Normalcy and Opposition

Introduction - (Used for Part 2)

We begin part 2 in Acts 14:21.

Why does the writer of Acts record what he does in the way he does?

In your mind, what does “normal” Christianity look like?

Does it include:

Church

Singing

Praying

Bible study

Baptism

Evangelism

Persecution?

The latter, hopefully, has some element of surprise because we will see how important persecution was for Paul’s conception of his apostleship and for the writer of Act’s reminder about what believers should expect from the world.

Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra in central Turkey.

We do not know the population.

Only with difficulty have they prevented the traditionalists in that town from offering sacrifices to them as Zeus (Barnabas) and Hermes (Paul).

The writer says very little about how convinced the people might have been by their message about the one true and living God.

The crowd’s fickleness becomes important to the account.

The Normalcy of Mass Fickleness

The writer of Acts says little about the reaction of the crowd to the apostolic message.

While there must have been disciples, little gets recorded about numbers.

The crowd who thought Paul and Barnabas must be Zeus and Hermes incarnate prove to have the same kind of fickleness as the crowd that proclaim, “Hosanna, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” when Jesus entered Jerusalem for his final Passover week.

Paul and Barnabas’ opponents from Antioch and Iconium catch up to them at Lystra.

They persuade the crowd.

They stone Paul.

We do not know about Barnabas.

The writer’s main thought is: “they dragged Paul outside of the city thinking him to have died.”

2 Cor. 6:3-10

2 Cor. 11:22-29

Sufferings in Asia and Legitimacy

2 Tim. 3:11: Note this as another indicator of what separates true apostles from those who are described from 2 Tim. 3:1-9.

Paul’s understanding of the relationship between his apostleship and his sufferings forms an important part of the presentation in Acts.

He thought his persistence in persecution legitimized his apostleship for both believers and unbelievers.

The Normalcy of the Apostles

The disciples encircled Paul, so this tells us there must have been some.

Paul, having arisen, entered the city.

He and Barnabas departed for another 50-80 mile journey on the following day.

This time, they came to the town of Derbe.

Notice how brief the writer makes his account.

What is the point if there aren’t large crowds of believers?

He wants to emphasize apostolic faithfulness despite this kind of opposition.

Apostleship, Persecution, and Confidence

1 Thess. 2 uses similar terminology that appears in Acts 14.

1 Thess. 1:9-10 does as well.

Normalcy of Practice and Expectations

In spite of the previous opposition, Paul and Barnabas did not return to Antioch via Paul’s hometown of Tarsus.

It was closer, only 150 miles away.

Those chose, instead, to return to the cities where the opposition had been so tense.

The chance for additional violence did not dissuade them from their responsibilities to the believers in those cities.

The writer emphasizes two accompanying actions when they returned to those cities:

They were “strengthening the souls of the brothers”

They were “encouraging them to remain in the faith and that “through many tribulations it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

This is normal for both apostles and believers.

It should not dissuade. Instead, it should encourage.

Paul and Barnabas then appointed elders for them at church.

They also prayed for them and entrusted them to the Lord who they had believed.

The continued to retrace their steps and returned to all the way to Antioch whence these travels began.