Acts 14: 1-28

(Acts 14: 1-28)

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.  And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.  And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.  And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:  And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  And there they abode long time with the disciples.

It begins with the scene of Paul and Barnabas entering the synagogue and preaching the gospel on the Sabbath in Igonion. At this time, many people heard the Gospel and converted. However, the Jews who disobeyed the Gospel agitated the Gentiles and prevented Paul and Barnabas from preaching the Gospel and made them feel bad about them.

Despite the hindrance of the disobedient Jews, the two apostles preached the gospel more boldly, and the faithful Lord gave them wonderful power to perform signs and wonders. However, the region is divided into Jewish followers and two apostles, and finally, in a dangerous situation where the two apostles will be stoned, they move to the vicinity of Lystra and Derbe.

Paul and Barnabas moved to Lystra and preached the Gospel, avoiding the situation of being stoned in Iconium. They heal a person who had been unable to walk since birth. The people of Lystra who saw this scene called Paul Hermes, and Barnabas called Zeus, and they considered it a god and tried to sacrifice. However, Paul rebuked their false beliefs. There is a historical background behind the exaltation of Paul and Barnabas by the local people.

Long ago, Zeus and Hermes came to Lystra, and the villagers did not recognize them as gods, and they were coldly treated and rejected. So, there was a myth that the two angry gods destroyed Lystra. They thought that Zeus and Hermes had come down again, seeing Paul and Barnabas calling up the cripples who had been sitting in the car for fear of their ancestors mistreated the gods.

To Paul and Barnabas, who were doing amazing work in Lystra, the Jews chased them from Antioch and Iconion in Pisidia and tried to stone them to death. The incident occurred when Jews who disliked Paul and Barnabas who preached the Gospel came to Lystra, agitated the crowd, and stoned Paul. This incident later appeared in 2 Corinthians 11:24-25, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 』This incident brought great and difficult suffering to Paul enough to mention again when Paul recalls his suffering.

Paul was beaten badly by a stone at this time, and people thought that Paul was beaten and killed, and he moved him out of town. If Paul had died, Paul got up and went back into the city while the many disciples and people who had gathered for his funeral were watching. And Paul and Barnabas come to Derbe. Even though he faces a situation where he could have died, Paul immediately went to Derbe with Barnabas the next day to preach the gospel to many people and make disciples. At this time, Paul got his spiritual son Timothy.

After departing from Syria Antioch to Derbe, Paul and Barnabas return to Syria Antioch again. In order to strengthen the faith of the brothers who preached on the way back, Paul and Barnabas again preached at Lystra and Inion, Pisidia Antioch, and Perga, and then went to Syria Antioch by boat from Addalia. After completing the first evangelistic journey in this way, Paul and Barnabas take a long break and prepare for the next ministry.