When Opposition Comes Remain Bold For The Gospel - Acts 14:1-7

Paul and Barnabas continued on their first missionary journey after they were thrown out of Antioch Pisidia, they shook the dust off their feet and traveled to Iconium a Roman Providence of Galatia. While there they preached the gospel with boldness while facing opposition. My sermon today is to encourage you to be bold when sharing the gospel with others and don’t become discourage when you encounter opposition.

The Power of the Gospel

Acts 14:1 “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.”

When Paul and Barnabas reached Iconium they went to the synagogue of the Jews, as I mentioned to you before this was something that Paul would often do when arriving to a new city. Going to the synagogue first would give Paul a captive audience of both Jews and Gentiles to proclaim the gospel. Luke informs us in v.1 that when Paul and Barnabas spoke “a great multitude both Jews and Greeks believed. As Paul did in the synagogue at Antioch Pisidia when he was invited to give a word of encouragement he spoke boldly that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and that Jesus was put to death, and God raised Him from the dead thus fulfilling what was written about him in the OT Scriptures.

Paul and Barnabas knew that the gospel was powerful to save both Jews and Greeks. Paul wrote about the power of the Gospel in Romans

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

The word of God is powerful, Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The power of God’s word reaches the deepest recesses of a person’s soul and it will expose and convict a person of their sins, and if by the will of God it will cause the person to repent and believe the gospel for salvation. As a believer you only have to boldly present the gospel to others it is the power of God to salvation to anyone who will believe.

Disbelief in the Gospel

Acts 14:2 “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.”

When the Jews heard the gospel, they were unbelieving, “apeitheō means to disobey, refuse to believe.

God said this about the Jews disobedience. Paul quotes Isa 65 in the Romans 10:21.

Romans 10:21 “But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.””

Peter himself experienced the Jews disobedience he writes...

1 Peter 2:7–8 “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

Scripture says this about people who disobey...

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””

2 Thessalonians 1:8 “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God commands that everyone to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:30–31 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.””

The Jews refusal to believe the gospel enraged them to the point that they stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds, the Greek word for minds is psuche /psoo·khay/ it means feelings and emotions, and this how a person’s soul controls their thinking. Jews were using psychological manipulation to contorthe Gentiles to think badly about Paul and Barnabas.

We see people poisoning the minds of others, manipulating their emotions to think badly about people whom they do not like. Let a Christian fall from grace and watch how unbelievers poison the minds by manipulating people emotions to think badly about Christianity by saying things like “see what that Christian did?” This is why I don’t mess around with organized religion, or go to church.”

Now I find it ironic that Jews would stir up the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas considering the Jews perception of the Gentiles was that they were outsiders due not receiving the covenant from God, they were called unclean, uncircumcised, dogs, and enemies, and seen as beneath them. For them to look to the Gentiles to support them against Paul and Barnabas shows their deep hatred for the gospel. Hear me when I say this, evil loves company. People who are at odds with one another will come together against the gospel. Paul and Barnabas give us an example what to do when this happens in v.3.

Be Bold When Opposition Arises

Acts 14:3 “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.”

Even though the Jews had stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas, these two men didn’t run, they stayed right there for a long time speaking boldly in the Lord. There is no doubt that their boldness came from the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,” Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

You and I have the same boldness from the Holy Spirit because we are in Christ.

Ephesians 3:8–12 “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

As believers we must be bold when the word of God is being opposed by unbelievers.

Acts 9:27–28 “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.”

Acts 13:46 “Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Acts 19:8 “And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.”

Scripture tells us that prayer and the Spirit will provide boldness.

Philippians 1:19–20 “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”

God will give us boldness in the midst of conflict, suffering, and being mistreated.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.”

Acts 14:3 “who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Not only did Paul and Barnabas continue to speak boldly, we are told that by God’s grace He was granting them power to perform signs and wonders to validate their gospel message was from God.

The Gospel will cause division

Acts 14:4 “But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.”

The city became divided because of the gospel. Some people chose to side with the Jews; while others chose to side with the apostles (sent ones), Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:3 “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” Barnabas unlike Paul and the other 11 apostles, he was an apostle meaning “to send” as a messenger like Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25) and other messengers of the church (2 Cor 8:23).

The division over the gospel comes to no surprise. Jesus said that there would be division because of Him.

Luke 12:51–53 “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.””

So don’t be surprise and discouraged when divisive attitudes happen against you when you share the gospel, some will reject you, but their rejection is against God, while others will accept the gospel, and God, not you, will get the praise.

The Gospel will bring out the worse in people

Acts 14:5 “And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,”

Jews and Gentiles along with city officials came together in an attempt to abuse/hybrizo/hoo-brid-zo which means to do and say things that bring shame to Paul and Barnabas, and then this mob planned to stone them. This idea of stoning obviously came from the Jews who deemed Paul and Barnabas as false teachers who were teaching blasphemy. When Paul and Barnabas found out about their plot to kill them we read in

Acts 14:6–7 “they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Ly-KAY-oh-nee-uh Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.”

Paul and Barnabas departure from their dangerous situation didn’t mean a departure from their responsibility to preach the gospel. Paul and Barnabas took the gospel to other cities.

When you are harassed and rejected by anyone because of the gospel God will laed you somewhere else to share the good news of the gospel. Just remember when opposition arises remain bold for the gospel and allow God to do the rest.

To quote the hymn written by Thomas Kelly:

In the midst of opposition,

Let them trust, O Lord, in Thee;

When success attends their mission,

Let Thy servants humblest be.

Never leave them Till Thy face in heaven they see.