Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
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.
Already in 13:51, Luke told us that Paul and Barnabas went down to Iconium. They would have travelled along the Roman road, la Via Sebaste. They entered the Jewish synagogue in that city, very likely on a Saturday and, as in Antioch, the Jewish leaders gave them an opportunity to speak. Apparently, both Paul and Barbabas spoke, and then we should take notice of three words… so spoke that… suggesting that they spoke with divine enabling, which penetrated the hearts of Jews and proselytes. In the book of Acts, the preachers spoke under Holy Spirit-anointing and a great multitude in the synagogue believed (v. 1).
The Jews divided… some, along with Gentiles, heard with ears of the heart and received faith, while others resisted and remained in unbelief. No one was neutral, nor can anyone be neutral, upon hearing an anointed gospel. The unbelievers mounted opposition against Paul and Barnabas and their response was also powerful. It produced a demonic poison in the minds of the non-Jewish population (v. 2).
The apostles met the challenge and battled valiantly for a long time, pitting truth against the poisonous lies of the enemy. As in the closing verse of the book of Mark, it was the Lord, Who entered on the side of truth, bringing in supernatural power, working through Paul and Barnabas with signs of heavenly support and awesome miracles (v. 3): They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen (Mk. 16:20). And Jesus made it known, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt. 10:34). He said that the result would be; “A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD” (Mt. 10:36, quoting Mic. 7:6). The sharp sword of God will always bring division (v. 4).
Those who are otherwise natural enemies, such as Jews and Gentiles, join forces against the gospel and in Iconium, not only take a stand against Paul and Barnabas, but act violently, planning to stone them. The city authorities back the opposition (v. 5), the disciples hear of the plan and move on to Derbe and Lystra. Antioch and Iconium have heard and the violence caused the gospel to spread so that others could hear (v. 6). Opposition has always been the friction that causes the gospel to advance. Preaching is a matter of eternal life and death and so the purpose of God moved rapidly to cover the entire territory. The apostles begin to preach in Derbe and Lystra (v. 7).
Paul and Barnabas idolized in Lystra
8. 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.
Lystra was about 20 miles south of Iconium and it is the apostles’ next stop on this first missionary journey. It lay within Lycaonia, a very dry province, formed by Caesar Augustus. Later we will learn that Timothy is from this city. Paul was always concerned that, not only the cities, but the territories around them would hear the gospel. In Romans 15:18-23, he first told of the success of his ministry in the Holy Spirit, “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” He then declares a spiritual principal in 19:21, of reaching the unreached, so that those who were unreached, should first hear. Then, seeing that the gospel was thoroughly preached throughout the Corinthian area, he claimed, in verse 23, “No longer having a place in these parts,” he was free to visit, those who had already been reached in Rome. In Acts 19:10, he had done the same in Asia Minor: “All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
Paul is on a supernatural mission to build a supernatural church and, therefore, he did supernatural evangelism. Along with a miraculous deed. Paul was accompanied by spiritual discernment and could see that to this man was given faith (v. 8). To be sure, God touched the man in compassion, but the miracle also took place to further the cause of the gospel. The man had “ears of the heart,” and was able to receive faith through the preaching of the word. God supplied faith to the cripple and knowledge to Paul (v. 9).
There was a need for Paul to be involved in the healing. God confirmed him as His messenger, bringing His word to Lystra. His pronouncement to stand was not due to a doctrine, assuming that God heals in every case. but he sees His work is being done individually in this man. Paul is not afraid to publicly shout for the man to get on his feet, assured that the Lord would heal him. “He leaped and walked.” (v. 10).
There was an immediate, but erroneous, reaction from the crowd. Without a preparatory work in the heart, the people interpret the act, according to their false Roman/Grecian religion, even in the face of a miracle from heaven. Instead of a manifestation from the Creator, Who made heaven and earth, they see plural gods taking on human form. In their language and according to their religion, their response shows only a human, uninspired response (v. 11). A miracle, not accompanied by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and without the instruction of the Scriptures, only establishes people in their religion.
The supreme pagan god, Zeus, is the Greek name for the Roman god, Jupiter, and Hermes is the Roman god, Mercury, to the Greeks. Hermes or Mercury was believed to be powerful in speech. The Lyconians had a fable that simulated this situation and dark, unanointed minds groped in ancient lies. They thought Barnabas to be Jupiter and Paul, Mercury (v. 12). We are not hinting of a lack in the preaching of Paul, but a blindness in the fallen nature of man.
The result, we will see, was quite similar to that of the crowd that stoned Stephen. In his case, the attackers were Jews and in Paul’s case they were heathens. Both were lost in Satanic deception and religion. Lystra was led by blind leadership, the priest of Jupiter, whose temple was prominently situated at the front of the city. He appears to direct the rituals to be performed by the crowd, that his paganism demanded, intending to do homage to Paul and Barnabas (v. 13).
The apostles heard and demonstratively challenged the damning action, tearing their clothes, and countered the pagans publicly. Because the reaction was false, it was their duty to correct the deception, just as sure as it was their duty to speak the truth. The idea that telling the truth is enough to counter lies, does not carry weight with these two. That supposed principle will not carry weight in the 21st century either. The scene that Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, puts before us, shows a strong negative reaction. Paul and Barnabas will not remain silent and tolerate the Satanic action happening in response to the wonder that took place at their hands (v. 14).
