In Acts chapter 14, verses 14-41 we have a record of one of the Apostle Paul’s sermons on his first missionary journey recorded in Acts 13-14. In this sermon Paul recounted the history of Israel from their time in Egypt, during the years of Moses, and of King David, all pointing to Jesus the Messiah. The sermon is a great “Reader’s Digest” version of Israel’s history and well worth reading. In that sermon there are some great truths that on their own are worthy of note.
Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen…
Acts 13:16
As Paul called the people to listen he particularly mentioned, “you who fear God.” Why did he say that? Ideally, it was another way of referencing Jewish people, or as Paul put it, “Men of Israel.” But were all “men of Israel” God-fearing people? There is no “people group” who all fear God. There is probably no church of any size in which every person fears God. That is sad, but it is also true. So, in reality it is not a reference to all men of Israel.
I cannot say I know exactly why Paul specifically called those “who fear God” to gather and to listen to his presentation of the Gospel. But I can say that the only people who can understand the preaching of the gospel are those who fear God—or at least are in the process of coming to fear God. Without the fear of God the gospel doesn’t mean much, if anything at all. Without the fear of God the preaching of the gospel is dismissed as boring and irrelevant. Some who do not fear God even scoff at, or are even hostile to the gospel.
What does fearing God have to do with it? The heart that fears God dares not turn away. Those who fear God understand something of holiness of God, their own sinfulness, and are therefore ready to hear about Christ and the gospel of forgiveness. Those who fear God desire forgiveness in Christ and to walk in His ways.