IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

God Has Made Us a Light

Date: Oct. 7, 2025

Passage

Acts 13:42-52 (ESV)

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

  “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 13:47

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

  “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

After Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue, many Gentiles were deeply moved and begged them to return the next Sabbath to speak more. By the next week, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. The success of Paul’s ministry made the Jews jealous. So, they began to debate with Paul, contradicting what he taught. They also heaped abuse on him. Their willingness to accept the gospel was part of God’s plan to bring salvation to all.

God used the opposition of the Jews to bring the good news to the Gentiles. When they were rejected by the Jews, Paul and Barnabas told the Jews they had to go to them first, but since they didn’t listen, they would take the gospel to the Gentiles instead. The Gentiles rejoiced at this news, and many came to believe, and the gospel spread all through the region. But this success also brought more opposition, and influential Jewish leaders incited persecution against Paul and Barnabas and ended up driving them out of the area. Despite this, Paul and Barnabas left full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, Jesus is our true light. May Jesus help us to be a light to others by shining through us.

One Word: God has called us to be lights

Daily Bread

“do Not Be Afraid, Keep on Speaking”

Acts 18:1-11

Key Verse: 18:9

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