NBBC SS: Acts 14

Introduction: Last week, we saw Paul face difficulty through the departure of John Mark and the opposition of the Jews. Neither of these items stopped the work that the Lord called Paul to do nor interrupted God’s working through Paul. In fact, it just created an extended ministry to the Gentiles.

In today’s passage, we’re going to see progress and setback, considering, how do we respond to both.

Acts 14:1–7 “1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.

Notice the result of Paul’s and Barnabas’ preaching here in the synagogue.

A large number of people believed!

When we see this result, our minds should be drawn to the fact that 1) the Lord supplied their message, 2) the Lord provided their effort and 3) the Lord brought about the result.

The emphasis here in this statement is on the Lord’s working through these men to produce the result that He brought about.

What Paul and Barnabas have seen here is the working of the Lord through them.

It’s almost hard to imagine what happens next since the Lord has worked in such a mighty way through His servants.

2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

Notice the connection between how these Jews are characterized and the actions that follow.

They choose not to believe the Word of the Lord given through Paul and Barnabas, despite the abundant evidence to the contrary.

They effectively turn the people away from Paul and Barnabas.

We know what the effect is of stirring something up - pain and destruction (i.e. a hornet’s nest).

It’s interesting that the word translated as “embittered” or “poisoned” (ESV, NIV, NKJV) is used by Stephen in Acts 7.

Therein, Stephen uses it to describe how the Pharaoh mistreated the people of Israel, even destroying male infants.

In essence, the Jews here are treating Paul and Barnabas similarly, even stirring up other to do likewise.

Imagine how disappointed Paul and Barnabas must have been in light of the investment that they made at Iconium to proclaim God’s Word faithfully to these individuals.

Notice, though, that it does not seem to stop them in continuing the work that the Lord had called them to.

3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

What I find so fascinating about this result is that Paul and Barnabas respond to the hostility towards them by sticking around longer!

Why would they stick around longer if they were experiencing hostility?

Because that is what the Lord had given them to do.

The Lord had given them the responsibility of making disciples.

Notice the manner in which they spoke to these new converts.

Boldly.

Their boldness was related to the way in which they related to the Lord.

They relied upon the Lord.

This is seemingly a contrast to our way of thinking.

When we think of boldness, we think of independence.

But here, the Lord makes it clear that boldness to do what He’s given us to do comes from reliance upon Him - our dependence!

Brothers and sisters, this is the only way that we can continue to serve others, even when there’s active opposition!

It’s when we depend on the Lord.

This dependence evidenced itself in the holy boldness that Paul and Barnabas exhibited to continue serving these people, even when they opposed them.

Notice how the Lord responded to Paul and Barnabas as they depended on Him.

The Lord testified to the legitimacy of what Paul and Barnabas were proclaiming!

Do we read anything like this concerning the Jews who were inciting the Gentiles against these men?

No.

Therefore, the Lord was marking them as distinct from the instigators.

This was a way that the Lord was giving the people evidence to discern what was true from what was false.

You see, brothers and sisters, the Lord is able to clearly mark out those who belong to Him and are serving Him before a watching world.

What the people do with this testimony is their responsibility.

Notice how this comes through in the next verse.

4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

Paul and Barnabas had not control over the people’s responses.

Yet, they served because that is what the Lord gave them to do.

In fact, it’s interesting that the Spirit phrase it this way.

That is, that there’s an emphasis on Paul’s and Barnabas’ faithful boldness that they relied on the Lord for followed by the results.

We initially saw an overwhelmingly positive response in the first verse of this chapter.

Now we’re seeing a mixed response from the people of Iconium.

The variance in their response when combined with Paul’s and Barnabas’ faithful boldness dependent on the Lord demonstrates that these 2 could not have produced either response - it wasn’t something that they manufactured.

What Paul and Barnabas were responsible for was faithful boldness dependent on the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, let’s not be turned away from faithful boldness dependent on the Lord in what He’s given us to do, even when there’s opposition when there was initially reception.

