Unworthy of Eternal Life?

Readings:
I Chronicles 24
Acts 13:44-52

Focus:
Acts 13:46: "But Paul and Barnabas were outspoken in their reply. 'It was necessary,' they said, 'that the word of God should be declared to you first. But since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.'"

When Paul and Barnabas do not find a welcoming response among the first people they speak their message to in Pisidian Antioch, they do not judge those people unworthy of eternal life. Instead, they say that those people have judged themselves unworthy of eternal life.

This is an interesting distinction. It implies that we must all take responsibility for our own responses. We cannot say, "Unfair! Those people said we were unworthy!" Instead, we must respond in such a way that shows that we consider ourselves worthy. That means that when we hear the same message of salvation that Paul and Barnabas were preaching, we accept it and make it our own.