Acts 14:1-28 |

INTRODUCTION:

There was a sharp division among the people on the left and on the right. Their leader’s lifeless body was dragged out after an attempt on his life was made. The church was left in shambles wondering what to do next? I’m talking of course about Acts 14, our passage today. What did you think I was talking about? How awesome is it that we have a Bible that speaks to us today. When I first got hired, I was posed with the question, do we continue to go on in the book of Acts for the rest of the year or do we change focus. I prayed over it and decided that we would continue to study in the book of Acts and see how the Spirit guided us as a church. After that I go through and just logically try to decide how to split up the book especially because I would have a hard time finishing the whole book this year I was going to group some things together. Initially I was going to group chapters 13-14 together, but after Charlie Kirk was shot, I decided to slow down these last two weeks because we get to talk about what it means to live in a hostile world and face persecution. Next week in Acts 15 we get to talk about church unity though different worldviews. I think this is a good teaching moment in this, that our primary job at church is to preach the Word of God. So I am going to do that the best of my ability, we are going to keep going through the hard stuff and you have my word: I’m not going to skip over any of the hard stuff. If its in the Bible, we will eventually talk about it. But what I am really excited about is that you get to experience how the Lord will continually speak to us as we simply and faithfully go through the Bible.

CONTEXT: Paul has just preached the a gospel centered sermon and the people responded by kicking him out of the city. So they go.

MAIN POINT: We bear fruit from faithfulness forged through hardship.

Acts 14:1–7 “1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.”

Spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed - religious people and non-religious people. This is the job of the preacher, to speak in such a way that many people believe from all walks of life.

Unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. - It is easy for a small group of people to come and ruin what God is doing. Started saying that “he doesn’t really love God. He is an awful person, etc..”

So they remained for a long time - It is like he is saying, because he was persecuted he remained and spoke boldly. That is faithfulness to God’s calling in your life.

Granting wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided - Why were they divided? Seems silly to me. God was clearly doing something in their midst.

When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews …to stone them - this would generally mean they would throw him off a cliff then drop rocks on top of him. When they hear this they left. Sometimes, when persecution comes we stay put and stay faithful, sometimes when persecution comes, we move and stay faithful.

What do we do when persecution comes? Keep being bold for Jesus.

If I get murdered this week, next week preach Jesus!

Acts 14:8 “8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.” - Crippled - no programs, no help. Likely was homeless living out on the street begging for food.

Acts 14:9–10 “9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.” - Stand up- most of us would be nervous if the preacher said that to us in the middle of the sermon, how much more so if you He listened and had faith. This is the right order. Then obeyed.

Listen > Believe > Obey

I wonder what was going through his mind? Did he doubt, apparently not. He was crippled from birth, then in one word he stands up.

Acts 14:11–13 “11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.”

Saying in Lycaonian - So they couldn’t understand it.

the gods have come down to us - they didn’t understand the gospel yet. Interestingly enough, the tounges from Acts 2, was no longer in effect. they could not understand each other.

Zues/Hermes - Others will say Jupiter and Mercury. Hermes spoke more and apparently Paul spoke more. Greek history - sometimes gods would come down and speak to people.

Brought oxen and garlands - to celebrate and worship them as gods. We all the tendency to make idols out of things and people.

ILLUSTRATION - Story of being worshipped??????? Actual story of ancient myth.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, 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 past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.”

Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, - They were literally being worshiped. I feel good about myself when someone says nice shirt here they are being worshiped and what did Paul and Barnabas do? They immediately stopped it. They viewed themselves as failures if people were worshiping them instead of Jesus!

What do we do when praise comes? Give all the glory to God.

Acts 14:19–23 “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.”

Antioch and Iconium - They followed them from the last town just to try to destroy the work of God.

They stoned Paul - Here they might have beat him with rocks. These people were just worshipping them as gods. Now they want to kill him.

This happens so much, we raise up leaders or heroes on a pedestal, then when they let us down (and they will) we want to destroy them. We do that with celebrities, with our spouses, with pastors, etc…

Listen, I will let you down. I probably already have let some of you down. ..and I don’t want to be stoned haha.

dragged him out of the city - I f you are that close to him that you thought they were dead when you were dragging him out, he was very close to death.

What do we do day in and day out? Keep being faithful to what God called us to do.

Disciples gathered around him - they probably through he was dead too.

He rose up and entered the city. - Rose is actually the word used elsewhere when people came back from the dead, he likely wasn’t dead, but he was close. But what would you do this in moment. Probably say, moving on! Nope. He said, let’s get back at it.

CONCLUSION: I have decided to follow Jesus - origin story.

It was written by a Indian martyr for faith that lost his wife and kids before dying himself but then sparked revival.

I have decided to follow Jesus

Though none go with me, I still will follow

The cross before me and the world behind me no turning back.

Garo -