Let’s continue to rely on the Lord to produce the results that He chooses and focus on dependent faithfulness regardless of the task.

Notice how the next verse ups the significance of the difficulty that Paul and Barnabas faced.

5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.”

What does the word “attempt” suggest?

A real effort that was made.

Notice that this effort, to physically harm and kill Paul and Barnabas, not only included the people but also their rulers!

Whatever it was that the Jews said, it was very persuasive to attempt to deal with Paul and Barnabas permanently!

The sad part about this episode is that this town had seen the Lord at work through Paul and Barnabas so that they had all the evidence they needed to come to the right conclusion about the truthfulness of God’s Word spoken through these men.

Yet, they not only rejected it but also attempted to stamp out the efforts and lives of these men.

Brothers and sisters, although many of us have lived without this kind of threat, it does not mean that we should live oblivious to the possibility of this kind of threat so that it would take us by surprise when it comes.

The enemy is actively working to persuade others against the Lord and His people.

Ultimately, we can be undeterred in seeking to faithfully serve the Lord because He’s the One that equips and leads us.

By virtue of the fact that Paul and Barnabas were able to learn of this scheme and get away before the authorities could catch up with them demonstrates the Lord’s power, even over these aggressors.

They planned to harm Paul and Barnabas.

The Lord intervened so that the two were able to learn the plan and escape just in time.

The Lord is the One Who is in charge.

Notice how we find Paul and Barnabas at the conclusion of this episode.

They’re preaching the Gospel, just like the Lord had called them to do.

Brothers and sisters, what is it that we do when faced with opposition to what it is that the Lord has given us to do?

We find new ways to continue to be faithful to what the Lord has given us to do.

From this example, we cannot do this on our own but must rely on our sovereign Lord to lead us and equip us to be faithful.

And, just as Paul and Barnabas, we’ll see the Lord at work, giving us boldness for His Name.

Acts 14:8–20 “8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk.

When we read the account of this man, what comes to our minds?

Acts 3 and the healing of the lame man at the beautiful gate.

While there’s a lot of similarity, there are also many differences.

One significant difference is that Paul speaks to the man and never touches him, unlike Peter.

This man’s healing is so complete that he instantly knows how to walk!

The question that we need to ask ourselves is, “Why are they so similar?”

The work that God is doing among the Gentiles is the work that He began with Israel.

God has not changed and He is accomplishing His sovereign purposes.

Notice, that Paul was preaching when this encounter had taken place, presumably.

Did the crowd listen to Paul’s message?

Let’s keep reading.

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

When we read about this reaction, we might be tempted to think that this sounds so out of character!

However, Lystra had a temple dedicated to the Greek god Zeus, also know by his Roman name, Jupiter.

Additionally, there was an ancient story that there were some individuals who had received a divine visitation but totally missed it and were afraid of doing it again.

You see, we could say that the people upon witnessing this miraculous event were acting in the way that they had previously.

Notice how Paul calls attention to their condition in the next several verses.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out “15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

What is Paul saying about himself and Barnabas in this statement?

They’re not God!

In fact, Paul reminds the people that he was preaching the Gospel to them and apparently in went in one ear and out the other!

Paul is implicitly drawing the people to acknowledge that this demonstration of power could come from none other than the One Who created all things.

Paul calls attention to two interesting things in vv. 16-7.

First, he addresses how God permitted the nations to go their own ways.

How did that turn out for these people based on their response to Paul and Barnabas?

Not very good.

Going their own way has led to their paganism that cannot clearly recognize the working of God in their midst!

You see, Paul is giving the people a history lesson to help them understand how it is that they got to this point at this time.

Additionally, Paul identifies that God has not left them without demonstrations of His care and kindness.

In other words, we could say that the people had enough evidence to be able to perceive that if something wonderful like this had happened in their midst, they would know that it was the Lord working.

Ultimately, their ignorance is a commentary on the human heart.

Without the intervening grace of God, going our own way leads to misunderstanding the nature of God’s care and compassion such that we wouldn’t recognize it in the face of clear evidence.