They entered the crowd, challenging the action, which was prompted by generations of superstitious religion, so that they were not only questioning the immediate demonstration, but the acceptance of these false beliefs, from the moment they began to be taught among them… “Men, why are you doing these things?” How could you ever fall so far from God and His truth? There is only one legitimate incarnation, obtained by the eternal Son of God made flesh. Having confronted the lie, occurring in the streets of Lystra, they counter with the truth. Concerning themselves: We are of the same human nature and fallen nature, just poor sinners like you. However, we have been transformed, placed in the Kingdom of God and called to preach repentance. “Turn from these useless things to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.” Every true preacher of the gospel is called to do the same, because no hearer is ready to receive the gospel, until he has repented. Any person, who thinks that he only has a calling to preach positive things, is under a huge deception. We need to quote from this portion in Acts to expose their error (v. 15).
What has changed from allowing heathen nations to walk in their own ways? The answer is, it is the preaching of the gospel, the good news, which begins to be preached with a prelude that shows that mankind are sinners under eternal condemnation (v. 16). However, before the gospel reached them, God witnessed to them through nature. A good God gave them adequate rain (an impressive subject to these people, living in an arid land), with good crops, and reasons for joy and celebrations (v. 17).
With this argument by the one, whom they considered one of their gods, Paul was able to halt the idolatrous proceedings. Be aware, that the reaction, which we have just witnessed, is by no way inspired to God to bring attention to the message. We will see a similar scene unfolding in chapter 16, where a demon-possessed oracle, speaks highly of Paul and Silas (v. 18).
Paul stoned and apparently died
19. 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.
21. 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.
Lystra was very pagan and idolatrous, but it took a more sophisticated form of religious zeal to bring out the worst of their murderous nature. They got that help from the synagogues of Iconium and Antioch. Paul had already quenched their idolatrous tendencies, by spoiling their theory of a visitation from the gods Zeus and Mercury, so they did not need much persuasion to see him as a spiritual enemy of their religion. They stoned him, dragged him out of the city and left him for dead (v. 19).
A miracle took place as believers gathered around Paul. He stood up and entered the city with them. You might want to make a study of various revelations and miracles that came to Paul in Acts 9:3 and 12, Acts 16:9, Acts 18:9-10, Acts 22:17, Acts 23:11, Acts 27:23, 2 Corinthians 12:1-7 and Ephesians 3:1-6. He left with Barnabas to Derbe, before the people could raise a new theory, after hearing that he was miraculously restored after stoning (v. 20).
The gospel was better received in Derbe with many conversions, but the difficulties they endured in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, did not deter them, as they traveled through these cities again (v. 21). There were believers in these three cities, as well, who especially needed the word from the apostles, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (v. 22)
These churches needed the return of Paul and Barnabas to establish plural leadership in every church. They spent time in fasting and prayer to God, communing with Him about the future of their churches. The new disciples had put their faith in Him and what better thing could the apostles do, but pray? These churches were totally indigenous and were entirely dependent on the Lord to keep them and lead them in the future. Even the elders were inexperienced, so it was necessary that the entire body understand that they were led by the Lord Jesus. The churches that were established in this way, had a secure destiny. Who can better care for them than the Lord? “They commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (v. 23).
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
24. 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.
The apostles returned, using the same route by which they had come. They departed from Antioch in Pisidia and then went through the province of Pamphylia (v. 24) until they came to Perga. There is no mention of them preaching in Perga on their inward journey north, but now as they return, they preached there. They continue to the seaport of Attalia (v. 25).
From Attalia, they sail straight across to the seaport of Seleucia, then inland to Antioch, Siria, and meet with the church that sent them out. We see this church become prominent and a notable change takes place in the furtherance of the gospel. The Jerusalem church is totally Jewish, whereas Antioch has a membership of both Jews and Gentiles. The Holy Spirit had sent anointed ministry, prophets and teachers into Antioch to prepare the church for the ministry that lies before them. Paul gives us the church principle, when he writes the Ephesians: “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).
They sent out the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, as verse 26 explains it, “commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed” and now the two return to Antioch to report on their first missionary journey. John Wesley says: “This shows the nature and design of that laying on of hands, which was mentioned in Act 13:3.” All the church had sent them out and now the entire church gathers to hear of the fruit that they had gathered on the trip, each member having taken part in the harvest. They especially reported the ingathering of the Gentiles on the island of Cyprus, including the Roman proconsul. Then they related the success of the gospel in the four cities on the mainland, in which they had preached, first in the synagogues of Antioch, Pisidia and Iconium, then to the Gentile population in all the cities. It was a new highlight to the church everywhere that Gentiles were hearing the gospel and were being converted. They had reached Jews and Gentiles in the entire area with the gospel (v. 27).
They continued for a long period of time in Antioch. Their work in the church at this time was to edify the believers, encouraging them because of their participation in the Great Commission. The missionary should see that it is a good use of his time to emphasize this work in the local church in the homeland. Their interest, prayer and undergirding is an essential part and these brothers and sister will equally share in the final reward, given at the Tribunal of Christ (v. 28).
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