Acts 14:1-28

<map of Paul’s first missionary journey>

In the last lesson, we saw Paul and Barnabas travel from Antioch to Cyprus and up to Antioch of Pisidia. In chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas are going to continue their evangelistic mission by traveling to more cities in Asia Minor. One of the themes we will notice is that doing the work of the ministry is not easy and you are likely to encounter resistance.

1. Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)

Iconium was an important crossroads for travelers heading from Syria to Ephesus. It was about 90 miles southeast of Pisidian Antioch.

A. Paul and Barnabas began by visiting the local synagogue and many believed. (Acts 14:1)

Acts 14:1 CSB

1 In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

B. Paul and Barnabas encountered resistance to the gospel message. (Acts 14:2)

Acts 14:2 CSB

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

We aren’t told how they poisoned the minds of the Gentiles, but there are many ways to cause doubt and confusion in the minds of people.

C. The Holy Spirit verified the gospel message with signs and wonders. (Acts 14:3)

Acts 14:3 CSB

3 So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.

Notice the progression. They gave the gospel. The used reason and apologetics to try to persuaded people of the truth. The Holy Spirit verified their message with signs and wonders.

D. The gospel divided the city and a plot forced Paul and Barnabas to leave Iconium (Acts 14:4-7)

Acts 14:4–7 CSB

4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside. 7 There they continued preaching the gospel.

The response to the gospel message in Iconium was met with mixed response. Some believed, but others did not. The response of those who did not believe was to try and silence the message through violence. People who are confronted with truth they do not like often resort to violence.

From this point, Paul and Barnabas continue their travels to Lystra.

2. Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:8-21)

In Lystra, the pattern changed because of the makeup of the towns. The Bible does not record, at this time, Paul and Barnabas entering the synagogue to teach. You would need at least 10 Jewish men to have a synagogue. They were preaching the gospel, when one day they had an encounter with a lame man.

A. Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed a lame man in Lystra. (Acts 14:8-10)

Acts 14:8–10 CSB

8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. 9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.

We aren’t sure how long Paul and Barnabas had spent in Lystra prior to this action, but it must have been for a little while because at the end of the this event we note that believers come to the aid of Paul.

B. Paul and Barnabas are mistakenly identified as Zeus and Hermes. (Acts 14:11-13)

Acts 14:11–13 CSB

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

If you know anything about Greek mythology, then you know often the Greek gods would take human form to interact with humanity. Zeus was a widely worshipped god in the ancient world. They thought Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes.

C. Paul and Barnabas reject the accolades and use the opportunity as a gospel witness (Acts 14:14-18)

Acts 14:14–18 CSB

14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

This is the first time in Acts a speech as been given to an audience who has not been influenced by Jewish thought. Notice where Paul had to start. He started at the beginning. God created the heavens and the earth. Then, he spoke about general revelation.

D. Paul and Barnabas experience more Jewish opposition. (Acts 14:19-20)

Acts 14:19–20 CSB

19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 20 After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

When I say opposition, I am not talking about a nasty Facebook post. These Jewish people traveled from Antioch and Iconium. Antioch was 110 miles away. Iconium was 20 miles away. They wanted to destroy the work and ministry of Paul and Barnabas. They were so passionate about the silencing of Paul and Barnabas that they wanted them dead. They attempted to kill Paul.

In this dark hour, notice the support of the believers. They gathered around Paul and helped him back to the city. Then, Paul and Barnabas left for Derbe. They were not going to allow the opposition to stop their mission.

3. The return journey (Acts 14:21-28)

A. The return trip took them through the towns they had just left: Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. (Acts 14:21)

Acts 14:21 CSB

21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,

They had been forced out of Antioch and had fled Iconium and Lystra. This time, instead of preaching the gospel in these cities, they took on a new role. They wanted to strengthen those who had believed. From this section, we are given four parts to helping people develop as disciple of Jesus Christ.

Acts 14:22–23 CSB

22 strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

B. Four truths of developing disciples

i. Strengthening

This is a general term, but it is about helping people get stronger in the faith. Also, the next three items may be talking about what they did to strengthen the new believers.

ii. Encouraging

They needed to know the importance of remaining faithful

iii. Warning

They warned them about hardships. So foreign to modern preaching - the idea that followers of Jesus Christ will need to go through hardships. We shouldn’t think it strange when we have to go through hard things. We don’t need to seek out the hard things, they will come all on their own.

The word “many” is not about quantity, but about variety. Many different things will happen to you on your journey in the Christian faith.

James 1:2 CSB

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,

The Christian life is a life of struggling with various hard things.

iv. Appointing leaders

The new believers needed a leadership team. The word “elders” occurs 66 times in the New Testament. It was originally used for Jewish leaders. Elders are leaders who help guide the direction of the church.

C. Conclusion of the journey and reporting. (Acts 14:24-28)

Acts 14:24–28 CSB

24 They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.

They reported to the church all that had happened and they spend much time with the other believers in Antioch.

Five Questions

1. How should you handle opposition to the gospel message?

2. How do you know when it is time to move on from evangelistic work?

3. What role does suffering have in discipleship? Why do we need to suffer?

4. Why is it important to have church leaders as opposed to everyone have directional input?

5. What are key elements to identifying spiritual leaders?