After Paul and Barnabas departed Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia.  They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.  They didn't go in demanding to be heard.  Sometimes it is better to listen to others a while before we begin to share the gospel.  If we attempt to beat them over the head with the gospel when we first encounter them, they may become defensive and never listen.  The leaders of the synagogue read the law and prophets.  They knew God's Word pointing to the Messiah, but that was now old news.  After reading, they asked Paul and Barnabas if they had a word of exhortation.  I'm not sure what they expected, but I don't think it was what they got.  Then Paul stood up and asked the religious leaders, who he called men of Israel and those that fear God, to give listen to him.  He did not start by telling them they were lost and doomed to hell.  He started by addressing them with respect.  I don't think we will ever be really effective in presenting the gospel if we look down on those we are trying to reach.  I am not saying standing on the street corner preaching the gospel is wrong.  Yet, if we do this, we need to do it out of compassion and without an air of superiority.  Paul met them where they were spiritually and then preached to them Jesus.  We have to start where people are spiritually and lead them with respect to understand Who Jesus is.  Paul, who had been ready to drag Christians bound to Jerusalem to be punished now reached out to the leaders of the synagogue with compassion.  Then, as we will see, he let them know that he indeed had a word of exhortation.