Almost everybody in Pisidian Antioch wanted to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say about Jesus. The previous Sabbath in the synagogue, Paul had explained how the resurrection validated Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 13:32-37). And many believed in Him that day (Acts 13:43). During the week, Paul met with a variety of people who had started to trust Jesus; so by the next Sabbath there was great expectation in the people who realised that Jesus was the only person who could forgive sins and enable sinners to be justified before God (Acts 13:38-39).

However, there was also an agitated group who opposed Paul. They did not honour him as a rabbi but interrupted what he was saying and then poured their jealous venom on him personally. The leading religious people could see how Paul's message could disrupt their power base as people moved from obeying their petty rules to the liberty of a new relationship with Jesus.

Paul and Barnabas did not get angry or return verbal abuse. But under Roman law they had the right to defend themselves in public; and so they responded to their accusers. It would have been wrong to ignore the Jewish community; after all, God had given them a privileged right to hear His Word. But as the Jewish leaders had rejected the truth about Jesus, and the opportunity to receive His life, the apostles would teach anybody who was hungry for truth.

Although we like to think that God gives an indefinite number of chances for people to respond to Him, that is not true (Acts 7:51). There is a responsibility on us to obey every time we hear the truth. To resist the Holy Spirit is a serious matter and God's patience has a limit. Proverbs 29:1 says, "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed - without remedy." Matthew 10:14 records Jesus saying, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." It is so dangerous to resist the voice of the Lord. That should also inform our evangelism and other ministries … tell everybody, but focus on spiritually hungry people.