Paul's First Missionary Journey - In Pisidian Antioch; Acts 13:13 – 52 Part 9

Church History: In the close of his discourse he applied what he had said concerning Christ to his listeners. He had told them a long story concerning this Jesus; now they were ready to ask, what is all this to us? And he tells them plainly what it is to them. It is to their unspeakable advantage if they embrace Jesus Christ, and believe this word of salvation. It will relieve them where their greatest danger lies; and that is from the guilt of their sins: "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, we are warranted to proclaim it to you, and you are called to take notice of it." He did not stand up to preach before them, but to preach to them, and not without hopes of prevailing with them; for they are men, reasonable creatures, and capable of being argued with; they are brethren, spoken to, and dealt with, by men like themselves; not only of the same nature, but of the same nation. It was at their utmost peril if they rejected the gospel of Christ, and turned their backs upon the offer now made to them.
The design of this story was intended to vindicate the apostles, especially Paul from the reflections of the Jews upon him for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, he proceeded with all the caution imaginable, and upon due consideration. There were some of the Jews that were so incensed against the preaching of the gospel, not to the Gentiles, but to themselves, that they would not bear to hear it, but went out of the synagogue while Paul was preaching, in contempt of him and his doctrine, and to the disturbance of the congregation. It is probable they whispered among themselves, exciting one another to it, and did it by consent. They showed, An open infidelity, as plain a profession of unbelief as coming to hear the gospel is of faith.