Although Paul's teaching about Jesus threatened the religious leaders, many people in Pisidian Antioch did believe - including Gentiles who were overjoyed to know that God loved them. As the gospel reached into their hearts, God gave forgiveness and eternal life to those who believed (Romans 1:16). With so many people expressing their joy in Jesus, He became well known in the whole area. People were talking about Him and the message travelled wherever the messengers went.

But once again, the religious leaders wanted to abolish all this talk about Jesus (Acts 13:45). Instead of directly opposing Paul and Barnabas, they now involved the city council and the women's guilds, especially those who were sympathetic to the teaching of the synagogue. Under Roman law, Judaism was a legally recognised religion and had official protection. So it was acceptable to have a public uprising against illegal religion that threatened the peace of the city.

As Paul and Barnabas were formally expelled from the city they obeyed the instructions Jesus gave His disciples. They shook the dust off their feet as a physical reminder to the townspeople that although they had rejected the gospel messengers, they were still accountable to respond to the message. Jesus said, "But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God has come near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." (Luke 10:10-12).

Their expulsion from the city was not a disaster. Paul and Barnabas had done their job: they had proclaimed Christ crucified and raised to life … and many people had been saved. The city was buzzing with the infectious joy of the new believers; Jesus had become a normal topic of conversation and the Word of God was still spreading. So Paul and Barnabas were full of joy. The Holy Spirit had filled them, giving them His assurance that they had done the gospel job well and that He would lead yet more people to faith in Jesus. That is our challenge too: gladly speak about Jesus, share a clear gospel message (www.crosscheck.org.uk) and trust the Holy Spirit to bring people to faith in Jesus.