Acts 14 Part1

Background Information

This is Paul’s first missionary journey. He is with Barnabas. John Mark had returned to Jerusalem. They are now in Iconium not getting a warm send off from Antioch. Remember the Jewish leaders got with God fearing women and leaders of the town to stir up persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And so, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet and moved on to Iconium. And that is where we pick up now in Chapter 14.

Points

Acts 14:1 (NKJV) 1  Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

Remember Paul and Barnabas was not welcome back to the synagogue in Antioch and they wiped the dust off their feet. But now we are in a new city and Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue. The guiding principle of Paul’s ministry is: Romans 1:16 (NKJV) 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

In this passage, it cleat that after the rabbi spoke then both Paul and Barnabas spoke and a great multitude of the Jews and the God fearers got saved. The God fearers are the Gentiles that has converted to Judaism and they can be either god-fearers or proselytes. A jew can only be a Jew if their lineage could be traced to Abraham.

Iconium is a town in modern day Turkey. It is about 90 miles away from the Antioch that they just left.

Acts 14:2 (NKJV) 2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

The word “unbelieving” in the NKJV and the term “refused to believe” in the NIV has a very interesting meaning. It certainly means disbelief abut it also means disobedience. The Bible equates unbelief with disobedience. If you don’t receive Jesus Christ you have not believed but you are also disobedient.

John 3:36 (NKJV) 36  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

And look at how Paul describes wrath:

Romans 1:18 (NKJV) 18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Poisoned their minds: it means to keep hounding them until it brings about an evil attitude in the brethren. It is sort of like brainwashing. Remember what the Bible says: 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) 33  Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Acts 14:3 (NKJV) 3  Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Therefore, you may think that they would leave just like they did in Antioch wiping the dust off the feet. But every situation is different with God and you got to check with God what you need to do this time. This time they stayed and speak boldly about the Lord and battled it out with the unbelievers. And God affirmed that they did the right thing because God allowed them to do signs and wonders in Iconium but not in Antioch. Two town, 90 miles apart, same problem- unbelieving Jews but God wanted the two situations to be treated completely different.

I want to talk about speaking boldly for a minute. That should be the desire of every Christian. Ephesians 6:19-20 (NKJV) 19  and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20  for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul is saying that we ought to speak boldly about Christ and if we don’t there may be something wrong with us.

Acts 14:4 (NKJV) 4  But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. Matthew 10:34-36 (NKJV) 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'

He did come to bring peace to the earth. If everyone accepted Christ there would be peace on the earth. What he came to do is to bring peace between me and God. And so when the Gospel is preached there is going to be a natural division. It is a spiritual battle. Just suppose you get saved and you go back home and tell your family that you are saved. There is going to be a tension that builds up, a battleground between the newbie Christian and the unbelieving family.

Paul and Barnabas preached did signs and wonders and the city was split. Preaching God’s word did not bring peace to Iconium; but it brought out two different camps.

Why? If you preached Jesus with boldness did signs and wonders if all it was unbelief they would have turned from unbelief to belief. But unbelief has the elements ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Acts 14:5 (NKJV) 5  And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,

So the unbelievers both Jews and Gentiles plus their leaders came upon them in an assault to stone them.And by the stoning it tells us that the instigators were Jewish because stoning was a Jewish thing and not a Gentile thing.

Acts 14:6 (NKJV) 6  they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

This was not an act that showed a lack of faith. It was the right thing to do. Jesus instructed the disciples in Luke 10:10-11 (NKJV) 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'

So this persecution just pushed the Gospel into new areas. Lystra is about 18 miles from Iconium; In Acts 16:1 , Paul meets Timothy in Lystra. Acts 16:1 (NKJV) 1  Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

Derbe and Lystra. Derbe. Derbe was a city in the district of Lycaonia in the Roman province of Galatia in south central Asia Minor. It sat on a major route connecting Iconium to Laranda and was about 60 miles from Lystra.

Acts 14:7 (NKJV) 7  And they were preaching the gospel there.

Acts 14:8 (NKJV) 8  And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

Certain man described three ways: without strength in his feet; a cripple, had never walked.Luke wants you to know that without a doubt this man could not walk. His condition is hopeless.

Acts 14:9-10 (NKJV) 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10  said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.

Paul is not trying a new way to reach people since the last two cities did not go so well.

I need to break this one down to you.

heard-to hear, to pay attention, understand , obey What is he hearing? Paul was preaching the Gospel and this man obeyed what Paul was saying

Paul observing him intently and seeing- to perceive to to realize. Paul is looking at this guy and he sees that he is getting the message of the Gospel.

had faith- it was already existent.

to be healed-is the word sozo or to be in right relationship with God. He was born again, spiritually healed.

Paul is not preaching a physical healing ministry; no where in the Gospel does he do that.

Paul then being by the Holy Spirit then heals this man. His second miracle. His first miracle was to bling the man temporarily.