Acts 14:19-23 Dedication Defined

Acts 14:19–23 ESV

19 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. 20 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. 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, 22 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. 23 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.

So we are gonna touch on what Paul and Barnabas have done so far. They started out preaching in Antioch and got run out of there so they traveled up the road a piece as we would say and they go back to preaching. Now they went first to Iconium but they Jews that were in that area started trouble after Paul and Barnabas are preaching....you guessed it at the synagogue. So when they start threatening to kill them they leave there and go to Lysta.

Something interesting happens at Lystra actually there are two things that happen while they are there that bears mentioning, one we are going to talk about in depth but the other one is that after they healed a man who was lame (couldn’t walk) they folks there declare that they are gods. Not the God but gods plural. They worshipped many gods in that area they were what is called polytheistic....it means that served multiple gods. Not the God but like gods of harvest and fertility and so on.

Well they think that Paul and Barnabas are gods come down to earth and decide that they are going to sacrifice to them. Paul and Barnabas rip their clothes and started trying to point the people there to the true God. Now is where somebody adds dirt to the garden so to speak...the plot thickens.

There are some Jews that travel 100 miles to all the way from Antioch and Iconium to come and attack Paul. They were so mad they traveled 100 miles. That is like walking from here to Jackson Mississippi. 100 miles to attack Paul.

When is the last time you drove 100 miles to confront someone that you were mad at or disagreed with?

How much do you have to hate someone to go that far to attack them?

Do you see the opposition to the Gospel message here? This is not about Paul it is about what Paul is preaching and teaching. They can’t stand the fact that the Gospel is there, but it is more than that. The real opposition is not coming from people. Folks you can’t tell me we don’t fight spiritual battles all the time. Whether you know it or not you do and if you don’t then you are losing spiritual battles daily.

The devil ain’t gonna give up ground without a fight. These folks were losing ground daily to the Gospel and the power of Christ and they could not take it. So enter these Jews who walk 100 miles to attack Paul and folks that is just what they did.

Acts 14:19 ESV

19 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.

They did not just verbally attack Paul this time they stoned him. Have you ever seen someone get stoned? Not that kind of stoned we are at church (smile). The way they do this varies from country to country but the jist of it is they stand you up by a wall or they take and wrap you in a sheet and bury you up to your waist with your arms pinned at your side and they throw rocks at you until you are dead. It takes a bit because you don’t die when the first rock hits you it takes a bunch of rocks to kill you. It is painful and it is a horrible way to die. It is deliberate and there is an intention to take the life of the person being stoned. Often times they take turns so it is only one rock at a time coming at you. The person who was wronged throws the first rock.

They stoned Paul and then drug him out of town thinking they killed him. Folks they did not even pack him out of town they drug him.

3. How angry do you have to be to do something like this?

4. How much dedication do you have to have to be this witness?

5. How many folks do you know that are this dedicated to Christ?

We are dedicated to lots of things in our lives but are we this dedicated to the one that gave His life to pay for our sins? Jesus died a death that was 1000 times worse than what they just did to Paul but like those 3 AM infomercials “Wait there’s more.” So they stone Paul and they drag him out of town and just throw his body out right they don’t even bother to bury him they just throw him outside of town.

Acts 14:20 ESV

20 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.

He got up and went right back into town. Now what do you suppose he did when he went back to town. Scripture doesn’t tell us but if I were a gambling man I would say he went back to preaching. Then the next day him and Barnabas left for Derbe. Guess what they did there...preached the Gospel and made disciples. Derbe ain’t but about 60 miles southeast of Lystra. Those Jews walked 100 miles to stone him and he just walked 60 more and started preaching again.

How much dedication does it take to be that guy? They stone him so he just takes off to the next town and starts all over again. He had to have been there for some time because he made many disciples there....

Acts 14:21 ESV

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,

They made many disciples not converts. They were bringing folks up in the ministry that were gonna share the good news and make more disciples. They were not just preaching they were church planting. But wait look what else they did. Paul and Barnabas went back the way they came making sure the churches were still going strong. They did not take a route around the areas where the Jews were mad at them they went right back the way they came checking on the churches they planted.

That is dedication to the cause right there. Now I am sure there was a discussion that was had about the route. I can almost hear the conversation. After all you were stoned in one of those towns. They threatened to kill you a few times and then they tried to get it done but you go right back through the same area to make sure they got the message the first time.

Look what Paul tells them in verse 22 Acts 14:22

Acts 14:22 ESV

22 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.

Reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Brothers and sisters it ain’t gonna be no bed of roses every single day that you are serving God. Matter of fact there are gonna be times that it is gonna be rough and tough. It takes a strong person to stand for God because the whole world stands against Him. You have to be dedicated to the cause of Christ if you are going to serve Him. When I joined the Army I was dedicated to the cause that I signed on for. I was willing to give my life if it was required to me. When I was a cop I was willing to die for a total stranger if that is what had to happen so that they could be saved. I understand dedication to the fullest extent of the statement dedicated to the cause.

Paul went back through the area where they tried to kill him so that he could ensure they got the message of the cross loud and clear. Paul warned them that life would get hard in service to God. But he encouraged them in the faith. He and Barnabas were building something for the Kingdom of God and it did not matter what the cost was so long as God got the glory.

Acts 14:23 ESV

23 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.

Notice that what Paul and Barnabas did was trust them to the Lord. They wanted them to be in God’s service and dedicated to God as disciples not just converts. You can’t serve God in name only...you can’t just go to church and have that kind of dedication....you can’t just pray every once in a while and call it good....it has to be a dedication that no matter the cost you are going to stay the course.

This is the end of Paul’s first missionary journey. They takeaway here is that Paul proved that the Gospel is real and has the power to change a sinner to a saint. Paul’s beginning as we said before was anything but Christ like. He became a disciple who was so dedicated to the cause of Christ that he was wiling to die if he had to for the Gospel to go forward.

6. Are we this dedicated to the cause of Christ?

7. Are we willing to be sent out to carry the good news even if it costs us something?

You know how dedication is defined? Doing what you promised even after the mood you promised it in is gone.

Invitation...