Acts 13:13-19
Never give Paul the mic unless you want to be challenged in your thinking. The people of Antioch of Pisidia are about to receive a history lesson that will remind them of their heritage, but also of the promises spoken by the prophets of old—promises that were foretold and fulfilled in Jesus’ coming. His message is somewhat reminiscent of the defense Stephen gave before the high council, which sounded well and good until he revealed their hardheartedness toward the message.
While the people of Antioch of Pisidia—not to be confused with Antioch in Syria—were largely receptive to the truth, we shall see that the same spiritual forces that challenged Jesus during His time here were obviously still at work behind the scenes, seeking to stir up the people. For now, however, Paul and Barnabas are experiencing the goodwill of the people.
To know the truth, we must always go back to the beginning as a reference point. Paul is reminding the people of their past in order to prepare them for their future. This is a time in history when they are transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant—all things foretold in Scripture. Yet, as we shall see, some preferred to remain in the old.
As Jesus stated during His teaching about the wineskins:
“But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”” Luke 5:39 NLT
Are we stuck in the “old”? Are we resistant to the new? There will always be times when we are challenged to step out into the unknown for our betterment, if we are willing to let go of where we are. Being challenged in our thinking is a good thing because it causes us to dig deeper into why we believe what we believe. If what we believe is true, it will always stand up under scrutiny. If it is not true, we will find that we have a decision to make—embrace the new or remain stuck in the old.
One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth is not ignorance but an unwillingness to reconsider what we have always believed or practiced. God often builds upon the foundations He has already laid, but He also calls us forward into a deeper understanding of His truth. The people listening to Paul had to decide whether they would cling to what was familiar or embrace the fulfillment of God's promises standing before them. We face the same challenge today. A teachable spirit is essential for anyone who desires to continue growing in their walk with the Lord.
While the people of Antioch of Pisidia—not to be confused with Antioch in Syria—were largely receptive to the truth, we shall see that the same spiritual forces that challenged Jesus during His time here were obviously still at work behind the scenes, seeking to stir up the people. For now, however, Paul and Barnabas are experiencing the goodwill of the people.
To know the truth, we must always go back to the beginning as a reference point. Paul is reminding the people of their past in order to prepare them for their future. This is a time in history when they are transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant—all things foretold in Scripture. Yet, as we shall see, some preferred to remain in the old.
As Jesus stated during His teaching about the wineskins:
“But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”” Luke 5:39 NLT
Are we stuck in the “old”? Are we resistant to the new? There will always be times when we are challenged to step out into the unknown for our betterment, if we are willing to let go of where we are. Being challenged in our thinking is a good thing because it causes us to dig deeper into why we believe what we believe. If what we believe is true, it will always stand up under scrutiny. If it is not true, we will find that we have a decision to make—embrace the new or remain stuck in the old.
One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth is not ignorance but an unwillingness to reconsider what we have always believed or practiced. God often builds upon the foundations He has already laid, but He also calls us forward into a deeper understanding of His truth. The people listening to Paul had to decide whether they would cling to what was familiar or embrace the fulfillment of God's promises standing before them. We face the same challenge today. A teachable spirit is essential for anyone who desires to continue growing in their walk with the Lord.
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