Acts 14:1-28 "Paul's First Missionary Journey Concludes"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 14. Acts 14:1-28.... today.

The last three weeks we observed “Paul’s First Missionary Journey.” Last Sunday, we wrapped up Chapter 13 looking at the response to Paul’s first recorded sermon.

Paul and Barnabas travelled to Antioch in Pisidia and preached the gospel at their synagogue… to both Jews and devout Gentiles alike.

Paul’s message to them was the Gospel. The good news message of grace that salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ…

NOT by adhering to the strictness of the law.

Many of the Gentiles begged to hear these words again the next Sabbath. Even some of the Jews were interested, and Paul exhorted them, “continue in the grace of God.”

The next Sabbath, almost the whole city came to hear the word of God… which made the unbelieving Jews envious so they plotted against Paul and Barnabas with Roman officials, and had them expelled from their region.

In this rejection of the Gospel and everlasting life… Paul denounced them saying “we turn to the Gentiles” which was commanded by the Lord through Isa 49:6.

“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Because of this unbelief and persecution, Paul and Barnabas “shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.”

And yet, they were not defeated… last we read in V52 “.... the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Today, we pick up at Iconium and will see Paul and Barnabas travel to a number of cities and ultimately return to their sending church in Antioch of Syria.

Thus, our sermon title for today is “Paul’s First Missionary Journey Concludes.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 14:1-4 “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.”

Let’s pull up our map of Paul’s First Missionary Journey, and focus on the star on the map pointing us to the city of Iconium in the Region of Lukaŏnia.

Our missionaries have travelled east out of the Galatian Region… and are very close to Timothy’s hometown of Lystra.

Iconium is in the central part of Asia Minor. The city of Konya, Turkey today. It’s an ancient city… dating back to 3000 B.C.

This city stands at almost 3,800 feet above sea level on a fertile plateau in a mountainous region.

It was the Roman Capital city of that region, and had strong Greek cultural roots.

The very name of this city ties to the Gk. word “eikon” meaning image. There was a legend that a great flood destroyed mankind. That much is fact… a great flood did destroy mankind.

But the Greek legend was in this city… life was restored by the Greek gods Prometheus and Athena who made human images from the mud of this realm and breathed life into them.

So often the counterfeit steals from the original.

The truth is Gen 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” And, that happened before the flood.

So, Iconium is where Paul and Barnabas now are… a cosmopolitan capital city… lush in agriculture, pagan influence, and a Jewish population.

According to their pattern… they go to the synagogue of the Jews first… V1 states they “spoke”, but not what they spoke specifically…

V4 indicates they were speaking of “the word of His grace.”

I would suggest they again share the Gospel message, for what other message would they share? There’s no other message.

I imagine Paul preached a similar message to what we saw in Acts 13:16-41.

While we don’t read the message, we do see the result… and once again the crowd is divided…

They should have all been excited. Paul preached “the word of His grace.” Everyone should have received that grace filled message, but they didn’t.

And, for some of you… not everyone was excited when you became saved. I know that was my case.

My friends didn’t like who I became in Christ.

In Iconium… On one side: “...a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.”

Greeks referring to Gentiles.

On the other side V2 “… unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds...”

Poisoned is def as “embittered” - “to make angry.” They are a negative influence.

With any true work of God, opposition is often present. Opposition is a sign of truth because the enemy doesn’t need to attack a lie.

Opposition is evidence that God is working in the hearts of the people.

When God shows up, so often the enemy does as well. And, here in V2, he uses these Jews to sow doubts amongst the Gentiles who heard the truth.

The enemy is the bird in the Parable of the Soils looking to snatch away the seed… which is the word of God.

In 1 Cor 16:8–9, Paul wrote, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Many times Paul saw open doors and opposition side-by-side. Persecution… adversaries… they’re not an indication, necessarily, of a closed door.

So, don’t be discouraged if opposition is present in God’s work. The enemy will sow doubts in the minds of some… perhaps even making them embittered… but it’s an evidence of a true work of God.

How do Paul and Barnabas respond to this opposition? Well… they come in ‘guns blazing’... oh no wait… that’s not what it says. Look at V3. “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord”

NASB states, “…speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord...”

