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"Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you;
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and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.
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Beware, then, lest what is spoken in the Prophets should come true of you:
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`Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"
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As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people earnestly begged to have all this repeated to them on the following Sabbath.
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And, when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.
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On the next Sabbath almost the whole population of the city came together to hear the Lord's Message.
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Seeing the crowds, the Jews, filled with angry jealousy, opposed Paul's statements and abused him.
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Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles.
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For such is the Lord's command to us. "`I have placed Thee,' He says of Christ, `as a light to the Gentiles, in order that Thou mayest be a Saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth.'"
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The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed.