The Gospel Always Demands a Response
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Acts 13:13–52
✍️ Pastor Gary Boyd
Every Message Demands a Decision
Every message you hear demands a decision — even if that decision is to do nothing.
Think about it:
- 🩺 A doctor gives you a diagnosis. You can follow the treatment plan or ignore it, but either way, you’ve responded.
- 💰 A financial advisor warns you about a risky investment. You can pull your money or keep it in, but either way, you’ve made a choice.
The gospel works the same way. 📖 When it’s proclaimed, it’s not just another piece of information to tuck away for later. It’s God’s good news, and it always provokes a response.
In Acts 13, Paul preaches in a city called Antioch of Pisidia. The very same gospel message goes out to a whole community — and the results couldn’t be more different. Some lean in to hear more, some push it away in anger, and some receive it with joy and obedience. Here’s the truth: those same three responses still happen today… and one of them will be yours.
1. The Gospel Is Proclaimed with Scriptural Clarity (vv.13–41)
Paul stands up in the synagogue and shows how the whole Old Testament was really pointing to Jesus 🙌:
- God chose Israel, delivered them from Egypt, and gave them kings and promises.
- John the Baptist prepared the way.
- The leaders in Jerusalem rejected Jesus, even though they read the prophecies every Sabbath.
- God raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling Scripture and proving He was the Messiah.
Paul makes it crystal clear:
- Through Jesus is forgiveness of sins. ✝️
- Through Jesus is justification — being declared righteous — something the Law could never do.
But he also warns them: rejecting this gospel is despising God’s work… and that always ends in judgment. ⚠️
2. Some Respond with Openness to Hear More (vv.42–44)
The sermon ends, and the Gentiles are practically begging Paul to come back the next Sabbath. Many even follow Paul and Barnabas during the week, asking for more. And by the time the next Sabbath rolls around? Luke says almost the whole city shows up to hear the word of God. 🏙️
That’s the power of the gospel — once people get a taste of its goodness, they want more.
3. Some Respond with Rejection and Active Opposition (vv.45–46, 50)
Of course, not everyone was thrilled. The Jewish leaders saw the crowds and got jealous. Instead of receiving the message, they contradicted it, blasphemed, and eventually stirred up enough trouble to run Paul and Barnabas out of town. 🚫
Rejection of the gospel often doesn’t come from careful reasoning — it comes from pride, jealousy, or fear of losing control. Paul put it bluntly: “You have judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life.” Rejecting Jesus means shutting the only door God has opened for salvation. 🔒
4. Some Respond with Faith, Joy, and Obedience (vv.47–49, 52)
But there’s the other side of the story 🙏: the Gentiles rejoiced, glorified the word of the Lord, and many believed. The gospel spread rapidly throughout the region. And here’s the kicker — even with persecution hanging over them, the new disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. ❤️🔥
That’s what happens when the gospel is received — it changes lives, fills hearts with joy, and multiplies outward as everyday people share the good news.
What About You? 🤔
In this passage, everyone ended up on one side or the other:
- Open but undecided.
- Resistant and rejecting.
- Believing and rejoicing.
The gospel never leaves us where we are. It always demands a response. The only question is: What will yours be today?
A Call to Respond
When the gospel is received with faith and joy, lives change. Families are marked by grace, conversations become full of hope, and communities feel the impact of people who live by the gospel. 🏡💬🌎
Friend, the gospel never leaves us neutral. Every time it’s proclaimed, it calls for a response. Don’t walk away unchanged.
Jesus Christ died for your sins ✝️, He rose again 🕊️, and He offers you forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift 🎁. You can receive that gift right now by turning from sin and trusting Him as your Savior.
If you are already a believer, let today be a reminder to renew your joy in the gospel and look for at least one person this week with whom you can share the good news. The gospel has been proclaimed — now it’s your turn to respond. 🙌
✝️ If you’d like to talk more about following Jesus, please reach out. We’d love to pray with you and walk alongside you in your journey of faith.