They don’t seek to destroy the people. They seek to minister to the people. What wonderful boldness… what wonderful love despite opposition!

Sounds like God’s love.

There is opposition, so they determine… “The enemy is bold, WE will be bolder.”

1 Jn 4:4 states “… because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Because of the opposition “they stayed there a long time.” Not a short time… they drop anchor. They hold their ground for a long time.

And, God blessed their work… in V3 we read the Lord was “…bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

A fruit or evidence of a true work should be apparent.

As the word goes out… people should be getting saved. Believers should be sanctified… lives should change.

God should grant miraculous signs and wonders.

Notice the signs and wonders here are granted with a purpose. The Lord was bearing witness to the word, and used signs to back the truthfulness of His word.

Often Jesus healed a person, and then… preached a lesson. The healing set the stage for the teaching.

Signs by def. means “a distinguishing mark, a token, a proof, an evidence.”

Signs convey a lesson. They confirm events or times, or verify the veracity… the truthfulness of a person, such as Messiah, an apostle, deacon, minister, and so forth.

Wonders create a sense of awe. They are unusual events that testifies of the supernatural.

Signs touch the mind, where wonders touch the heart.

Both mark an apostle. But it’s important to discern if the sign and wonder is truly of God…

1 Jn 4:1 warns of false prophets with lying words… “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Does the word of the teacher match the teaching of the Bible? If not, buyer beware.

2 Thes 2:9-10 also warns, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish...”

So be cautious… not all signs and wonders are of God. They may be designed to deceive.

What are the signs and wonders pointing to? Often today they point to the person doing the signs and wonders… which is wrong.

Here in Acts… the signs and wonders didn’t point to Paul and Barnabas… they ‘bore witness to the word.’

And, despite the Gospel message being confirmed by signs and wonders, V4 begins with the word “But”… even though a work of God was evident… the people were divided.

V4 reads, “But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.”

Jesus causes division. True then, true today.

In Luke 12:51-52 Jesus foretold this, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.”

There is a cost to discipleship… some of you have experienced the cost.

Friends and family disassociate because you’ve changed. You’re not who you used to be. Now you’re a Christian, and they’re not.

Jesus warned, in a similar passage, that our affiliation to Him must be stronger than even our families.

Matt 10:37-38 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

This is not suggesting that we don’t love our families, only that we don’t love them and choose them over Jesus. He must be #1 in our lives.

Jesus further warned that everyone must make a choice… there is no middle road. “I’m not ready to make a decision for Christ” is a decision.

Indecision is a decision. It’s NO. ‘No for now’, but still ‘no’.

In Matt 12:30 Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

Division is a reality of the life of a Christian.

Not all will receive Jesus. Many will NOT receive Jesus.

Which Jesus said in Matt 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Blessed are you if you found that narrow gate… walked through it… and are on the difficult way which leads to life!

You are amongst the few.

In Iconium, amongst those who were walking on the broad way to destruction… were a crowd who sought to persecute Paul and Barnabas.

Look at V5…

Acts 14:5-7 “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 [Lukaŏnia], and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.”

Since the attempts to poison the minds of the Gentiles did not cause Paul and Barnabas to pack up and leave town…

The Jews now organize with the local Government (just like in the town prior- Antioch). This persecution now has government authority behind it.

V5 states their intentions… to “abuse and stone them.”

Abuse by def. means “to run riot… to exercise violence.”

Stoning… hurling rocks at the convicted until they were dead… was the Jewish form of Capital Punishment… which dates back, at least, to the days of Moses in the Book of Exodus.

So, this violent attempt is very Jewish in nature… Romans favored scourging and the cross.

In V6, when our missionaries discover the plot they flee to the next cities… heading South to Lystra and then East to Derbe.

Fleeing is not cowardice. It’s intelligent. God gave you a brain to think, and if you find out that persecution is coming your way by means of the government and the mobs behind it… flee if that’s how the Lord leads.

Paul was not a coward in this action. Later he gets stoned in Lystra… gets up and goes right back into that city.

Over this whole chapter 14… you could write one word… “Courage.”

Look at V7… despite persistent persecution… Paul and Barnabas don’t return home, but press on and preach the Gospel to each town and region.

And, in this obedience and boldness, miracles accompany… look at V8.

