Definition: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Acts 13:46. It’s a really important passage about Paul and Barnabas’s actions and their perspective. Here's a simplified explanation: What’s Happening? Paul and Barnas were arguing about how to spread the message of God – the word of God – throughout the whole world. They felt like it was too difficult, maybe even dangerous, to do that directly with everyone. Let’s unpack the words: “Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnas waxed bold…” - This means they became very confident and outspoken. They were taking a strong stand for what they believed in. “…and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:” – They were suggesting that God needed to speak to everyone directly. Basically, they thought it was important for God’s message to be revealed to everyone, and they felt like they weren't doing that. “but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life…” – This is where it gets a little tricky. They were saying that because they weren’t sharing the word with others, they weren’t worthy of living forever in God’s kingdom. It's a bit like saying, "If we don’t share this message, we aren’t good enough to reach God.” “lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” – This is the crucial part! They decided to focus on sharing the word of God with people outside of Israel , specifically the Gentiles – meaning non-Jewish people. What does it mean? Essentially, Paul and Barnas were suggesting that they needed to shift their focus from directly reaching Jewish people to spreading the message to everyone else. They believed that if they didn’t do that, they wouldn’t be worthy of eternal life in God's kingdom. The big takeaway: This verse is about responsibility and how we should share our beliefs with others. It highlights a shift in focus and a recognition that spreading the Gospel (the message of Jesus) requires reaching beyond just Jewish people. In short, it’s a moment where Paul and Barnas recognized that they needed to be more open and focused on sharing God's message with the whole world. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific aspect of Christian faith (e.g., mission, evangelism)?