The Daily Office for September 10, 2012
Scripture Readings
Old Testament
Psalm
New Testament
Gospel
Reflection
In today's passage from Acts, Paul reminds his Jewish audience that it was necessary for the word of God to first be given to them and, if they rejected it, then he would turn to the Gentiles. Their rejection at the synagogue, however, did not stop the influence upon the Gentiles, who glorified the word of the Lord. Thus the response by the Gentile “God-fearers” seems to have been outstanding. Without a doubt this incident serves as the great turning point in Paul’s missionary strategy. While he continued to offer the gospel to the Jew first, he now concentrated his major attention on the most responsive element of society to whom he was preaching: the Gentiles.
Of course, it is the living Lord of heaven, Jesus Himself, who directs the activities of His messengers and opens and closes the doors of opportunity which He sets before them. There can be no doubt that the apostles were to be personally responsible for carrying the message of Christ to the hearts of men and women. But the “Acts of the Apostles” was really the "Acts of Christ" carried on through His apostles. The persecution against Paul and Barnabas here is the first such action recorded against the missionary enterprise of the early church. The shaking of the dust off their feet implied their recognition of the rejection of their Message and their rejection in turn of those who had refused Christ’s salvation. Notice that the disciples were not discouraged by this incident but were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost, as should we today whenever we face rejection when sharing the Good News.
Collect for the Day
Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.