Acts 14:8-10 “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.”

Upon arrival in Lystra, they encounter a man with a crippling disability.

He is not a young man, but by def. “of full age and stature.” Of marrying age.

He has never known what it meant to walk. He never had a chance to run with the other boys… to pursue a craft.

His likelihood of marrying a wife and raising a family was slim to none.

His road was that of begging and of reliance on his friends and family day-by-day-by-day.

There is a heaviness whenever we read words like those in V8.

But, in V9… there is hope. This man heard Paul speaking… largely in part because Paul never quit. Had Paul returned home… this man wouldn’t have encountered hope… and we would never have read V9… or probably any of Paul’s Epistles for that matter.

Based on Paul’s pattern and V7, we know Paul preached the Gospel.

And, this man believed. V9 says “he had faith to be healed.”

So much… that Paul could see it!

Was it that look in one’s eyes we see when they are sincere about Jesus?

Were tears flowing down his cheeks?

Was it a smile and uplifted arms?

Whatever the case, Paul took notice… Paul ‘observed him intently’ and could ‘see he had faith to be healed.’

V10 is fascinating… because Paul heals the man by yelling at him.

“Hey you… stand up!” Paul doesn’t even heal in Jesus’ name.

Through context though… we know Jesus was all in this healing. Paul was preaching the Gospel, and this man had faith Jesus could heal him.

And for the first time ever this man… not only stands, but he makes up for lost time… “ he leaped and walked.”

He’s leaping… springing… jumping around.

This is a sign and a wonder that testified that all Paul preached about Jesus was true.

Moments like these testify of the divine. If this were a Jewish audience, they would think back to Messianic passages like Isa 35:6 “Then the lame shall leap like a deer…”

But, Lystra was not a Jewish city, as we see next…

Acts 14:11-13 “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.”

Notice Paul does not preach in the synagogue in Lystra… and that’s because this was a pagan city.

In order to establish a synagogue… which is a community of Israel for prayer and liturgical purposes… there must be 10 Jewish men.

Jews call this completing a “Minyan” which means “number -or- count.”

The origin of this requirement stems back to when God ordered Twelve Spies… one from each tribe of Israel to scout out the land… and ten of them came back stating the land was not conquerable.

Which angered God because of their lack of faith in Him.

Only Caleb and Joshua had faith.

Jews cite Num 14:27 as a basis for 10 men being needed to complete a Minyan… “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me?”

Jews deduce that ten spies complained… thus a congregation is ten men.

All that to say… NO synagogue was present in Lystra, thus there were less than ten Jewish men in Lystra.

Lystra was a pagan city that worshipped Greek gods.

There was a Greek legend familiar to the people of Lystra that likely influenced their reception of Paul and Barnabas.

This legend was written by a Latin poet named Ovid. He recorded that Zeus and Hermes visited this area disguised as mortal men seeking lodging. And, only an elderly Lystrian couple (named Philemon and Baucis) extended hospitality, so the gods transformed their house into a temple and made them priest and priestess. Then, the gods destroyed the homes of anyone who did not receive them.

So, now in wonder of the miracle performed by Paul… and supposing he and Barnabas are the gods returned… they figure, “We better get it right this time! Let’s show some hospitality and have a barbecue!”

Zeus was the chief god of the Greek pantheon. Hermes was a Greek god and son of Zeus. He was the messenger of the gods… and the god of eloquent speech… amongst other things.

So, Paul… taking the lead in speaking… was assumed to be Hermes. Barnabas was seen as Zeus… moving behind the scenes.

Also, according to several extra-biblical texts, Paul didn’t meet the description of Zeus… Paul was described as "A man of small stature, with a bald head, crooked legs, red hair and skin, with eyebrows meeting [uni-brow], and a nose somewhat hooked.”

So, perhaps Barnabas looked more like Zeus to them, and here is Paul… who’s name means ‘small’… doing all the talking. He must be Hermes.

And, you can imagine this scene… how crazy this must have been for Paul and Barnabas. They come to Lystra with Godly intentions to glorify the name of Jesus, and now a pagan religious parade forms.

Let’s see Paul and Barnabas’ reaction…

Acts 14:14-18 “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.”

