as many existing appointed unto eternal life believed. (Acts 13:47-48)
"It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you since you reject it and judging not, judging itself, worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46)
The next Sabbath Paul and Barnabas spoke again and almost the whole city came together to listen to them, but the Jews in the crowds were filled with zeal and blasphemed, speaking against what Paul was saying (Acts 13:44-45). Paul responds they were not judged worthy of eternal life. The word "itself" ἑαυτοῦ (heautou) could mean himself, herself, itself. Is Paul saying the Jews did not judge themselves worthy of eternal life? They searched the scriptures for eternal life but rejected Jesus. The rich young ruler wanted to know how to inherit eternal life, but he could not see a heavenly inheritance as one more valuable than his earthly. Or did the Word spoken to them have no effect, judging them not worthy of eternal life? I believe the latter fits with Jesus being the Word of Life, whose words are eternal life. And with what Paul writes, as he goes on to say, he had been "commanded by the Lord, to be set forth as a light to the Gentiles to bring salvation to the last, of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Another interesting translation, ἔσχατος (eschatos) does it mean to the ends of the earth or to the last? it seems in the scriptures to be used to mean last, least. The last of a count? the last times? the last places of the earth? the least of the earth? the lowest in plight, the Gentiles who were once far away, without hope, and without God?
It is true those called to the banquet did not come, so he sent messengers out into the highways and byways to compel people to come so his house would be full (Luke 14:23). It is true, Jesus tells the disciples to "go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). But that "as many existing appointed unto eternal life" will believe means God will make it so. And Paul writes God has displayed the apostles last, like as men sentenced to death to become an exhibition to the world (1 Corinthians 4:9). Jesus said the great must follow his example, becoming servants of all, thus the first must become last, and the last first. Certainly, he appoints men to be last, of lowest plight, servants, so to be a light, to bring salvation to the last, the least, of the earth. God chooses the foolish things of this world so that no one can boast in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-30). I believe this is the essence of why God appoints unto eternal life, and that salvation is a gift from God; so that no man can boast.
"for by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves, of the gift of God, not from works so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"I appointed you unto eternal life." It is through faith, not of works, and can not be earned like a wage. (Romans 4:4-5) It is by grace, "the promise is based on faith, that it may depend on grace and so that it may be made certain to all his descendants," (Romans 4:16) So that the promises and the blessings given to Abraham would come through the descendant Christ, it is fulfilled, "all nations and people would be blessed." There is a remnant, the elect, chosen by grace (Romans 11:6-7) Whereby salvation is a gift. And Jesus is the author of faith (Hebrews 12:2). And believing, as Jesus said, is the work of God (John 6:29). Jesus knew who would believe and he said God must grant those to come to him (John 6:64-65). And he would lose none that God had given him. To say, "unto as many existing appointed unto eternal life believed," is to point to it being the decisive work of God, for those who believe and for those he sends into all nations.
"you did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit and that your fruit abides.." (John 15:16).
God saves us and calls us by His own purpose and grace (2 Timothy 1:9). Saving faith is an enduring faith, as Jesus said the true disciple abides, remains in his words. The Book of Life has the names of those appointed, before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). This fits with other scripture, of being chosen before the creation of the world, "just as he chose us in him before creating the world to exist holy and blameless in his presence in love, predestining us for adoption as his own in Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:4-5). This is what Paul means God appointed and placed him as a light to the Gentiles, "but when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles," (Galatians 1:15-16, ESV). And to say Christ had made Paul his own, "not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own" (Philippians 3:12). Where else could you go, where will you find rest and satisfaction for your souls if you have been appointed to eternal life?* If Jonah would have understood this he would have avoided the belly of a fish. David understood this.
Some might seem such a thing to be unfair but to those chosen of God, born of God, to be appointed to eternal Life has massive implications and expectations. I fight the good fight of faith and run the race because he has grabbed hold of me and appointed me to eternal life. To be appointed unto eternal life means I am chosen, and to be chosen is to have a glorious inheritance among the saints and available to me the same power that raised Jesus. For the eyes of my heart to be enlightened to the hope of my calling is to also know "everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (1 John 3:3, ESV).
To be chosen means God has a purpose for us, "he chose us in him before creating the world to exist holy and blameless in his presence in love." To be chosen is to be predestined, called, justified, and glorified, to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29-30). To be appointed unto eternal life is to go and bear fruit that remains, eternal. It means this world is not my home, I am bound for the promised land, to spend eternity with a holy God where no unrighteous will inherit his kingdom. Therefore, to be appointed to eternal life is a call to holiness and godliness, so that I have great confidence in the day of Christ. It is great motivation to be like Christ and to be involved in the advancement of the kingdom of God because he has appointed us unto eternal life.