Have you ever been in a conversation or been reading something and you missed something significant?  Maybe your mind was elsewhere or you just didn’t pick up on something but it happens to us all.  There are moments in Scripture where there are significant things that you can easily miss.  Let’s look together at one that is found in Acts 13. 

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region

When we think of the early church we usually think about the apostles and what a great job they did of sharing the message of Jesus with the world.  This is true and they deserve a ton of credit.  I think we sometimes neglect the importance of everyone in the early church sharing with their friends, and neighbors as well.  Take a look back at verse 44 in this passage.  What does that tell you?  In one week it went from a few people curious about Paul’s message and asking some questions to an entire city coming to hear what Paul had to say.  How does this happen?  It happens because people were sharing the message and inviting others to hear more.  That is the real way that the early church grew as well and as fast as it did.  People were passionately telling their friends and neighbors about Jesus and inviting them to come and hear more.  The apostles were simply the voice that proclaimed the message it was the people who were really spreading it far and wide. I pray that we also would be a people that share the message and love of Jesus far and wide!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave