The Book of Acts Lesson 29

Acts 14:19-28

Acts 14:19–28 ESV

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.

I. Seven Themes

God the Father orchestrates (Acts 5:38-39)

Through Christ, who lives and rules

Through the empowering Spirit

Causing the word to multiply

Bringing salvation to all

Forming the church which

Witnesses to the ends of the earth

II. Witnesses to the end of the earth

Global witness

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

God compels and gathers his people.

exalted Jesus sovereignly directs

the church’s witness

through the Spirit’s empowering

Acts 14:27

What? Who? To Whom? How?

What?

What does it mean to be a witness?

ark of testimony (Exodus 25:22 “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”)

tent of meeting (Exodus 29:4 “You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.” )

Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18 “And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” , Exodus 32:15 “Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written.”

God “witnesses” to his own presence in the tabernacle and over the ark in the Ten Commandments. The law speaks to his character. Israel was never meant to hoard God from the rest of the world. They were intended to fill the world with his presence.

Isaiah 43:10 ““You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” Isaiah 43:12 “I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.” Isaiah 44:8 “Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”” Isaiah 49:6 “he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

God calls his people to witness to his life-giving presence.

Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

That my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Now the church in Acts are called to witness God’s abundant life.

Witness to Yahweh revealed in Jesus Christ.

Witness to the resurrection of life of Jesus brought to earth by the power of the Spirit.

Acts 1:22 “beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.””

Acts 2:32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”

Acts 3:15 “and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” Acts 4:33 “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 5:32 “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”” Acts 10:39–41 “And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”

Acts 13:35 “Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’”

Acts 17:18 “Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.”

Acts 23:6 “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”” Acts 24:15 “having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:21 “other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”” Acts 28:20 “For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.””

In Acts, to witness means to see and tell of the life-giving presence of God found in Jesus Christ through the Spirit.

Apostles are Jesus’ authorized delegates, witnesses to the reality of his resurrection and expounders of its significance.

Who?

Witness: Martyrs

Apostles

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

representatives for the people of God.

new Israel

Isaiah 43:10 ““You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.”

Isaiah 49:6 “he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

Why can they be witnesses of the gospel?

They have seen the risen Jesus, both physically and spiritually.

Christ has opened their eyes to the realities foretold in the Scriptures: the Messiah will suffer, rise, and be enthroned, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations.

Who else stand as witnesses of the gospel?

Stephen (Acts 7:56 “And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.””)

Paul (Acts 9:5–6 “And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.””)

Two main witnesses in Acts

Peter: as representative of the collective apostolic group

Paul (Acts 14:4 “But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.”)

I. Paul Stoned at Lystra (vv. 19–20)

Acts 14:19–20 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.”

v. 19: Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuade the crowd; Paul is stoned and left for dead.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. λιθάζω

In the OT and the Mishnah (Sanhedrin 6; 7, 4–8, 5) a means of capital punishment for certain crimes: adultery J 8:5 (v.l. λιθοβολεῖσθαι; s. the entry); esp. defamation of God

Stoned Paul for blasphemy in preaching this Jesus. They intended to kill him. They believed that they had done a good effort job that they assumed he was dead.

2 Corinthians 11:25 “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;”

v. 20: Disciples gather around Paul; he miraculously gets up and returns to the city, then leaves for Derbe the next day with Barnabas.

What happened?

Derbe is fifty to sixty miles away. Likely they merely left for Derbe the next day.

II. Preaching in Derbe (v. 21a)

Acts 14:21 “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,”

v. 21a: Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel in Derbe and make many disciples.

What is the differences between a convert and a disciple? Reached and Taught Them.

They returned the way they had come to complete their pastoral tasks.

III. Strengthening the Churches (vv. 21b–23)

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

v. 21b–22: They return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain in the faith.

Revisited Derby and did follow up ministry there.

Strengthen the disciples

Encouraging them to remain true to the faith. (Jude 3 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”)

Hardships (thlipsis): Through many hardships we must enter the kingdom of God)

Why does God use hardships in our life?

Kingdom of God: spiritual maturity

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Appointing elders (presbyteros) in each church

Jewish usage of term (Acts 4:5 “On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,” Acts 11:30 “And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”

spiritual mature

elder, shepherd, pastor: the ones who fed the flock and watch over them.

Plurality

accompanied by prayer and fasting

v. 23: They appoint elders in each church with prayer and fasting, entrusting them to the Lord.

IV. Return to Antioch in Syria (vv. 24–26)

Acts 14:24–26 “Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.”

v. 24–25: They travel through Pisidia to Pamphylia, preaching in Perga, then go to Attalia.

v. 26: They sail back to Antioch (Syria), the church that had originally commissioned them.

V. Mission Report to the Church (vv. 27–28)

Acts 14:27–28 “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.”

v. 27: Paul and Barnabas report all that God had done, especially how He opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas recognized the authority of the Antioch church over their work as they reported back what God had done.

v. 28: They remain a long time with the disciples in Antioch

The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary 3. The Mission to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe and Return to Syrian Antioch (14:1–28)

Acts 13–14 presents a representative picture of Paul’s mission and includes many themes that we will encounter again. He preaches first in the Jewish synagogue but turns to Gentiles when the synagogue preaching is no longer possible. He announces the one God to Gentiles who have no contact with Jewish monotheism. He repeatedly encounters persecution and moves on when necessary, but he does not abandon his mission. He works signs and wonders. He strengthens the new churches. In this mission Paul is fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy that he would “bear my name before Gentiles, and kings and sons of Israel” and “must suffer for my name” (9:15–16).

Discussion Questions

Perseverance in the Face of Persecution: In Acts 14:19-20, Paul is stoned and left for dead, but he gets up and continues preaching the gospel. What does this passage teach us about perseverance and boldness in the face of opposition? How can we develop a similar resilience in our own faith today?

The Role of Encouragement in Church Planting: In Acts 14:21-23, Paul and Barnabas strengthen the disciples and appoint elders in each church. Why is encouragement and leadership development essential for healthy church growth? How can we support and raise up leaders in our own church context?