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Resisting the Gospel - Acts 18
Resisting the Gospel - Acts 18
In Acts 18, when Paul preached to the Jewish people, Luke states that he ‘reasoned’, ‘persuaded’, and ‘testified’ that Jesus is the Christ.
‘Reasoned’ is used by Luke some 10 times in Acts 17-24 to describe Paul’s preaching. The word is used to speak of a formal address with possible questions and answers following. Luke added ‘from the scriptures’ when he spoke of this in 17:4.
‘Persuaded’ is used by Luke to describe Paul’s work in Acts 17:4; 18:4; 19:8, 26; 26:28; 28:23, 24. Paul would write: "We try to persuade men” (2Cor. 5:11). This means, “to convince someone to believe something and to act on the basis of what is recommended.” (NIV Application Comm. on Acts). They did not just 'present fact' or 'tell stories', but they spoke so as to elicit a response. Their preaching was designed to make people respond.
Finally, he would ’testify’. He was a witness of the resurrected Jesus and thus would add his personal testimony.
While some believed and were baptized (18:8), others resisted and blasphemed. The preaching that Paul and the apostles did was to speak of the death of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection. It seems that the resurrection wasn’t as big a problem as being crucified. “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,” (1 Cor 1:23)
The great Messiah, the conquering King, the powerful son of David, HOW could he be put to death in such a contemptible way? Because God said so! Thus they often phrased this to indicate that ‘it was necessary that the Christ should suffer’ (cp. 3:18; 17:3; 26:23).
So God put before them the message of salvation. They now had to choose what to do with it. Many resisted the evidence and responded by speaking evil of both the message and the messengers. Such rejection was to condemn themselves. There is no other name whereby they can be saved. Their blood is upon their own heads.
We have the same message, and consequently the same choice of how to respond to it. What is your response?
Hugh DeLong
