Reading for July 28th

 Read Acts 13.44-14.7. In 13.44-45: On jealousy, see Acts 5.17; 7.9. those who were contradicting Paul were probably also accursing him of blasphemy on the grounds of their scriptural arguments. In verses 46-47: Their boldness is again inspired speech (4.13, 31; 9.27-28). Paul uses the promise from Isa 49.6 (see 1.6-8) as a prophetic reproof and repeatedly declares his turning to the Gentiles (18.6; 28.28), but he never stops witnessing to Jews. In verse 48: The phrase as many as had been destined for eternal life again alludes to "the definite plan" of God in the scriptures (2.23; 3.24). In verse 49: On the word of the Lord, see 12.24; 13.44, 46. In verse 50: Persecution again causes the mission to move ahead (8.1) In verse 51: In Lk 10.11, Jesus warned his disciples about shaking the dust off their feet. In 14.1 The mission in Iconium again begins in the synagogue (13.4). In verses 4-5: In this passage (see also v. 14), Paul and Barnabas are called the apostles, a title otherwise reserved in acts for the "the twelve" (1.26). they are clearly Jewish, but are contrasted with the Jews, who must be those who hold a strict "Jewish" or "Judean" interpretation of the faith of Israel (15.1) as they divide the residents, apparently including both Gentiles and Jews, against Paul and Barnabas. Comments or Questions.