Answer: The disciples were filled with joy and with the
Holy Spirit, (verse 52).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Even though Paul and Barnabas had to leave Antioch of
Pisidia, traveling to the city of Iconium, the disciples left in
Antioch were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit despite
troubles incited by the Jews. Christians are to be joyous.
They are to rejoice:
Psalms 126:2-3: "Our mouths were
filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it
was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things
for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and
we are filled with joy."
Matthew 5:11-12: [Jesus said,]
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in
the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you."
Luke 10:20: [Jesus said,] "However,
do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that
your names are written in heaven."
Acts 5:41-42: "The apostles left
the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and
proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ."
Acts 8:39: "When they came up out
of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and
the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way
rejoicing."
Acts 16:34: "The jailer brought
them [Paul and Silas] into his house and set a meal before them; he
was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he
and his whole family."
Romans 5:1-11: "Therefore, since we
have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does
not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us. You see, at
just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for
the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,
though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But
God demonstrates His Own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified
by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath
through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were
reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not
only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through Whom we have now received
reconciliation."
Philippians 2:14-18: "Do everything
without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless
and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you
hold out the Word of Life--in order that I may boast on the
day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But
even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the
sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice
with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with
me."
Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the
Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
1 Peter 1:3-9: "Praise be to the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through
faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that
your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even
though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result
in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do
not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of
your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 4:12-13: "Dear friends, do
not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though
something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you
participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be
overjoyed when His glory is revealed."
Revelation 19:6-8: "Then I heard
what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing
waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the
wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself
ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to
wear.' (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the
saints.)"