Paul and Barnabas respond in typical Jewish fashion to heart breaking situations… they rent or tear their garments. Jews tore their clothes typically 4-5 inches into the neckline in response to great grief.

The first time we see this is Gen 37. Reuben tore his clothes upon discovering Joseph was no longer in the pit but sold into slavery. Jacob also tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist and mourned for many days thinking Joseph was dead.

26 verses throughout the Bible we see this response… it’s as if tearing their clothes symbolized their broken heart.

And, clearly… Paul and Barnabas are dismayed… and they both preach this message starting in V15.

The words “crying out” in V14 are plural. They both cry out.

Crying Out is one word in Gk. krazō meaning “scream -or- croak” (as a raven).

Their response is dramatic… they tear their clothes… and run into the midst of a large crowd… shouting/ croaking like a raven… for them to stop their pagan practices.

Paul and Barnabas are titled “apostles” in V14… not in the sense of the office of the apostle, but in the sense of the gifting… or the calling to be “sent ones” or “missionaries.” They come bearing a message, and their message is repent… V15 “you should turn from these useless things to the living God.”

Jesus is a living God… He’s not a statue… a portrait… or a myth. He’s not dead… He’s the living God… our High Priest who is presently “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb 8:1).

Note that this message to the Lystrians… is strikingly different compared to messages from Peter, Stephen, and Paul to Jews in prior chapters. In those sermons, the disciples included many OT messianic cross references. Here… to this Pagan audience… they use none.

And, this is important. It tells us they pay attention to their audience and fashion a message to best reach their hearts.

Paul and Barnabas preach they had a like human nature as them… similar feelings and experiences… they were caught in sin and needed a Savior. They themselves were not God.

They “preach” in V15… preach by def. means “to announce good news.”

They implore them to turn from dead Greek gods to a living God.

The one true God who fashioned all creation.

Who in the past let mankind walk in their own ways, but V17 not without witness or evidence of His own existence… He sent evidence of His goodness… rain and good crops… providing for mankind and bringing them joy.

Rom 1:20 declares, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

It’s astounds me that Paul healed the man in this town and didn’t mention Jesus’ name (“Get up”)… and then preaches this message and Jesus’ name is absent as well.

Expositors states, “It is an approach to theism that peasants would understand.”

It’s important to know your audience, and sometimes to the lost world… there are baby steps.

It’s ones of the things I appreciate about Youth For Christ. They have a relational ministry with lost kids who don’t go to church, and they do it by meeting them where they are first… building authentic relationships… and sharing the Gospel when the Spirit leads.

Not so different from Paul and Barnabas in Lystra.

Different methods… even different allegiances are not necessarily wrong.

In Mark 9:38-40 we read of a different allegiance and Jesus’ response, “Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side.”

This miracle worker was doing a good work in alignment with Jesus, but was not part of Jesus’ direct group of disciples.

Jesus instructed, “Don’t stop him! If he has faith enough in my name to cast out demons and work against Satan… he is on My side. He won’t likely turn against me.”

Jesus in this scene forbid sectarianism which is an “excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.”

There are a number of good churches in the world preaching in Jesus’ name… maybe with a different method than us… maybe a different church name than us… but the same Jesus… and the same gospel message… not wrong, just different.

In V18, we see the response of the Lystrians to Paul and Barnabas’ message… “they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.”

The people were reluctant, but adhered. Paul and Barnabas’ message reached the desired effect of at least… curtailing pagan sacrifice, idolatry, and blasphemy… yet, I’m not so sure how many people at this time turned from their Greek gods to Jesus.

But, if we plant seeds and water them… there will be a harvest.

Continuing on…

Acts 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.”

Still in the non-Jewish town of Lystra… Jews from the two prior towns trek over to this pagan town… no doubt a difficult exercise for these Jews who despised Gentiles.

And, just like how the Jews united with the Herodians against Jesus… here the Jews set aside their staunch convictions of separation from Gentiles to partner with these Gentiles in their wicked plot.

Sadly, the Jews are successful and the people of Lystra who wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas… now want to sacrifice Paul.

They stone him… and believe him to be dead.

This is the second dangerous act from the Lystrians to Paul. First, they wanted to worship him… now they want to kill him. Both are equally dangerous. If people want to elevate you above God… that’s a very dangerous thing. A prideful spirit comes before a fall.

