unstoppable gospel

But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:51-52

Paul and Barnabas initially saw the gospel receive a warm welcome in Pisidian Antioch. Luke records an extended sermon from Paul that was delivered in their first Sabbath meeting at the synagogue there. It was provocative, biblically solid, and winsome. And by the next Sabbath the synagogue was overflowing with those seeking to know more. This scared the Jewish leaders and they asked Paul not to come back to their synagogue.

The gospel team moved on then to do their work among the Gentiles with complete freedom. And disciples were made. The Word of God kept spreading throughout the region, steadily moving forward. The Jews, still jealous of the success and threatened by the large numbers of converts used their influence to stir up an official persecution against Paul and Barnabas that had them forcibly driven out of the region. But this did not stamp out the spread of the gospel!

So Paul and Barnabas had their Matthew 10:14 moment. Obeying the very commissioning words of Jesus, they pause to shake the dust of the city from their feet before moving on to Iconium, where the next phase of missions work would commence for them.

The persecution ultimately failed in two ways: 1) The disciples left behind in Pisidian Antioch were strong, joyful, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This would keep the gospel advancing there despite the persecution. 2) Paul and Barnabus just moved on, preaching the good news, and seeing the gospel have an even bigger regional impact. The gospel response just got bigger in terms of reach, reception, and influence.

The gospel is unstoppable when Christians will proclaim it anywhere no matter what!