Paul tells a synagogue crowd they killed God's promised savior, Jesus.
The episode begins with the hosts introducing the podcast and its network, 1517, before diving into Acts 13. Paul and Barnabas travel from Paphos to Perga, then to Antioch in Pisidia, where John Mark leaves them. On the Sabbath, Paul preaches in the synagogue after being invited to give a word of encouragement. His sermon summarizes Israel's history from the exodus to King David, then proclaims Jesus as the promised savior. He accuses the Jerusalem rulers of not recognizing Jesus and condemning him to death, but God raised him from the dead. The hosts analyze Paul's method, noting he sets up a contrast between God's team and the opposing team, forcing self-reflection. They discuss how Paul's preaching is steeped in Old Testament references to validate his message for a Jewish audience. The hosts highlight Paul's contextual approach, adapting his sermons for Jewish crowds versus Gentile ones, such as in Pisidian Antioch with its temple to Caesar Augustus. Paul emphasizes Jesus' kingship as superior to Caesar's. The sermon concludes with a warning from the prophets and an offer of forgiveness through Christ. Afterward, people beg to hear more next Sabbath, and many follow Paul and Barnabas. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathers, inciting jealousy among Jewish leaders who contradict Paul. Paul responds by saying the word was spoken to them first, but they thrust it aside, judging themselves unworthy of eternal life, so he turns to the Gentiles. The Gentiles rejoice, and many believe, but Jews incite persecution, driving Paul and Barnabas out. They shake the dust off their feet and go to Iconium, where they preach in the synagogue, leading many Jews and Greeks to believe. Unbelieving Jews stir up opposition, but they speak boldly until a plot to stone them forces them to flee to Lystra and Derbe. The hosts note a pattern: preaching brings belief, division, and persecution. They discuss how the gospel spreads under the cross, with suffering and hidden authority, rather than through cultural conquest. The episode ends with a preview of continued persecution in the next episode.
