Acts 13:52

“The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost - Though in the world they had tribulation, yet in Christ they had peace; and, while engaged in their Master's work, they always had their Master's wages. The happiness of a genuine Christian lies far beyond the reach of earthly disturbances, and is not affected by the changes and chances to which mortal things are exposed. The martyrs were more happy in the flames than their persecutors could be on their beds of down. St. Paul's sermon at Antioch has been thus analyzed. 1. His prologue, Act 13:16, addressed to those who fear God. 2. His narrative of God's goodness to Israel: 1. In their deliverance from Egypt. 2. In their support in the wilderness. 3. In his giving them the land of Canaan. 4. In the judges and kings which he had given for their governors, Acts 13:7-22. 3. His proposition, that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world, Act 13:23. 4. The illustration of this proposition, proving its truth: 1. From Christ's stock and family, Act 13:23. 2. From the testimony of his forerunner, Act 13:24. 3. From the resurrection of Christ, Act 13:30; which was corroborated with the testimony of many Galileans, Act 13:31, and of the prophets, David, Act 13:33, Act 13:35, and Isaiah, Act 13:34. 5. He anticipates objections, relative to the unjust condemnation, death and burial of Christ, Act 13:27-29. 6. His epilogue, in which he excites his audience to embrace the Gospel on two considerations: 1. The benefits which they receive who embrace the Gospel, Act 13:38, Act 13:39. 2. The danger to which they were exposed who should despise and reject it, Act 13:40, Act 13:41.”

“the disciples--who, though not themselves expelled, had to endure sufferings for the Gospel, as we learn from Act 14:22. were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost--who not only raised them above shame and fear, as professed disciples of the Lord Jesus, but filled them with holy and elevated emotions. Next: Acts Chapter 14”