they recognize that the power at work isdivine but fail to perceive its true source, - P134
Paul and Barnabas thereforepoint them to the one true God, not only as the One who healed theman but also as the One who has always provided them with abun-dance and joy in His kindness. - P134
When we give credit to God for theextraordinary as well as the ordinary things in life, we point others toHim. - P134
Let us not neglect to celebrate God for His everyday blessings. - P134
Father God, thank you for the good news of the gospel. It is the best newsthat the world has ever heard. - P135
Let my life always be a winsome testimonyof the gospel so that through me, many may come to know You. In Jesus‘name, amen. - P135
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