The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 (Acts 13:44-52)
Tha next Shabbat, while still in Pisidian Antioch, almost the whole city gathered ter hear tha words of Skipper from Saul Paul. When tha Jews seen tha crowds, they whar filled with jealousy. They began ter contradict what Saul Paul said and heaped abuse on him.
But Saul Paul boldly replied, “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.”
When common folks heard this, they honored Skip’s Code of Conduct, and all who believed received tha promise of eternal life with Skip and his Son. From then on tha saving message of tha Son’s grace spread through tha whole region.
This often be tha case ter day among many who think of themselves as “believers.” They know of Skip’s Code of Conduct. Might even ‘ave read some of it: maybe all of it. But they find some words offensive and reject ’em. They doth not consider themselves worthy of eternal life with Skipper and his Son. And when some feller or lass comes along and points out tha error in thar thinking, such “religious” leaders incite God-fearing folk of high standing and influential crew leaders ter turn on them who hold ter Skipper’s Code. They stir up persecution and expel ’em from thar presence.
Splits, divisions, squabbles over property, “church possessions,” who be saved—who not, these be tha marks of ah mutinous crew. Only Skipper and tha Son kin know tha heart of ah feller or lass. At best, we kin only judge tha fruit of folks. Some live ter do good works in Skip’s name. Others live ter proclaim tha good spiel of Skip’s grace demonstrated through his Son. Our task be ter discern if all Skip’s words be honored in tha crew and our neighbors be honored above us.
After Saul Paul and Barnabas delivered tha good spiel ter common folk, Jewish leaders incited some God-fearing women of high standing and leading men of tha city ter stir up persecution agin tha pair. In short order this rabble of reprobates expelled Saul Paul and Barnabas from thar region.
On thar way through tha city gate, Saul Paul and Barnabas took time ter stop, shake tha dust off thar feet, and send tha message that Skipper would deal with those rebels as he done with all who harden thar heart towards him. From thar, tha pair trekked off towards Iconium.
Back in Pisidian Antioch, though, tha new disciples became filled with tha Holy Ghost of Truth and expressed great joy that they be saved from thar sins. Joy ought always ter be tha result of Skipper’s good spiel of grace, fer when our sins be fergiven and we be filled with Skip’s Holy Ghost of Truth, a great weight be lifted from us.
Ne’er ferget that folks kin be God-fearing and not be Son-saved. Only them who believe in thar heart that tha Son be Skip’s boy and that he died fer thar sins—all of ’em—and confess as much with thar mouths, ‘ill we be spared tha torment that comes after we go ter Davy Jones.
Doth ya believe? Will ya believe? Pray it be so.