These people needed a heart transformation that only the Lord could undertake through the Gospel of His dear Son.

Notice how the next verse identifies the extent to which their worldview had settled into their hearts.

18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

What does this suggest about the crowd?

Even with Paul’s speech, they were still intent on their actions!

You see, if they were unconvinced by the truth, then it demonstrates just how deep-seated their worldview was to them.

Words alone do not persuade anyone.

It’s only as the Spirit of God takes the living Word of God and works in the heart of one producing faith in what is heard that transformation takes place

Brothers and sister, when we consider what has happened here that the people were still intent to see through their pagan practices, was this a defeat for Paul and Barnabas?

No.

Paul and Barnabas were being faithful in what God had given them to do.

In fact, it’s their confidence in the Lord that had called them to do this that would have prompted their boldness to proclaim these truths that exposed the ignorance of the crowd.

As if it weren’t bad enough, look at how things take a turn toward the worse in the next few verses.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.”

These poor people were clearly controlled by their emotions for at one moment they’re trying to worship Paul and then the next they’re trying to kill him!

While it’s unclear if Paul really died, we see the Lord working here in 2 undeniable ways.

The Lord delivered Paul through this stoning.

The Lord gave Paul an incredible recovery that the latter was able to return to the city and then on to Derbe (some 30+ miles!).

Brothers and sisters, the Jews and the crowd thought that they were in control of Paul’s life - but the Lord demonstrated that simply was not so.

When Luke records that “he … entered the city,” he’s referring to Lystra!

Paul walked straight back into Lystra.

We’re not told how the people responded but we can only imagine!

Brothers and sister, the only way that Paul could have walked right back into the city in which he had a love-hate relationship was if he was confident in God’s leading in his life.

Notice that it’s not too long before Paul is off again.

Acts 14:21–23 “21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

What’s so fascinating is their time in Derbe is condensed to less than half a sentence whereas we have walked moment by moment with Paul and Barnabas through Lystra!

How could we summarize this section?

Paul was equipping the believers in these churches to trust the Lord, even through difficulty.

Paul could give them this encouragement from first-hand experience!

You know, it’s possible that as Paul shared these things with the Lystran church, he still had visible wounds from his last encounter!

Think about what Paul implies by drawing their attention to what they will experience (tribulation) as they head toward their goal (the kingdom of God).

He’s suggesting that it’s worth it!

This is no different from what Jesus already told His disciples beforehand during His earthly ministry (cf. Mark 8; Luke 9; Matthew 16).

Brother and sisters, when we face difficulty in our walk with the Lord, what do we do?

We trust the Lord to help us to be faithful in what He’s given us to do.

We also encourage others likewise.

We can do both of these things because getting to be with our God forever in His kingdom is worth it!

What’s fascinating is Luke continues his summary nature in the next several verses that conclude this chapter.

Acts 14:24–28 “24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.”

What is it that Paul and Barnabas are doing here on the last leg of their trip?

Returning to the places that they had served in before!

Why would they have spoken the word in Perga?

They sought to encourage the church there, just like in the previous section.

We continue to see the Lord making Paul and Barnabas faithful servants.

Can you imagine how the church in Antioch was blessed to hear how the Lord was at work during this trip?

How was their trip summarized?

God was at work through them.

God was saving the Gentiles.

Why would this section conclude with referencing the length of time they spent together?

Because it was something mutually desired.

Paul and Barnabas wanted to share what God was doing.

The church in Antioch who was used by the Spirit to send them wanted to hear from their brothers.

This was nothing but a gift of the Lord to this church and Paul and Barnabas to be able to fellowship in reflecting on what God is doing.

Brothers and sisters, we get to do this with one another whenever we gather.

We got to do this when the Longs were here with us.

Conclusion: While we can expect opposition to God’s Word, that opposition neither removes the work the Lord has put before us nor stops His working through us. I commend you to the grace of God to trust in Him to be faithful through what He’s leading you through, even in difficulty.