They shook off the dust...
Illustration
"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." (vv. 51-52)
A good Jew would not bring any heathen dust into the Holy Land. The dust would be shaken from his sandals before entering Palestine. Therefore, to shake the dust off against a person was the equivalent of treating that person as a heathen, and relinquishing oneself of all responsibility for a self-condemned person or community.
The disciples had been defeated by their enemies at Antioch of Pisidia. But they were not defeated in their mission. They moved on "with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
Studies show that ministers often feel a great deal of responsibility and guilt. It is common for ministers to ask themselves over and over again, "Where did I go wrong with so-and-so?" or "If only I had called on this person sooner." It is important to remember that conversion is the work of the Holy
Spirit. And, while we try our best, sometimes we lose people, like Paul and Barnabas at Antioch. But we keep on going "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" because Iconium is just over the hill and we must be about God's work.
A good Jew would not bring any heathen dust into the Holy Land. The dust would be shaken from his sandals before entering Palestine. Therefore, to shake the dust off against a person was the equivalent of treating that person as a heathen, and relinquishing oneself of all responsibility for a self-condemned person or community.
The disciples had been defeated by their enemies at Antioch of Pisidia. But they were not defeated in their mission. They moved on "with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
Studies show that ministers often feel a great deal of responsibility and guilt. It is common for ministers to ask themselves over and over again, "Where did I go wrong with so-and-so?" or "If only I had called on this person sooner." It is important to remember that conversion is the work of the Holy
Spirit. And, while we try our best, sometimes we lose people, like Paul and Barnabas at Antioch. But we keep on going "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" because Iconium is just over the hill and we must be about God's work.
