Paul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…” What does it mean to be sent by the Holy Spirit?

“…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
This is the foreknowledge of God, not predestination. God knew ahead of time whose names were written in the Book of Life.

Persecution was stirred up against Paul and Barnabas, “So they shook the dust from their feet…”
Often the Jews would shake the dust off their feet when leaving a Gentile town, so this was a familiar phrase. It symbolized cleansing themselves from the contamination of those who did not worship God. Jesus told his disciples to do this if any town would not accept them or listen to them. What does that mean for us as Christians today? If we have faithfully, carefully, and sensitively presented the message of Jesus Christ we are not held responsible for the decision the other person may make. Being filled with joy is a great indicator of being in God’s will and knowing when to “shake the dust”.

Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city where he was left for dead. After the disciples gathered around him, Paul not only got up and went back into the city but he preached the good news and won a large number of disciples. The stoning itself could have killed Paul, the dragging certainly could have. Yet he was able to return to his mission, almost immediately. What happened when the disciples gathered around him????