Well, he and Dr Robinson agreed here!
s the Gentiles heard this they were glad (ακουοντα τα ετνη εχαιρον — akouonta ta ethnē echairon). Present active participle of ακουω — akouō and imperfect active of χαιρω — chairō linear action descriptive of the joy of the Gentiles. Glorified the word of God (εδοχαζον τον λογον του τεου — edoxazon ton logon tou theou). Imperfect active again. The joy of the Gentiles increased the fury of the Jews. “The synagogue became a scene of excitement which must have been something like the original speaking with tongues” (Rackham). The joy of the Gentiles was to see how they could receive the higher blessing of Judaism without circumcision and other repellent features of Jewish ceremonialism. It was the gospel of grace and liberty from legalism that Paul had proclaimed. Whether Galatians 4:13 describes this incident or not (the South Galatian theory), it illustrates it when Gentiles received Paul as if he were Christ Jesus himself. It was triumph with the Gentiles, but defeat with the Jews. As many as were ordained to eternal life (οσοι ησαν τεταγμενοι εις ζωην αιωνιον — hosoi ēsan tetagmenoi eis zōēn aiōnion). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative of τασσω — tassō a military term to place in orderly arrangement. The word “ordain” is not the best translation here. “Appointed,” as Hackett shows, is better. The Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God. On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly accepted what the Jews had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why these Gentiles here ranged themselves on God‘s side as opposed to the Jews Luke does not tell us. This verse does not solve the vexed problem of divine sovereignty and human free agency. There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God‘s plan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push him away. Believed (επιστευσαν — episteusan). Summary or constative first aorist active indicative of πιστευω — pisteuō The subject of this verb is the relative clause. By no manner of legerdemain can it be made to mean “those who believe were appointed.” It was saving faith that was exercised only by those who were appointed unto eternal life, who were ranged on the side of eternal life, who were thus revealed as the subjects of God‘s grace by the stand that they took on this day for the Lord. It was a great day for the kingdom of God.
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The Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament. Copyright � Broadman Press 1932,33, Renewal 1960. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman Press (Southern Baptist Sunday School Board)
It is evident that whether the Greek verb τεταγμένοι, used in this context, has to be in the middle, and not passive voice. In verse 46 we read that the rejection of the Gospel Message that Paul preached, was the self-act of the Jews", "but seeing that you reject it", and "consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life". Did God reject the Jews? No. Did God consider them unworthy of eternal life? No. After THEIR OWN rejection and assessment of THEMSELVES, that Paul took this same message to the Gentiles, who we read, "were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord". Here we have one group, they Jews, REJECT the Gospel; and the other group, the Gentiles, ACCCEPT the same Gospel Message. The meaning of this verb is, "to arrange, to enrol", which the Gentiles did by accepting what the Jews has by their own determination, had rejected. Which is what Robertson says:
"The Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God. On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly accepted what the Jews had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why these Gentiles here ranged themselves on God‘s side as opposed to the Jews Luke does not tell us. This verse does not solve the vexed problem of divine sovereignty and human free agency.
There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God‘s plan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push him away."
There is no "predestination" in this passage, of the Gentiles; or the "rejection" by the act of God, of the Jews. In both cases, they acted themselves. In 2 Thess. 2:10, we read similar, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved". It was only then, does Paul go on to say, "
And for this cause God shall shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.(11); and then, "That they all might be damned
who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (12). Can you see here the actions of those who rejected The Truth, "in order that" they might be saved. After this hardness of heart, does God Himself, "shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie". So that after their wilful rejection of the Gospel, their end is damnation, because they "believed not the Truth".