Acts 13:43

Now when the Congregation was broken vp, many of the Iewes, and religious Proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who speaking to them, perswaded them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 13:43 (KJV)

Acts 13 recounts the events of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. They were in the city of Antioch in Pisidia, where they had been invited to speak in the synagogue. In their message they shared the history of Israel and how Jesus was the fulfilment of God’s promises. The verse in question follows their message and reveals the response of the people.

The Congregation Breaking Up:

The verse begins by mentioning that “when the congregation was broken up.” This indicates that the formal gathering or meeting in the synagogue had come to an end. The people were dispersing, and it created an opportunity for Paul and Barnabas to interact with them individually.

Response of the Jews and Religious Proselytes:

After the meeting, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas. The Jews were the people of Israel who were already familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Religious proselytes were Gentiles who had converted to Judaism and were seeking to worship the God of Israel. It is significant that Paul and Barnabas’ message resonated with these individuals, prompting them to seek further understanding and engage in further conversation with the apostles.

Persuading Them to Continue in the Grace of God:

The verse concludes by stating that Paul and Barnabas, upon being followed, spoke to these individuals and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. This suggests that the apostles emphasized the importance of God’s grace and encouraged these individuals to remain steadfast in their faith and dependence on God’s unmerited favour.

This verse highlights the ongoing nature of God’s grace, emphasizing the need for believers to continually rely on and live in the abundant grace offered by God through Jesus Christ.