Remember Herod Agrippa’s end in Acts 12:22-23? “And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”

It’s dangerous to rob God of His glory.

While the Jews and people of Lystra thought Paul was dead… he was not dead… or maybe he was?

Some scholars attribute 2 Cor 12:2 to this moment. Paul wrote, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.”

I’m not sure that 2 Cor 12:2 and Acts 14:19 are the same. Based on Paul stating this occured 14 years prior… and when 2 Corinthians was written (around 54-55 A.D.)… it seems this event would have occured prior to Lystra… even prior to Paul’s missionary journeys… during Paul’s silent years (35-45 A.D.).

More important is what happens in V20. Paul has been gravely injured… his enemies think he is dead… the disciples gather around… Paul rose up… said, “Man that was crazy. I almost died. This is too much for me. I didn’t sign up for this. I’m done. I’m heading home to Tarsus. I quit.”

Now… you can read the text in V20 to know that’s not at all Paul’s response. That would likely be our response.

But Paul… “rose up and went into the city.” They almost killed him, and he went right back in. Not for vengeance… not to prove a point like… “Is that all you got?”

No… Paul no doubt was constrained by love for the Gentiles… and his rapid restoration was yet another miracle that testified of the veracity… the truthfulness of all Paul had taught to them.

The Gospel was true, and the stones of his enemies meant nothing… and the Greek gods meant nothing. They were ‘useless things’… worthless… empty… they didn’t hold a candle to Jesus Christ.

How many ‘useless things’ could we substitute in our age today? Things that mean nothing… but occupy the thrones of our hearts?

The Bible calls these “high places.” And, in the Old Testament, whenever a Godly king came to rule, he would go throughout Israel and tear down high places.

There’s been many times in my life where the Holy Spirit has convicted me… ‘You need to tear down that high place. You spend more time with that thing than me. You love that thing more than me. It has to go.’

Paul knew the Lystrians were misguided by false gods, and so he went right back into that city even though they stoned and almost killed him.

And, where would they be had he quit? Where would he be had he quit? A hermit in Tarsus?

Where would we be had Jesus quit? If He came down from the cross. Or, if He never went to the cross… He could have prayed and the Father would send twelve legions of angels.

Where would we be in this lifetime and for all eternity? We would be doomed.

No matter if things get tough… don’t quit. You don’t know how God is going to use you. Don’t quit your salvation. Don’t quit on fellowship. Don’t quit on your service to the Lord.

Paul later wrote, 2 Tim 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Finish well. Don’t quit at Lystra… Derbe is right down the road.

Which is where Paul and Barnabas head the next day. And, look what happens in Derbe because they didn’t quit.

Acts 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.”

Because they didn’t quit… in Derbe they preached the gospel and made many disciples.

And, then… they back tracked to all the cities that persecuted them… Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch… bold in their faith and deeply committed to the disciples… the students who followed Jesus.

They encouraged them… entrance to the kingdom of God comes by the way of tribulations. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matt 7:14

Life as a Christian is a joy filled life, but Jesus was real with us that we must ‘take up our cross daily and follow Him.’

It’s a daily commitment to die to self and follow Him.

After the exhortation, they set up church government… appointing elders… and through prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord… the Lord whom they all believed.

And, concluding Paul’s first missionary journey we read… and let’s pull up that map again…

Acts 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 [yellow line on the map], 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.”

As our missionaries return to Antioch in Syria… after their 1-2 year mission trip… some 700 miles by land… 500 miles by sea… it was evident… this was a journey of grace.

The church in Antioch entrusted them to the grace of God for the work they had completed.

And, Paul and Barnabas gave their testimony to the church… and shared that God’s grace was at work as the Gospel went out to the Gentiles.

And, the missionaries would remain there for the better part of A.D. 49, until they depart at the end of Act 15 on their Second Missionary journey.

Next week… The Jerusalem Council. Acts 15. Read ahead.

Let’s pray!

As Paul did, I exhort you to continue in the faith, and entrust you to the Lord in whom you believe.

Press on this week… don’t quit at Lystra… Derbe is right down the road.

God bless you as you go!