June 26, 2022
Evening Service

The church at Antioch, where disciples were first called Christians, was flourishing and the Apostles sent Barnabus to check it out for them.  When he arrived he found a church growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.  He encouraged them to continue upon the journey to follow Jesus and sought out Saul and brought him to the church.  The elders then chose Saul and Barnabus to take an offering to those suffering in Jerusalem.  Upon their return the elders again, prompted by the Holy Spirit, prayed, fasted and laid hands upon Saul and Barnabus sent them out as missionaries.  It was during this first journey that Saul becomes referred to as Paul.  In Pisidia, Paul preached about Jesus in the synagogue and the Jewish Christians and many Gentiles persuaded him to include them in the next assembly which he did on the following Sabbath.  Nearly the whole town was there and the Jews there will filled with envy and began to oppose all that Paul and Barnabus spoke.  It was here that Paul boldly proclaimed that the Jews had rejected Jesus and they would now take their ministry to the Gentiles.  This caused a mixed reaction in that the Gentiles rejoiced that they were granted access to eternal life, but the Jews stirred up the people of the city to oppose them and expel them from their city.  These Jews now will become enemies of Paul and the church and oppose and persecute him from this point on throughout his ministry.

Act 14:1-7 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.  (2)  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.  (3)  Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  (4)  But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.  (5)  And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, (6) they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.  (7)  And they were preaching the gospel there.

            Paul’s ministry continued to flourish as his message drew “great multitudes” of both Jews and Greeks who believed on Jesus.  Then here came the Jews and notice how Luke puts it “poisoned the minds against the brethren.”  I feel that is happening today as the media is spinning the news to “poison” the minds of those who listen.  If you don’t know the truth you will be deceived.

            So persecution arises up against them, so they run as fast as they can?  No, the stay there for a long time, speaking boldly and God vilified them by allowing many signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  So the miracles surely won these people over correct?  No, many still did not believe despite the miraculous signs.  Note that miracles do not assure doubters to believe.  Many times we spend our time and energy praying and wishing for miracles, when we should actually be praying God’s Will be done and sharing the gospel message.  It is God who adds to the church and He will do so how He decides to do it.  Things got so bad that there was a violent attempt to stone them so they fled to Lystra and Derbe.

            Note these three cities Iconium, Lystra and Derbe are all in southern Galatia and the churches there may have been the recipient of his letter to the Galatian church.  The main message in that letter was refuting the Jewish teaching that to follow Jesus you had to obey the Law.

 

Act 14:8-18 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.  (9)  This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, (10) said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.  (11)  Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"  (12)  And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.  (13)  Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.  (14)  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out (15) and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, (16) who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.  (17)  Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."  (18)  And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

            In Iconium the miracles God did through Paul and Barnabus brought upon them persecution.  Here the opposite happens and they attempt to set them up as gods and worship them.  We saw how that worked out for Herod in chapter 12 as they proclaimed him a god and he loved it and accepted the praise.  He was immediately struck by an angel, died and was eaten by worms.  Paul and Barnabus will have no part of this attempt and cry out as they tore their clothes (an act of grief or mourning) and cried out that they were not gods but only men with the same nature.  They were only speaking of the things that they had witnessed and knew to be true.  This event may have been one of the reasons Paul instructed us this morning in Timothy to not appoint a “novice” in the position of pastor as a younger man may have been tempted to accept the praises rather than reject them as he should.  Notice how quickly things change here for these disciples.  Here they are trying to persuade the crowd they are not gods and then those who oppose them arrive and everything changes.

 

Act 14:19-20 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.  (20)  However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

            Things changed so quickly this time that Paul could not escape unharmed.  Luke tells us they stoned him to the extent that they thought he was dead.  Think on how terrible that experience would be.  A crowd surrounds you and literally throws stone at you until they kill you.  Paul was doing the work of the Lord, but yet God allows this terrible thing to happen to him; it doesn’t make sense does it?  This is the same Paul who later writes to the Roman church that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”  All things often include a time of suffering which will eventually work out for the good.  Remember that next time things don’t go as you have planned even when you are doing the Lord’s work!  God was not done with Paul as he arises and runs away to hide; no he “went back into the city.”  If God is for you, who can oppose you?  Even a stoning did not deter Paul from his calling to follow Jesus!  Lord grant to us the same resolve!

 

Act 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, (22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."  (23)  So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

            Paul and Barnabus return to these cities they just visited and “strengthen the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith.”  What a testimony Paul now has of being stoned and left for dead, but yet through the grace of God here he is (al things working for good!)  Notice also this is the transfer of authority we have been talking about.  Jesus gave the apostles full authority to speak in His Name and they in turn handed that authority off to the leadership of the local churches who now speak in Jesus’ authority.

 

Act 14:24-28 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.  (25)  Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.  (26)  From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.  (27)  Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  (28)  So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

            This completes Paul’ first missionary journey and I am sure it felt good for them to be home among family.  Can you imagine the eagerness of the brothers and sisters there to hear what God had been doing through these men whom they had sent out?  “So they stayed a long time with the disciples.”