Once again a picture of proper ministry in my opinion.

Once again I am struck by the picture of ministry presented here by Paul as contrasted with what I see in the Christian world today. 

Acts 13:44-52(NKJV)

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 

For so the Lord has commanded us:      ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,     That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I know I have written about this before but this passage brings it to light again.  Notice how once people have made a choice, either for or against Jesus, the disciples move on.  They don't waste a bunch of time trying to change minds or even worse watering down the message to make it more palatable to those who initially reject Jesus.  They simply "shake the dust from their feet" and move on.

As I have said before, I think we spend too much time and effort on those who have already heard the message and made a choice instead of focusing on bringing the message to those who haven't heard it yet.