Acts 14: Responsibilities of Missionaries who give an account of all the Lord has done
AFTER PAUL AND BARNABAS LEFT CYPRUS ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY, THEY GO NORTH TO THE COAST OF ASIA STOPPING AT PERGA IN THE REGION OF PAMPHYLIA.
IT IS HERE THAT JOHN MARK LEFT THE TEAM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. HE BECAME A PERSON OF CONFLICT BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS.
NOW THE TEAM TRAVELS NORTH FOR ALMOST 100 MILES THROUGH RUGGED TERRITORY, MOST LIKELY ON FOOT.
PAUL REVEALS IN GALATIANS 4:13 THAT SOME ILLNESS AFFLICTED HIM ALONG THIS JOURNEY, WHICH HE CALLED “INFIRMITY OF THE FLESH”.
IN 2ND TIMOTHY 3, PAUL REFERS AGAIN TO THIS TIME WHEN HE WRITES:
“Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured … but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
THIS JOURNEY BEGAN A NEW MOVEMENT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
HERE BEGAN THE LAST PHASE OF THE LORD’S GREAT COMMISSION AS THEY WENT TO WHAT WAS THEN THOUGHT OF AS THE “UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH”.
THIS TIME HAS BEEN CALLED “THE PATTERN SETTERS” BECAUSE IN THIS SECTION OF ACTS WE FIND THE PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN ANY AGE.
THE CHURCH IS INTENDED TO LIVE IN THIS PATTERN. IF IT HAS FALLEN SHORT AT CERTAIN TIMES IT IS BECAUSE THE PATTERN HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ZEALOUS EVANGELICAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE TAKEN AS THEIR MOTTO “ THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WORLD IN OUR GENERATION”.
THIS IS A PERFECTLY SCRIPTURAL GOAL. MARK 16:15 COMMANDS THE GOSPEL TO GO TO EVERY CREATURE.
THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OVER TIME WAS NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ZEALOUS, EAGER, COMMITTED, AND DEDICATED, AND CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF MONEY MADE AVAILABLE.
THEY FAILED BECAUSE THEY MISSED THE APOSTOLIC METHOD WHICH WE SEE IN OUR STUDY STOPS DID INDEED BRING SUCCESS IN ALMOST EACH EFFORT.
IN ACTS 14 WE SEE PAUL AND BARNABAS MINISTERING IN THREE CITIES, ICONIUM, LYSTRA, AND DERBE.
THE CONDITIONS WERE DIFFERENT IN EACH CITY. IN TWO OF THEM THEY MET MOST SERIOUS AND VICIOUS OPPOSITION, SOMETIMES VIOLENT.
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS HELPED AS WE SEE HOW THEY APPROACHED EACH SITUATION.
WE BEGIN IN VERSES 1-4:
“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greek believed.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.”
IN ICONIUM, THOUGH THIS WAS A PAGAN GENTILE CITY, THERE WAS A STRONG COLONY OF JEWS WHO HAD A SYNAGOGUE.
PAUL AND BARNABAS WENT RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE THE JEWS THERE WERE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE SCRIPTURES, AND SHOULD HAVE VALUED THE TRUTH OF GOD.
THAT IS THE FIRST RULE OF WITNESSING: START RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
THIS IS WHERE PAUL AND BARNABAS BEGAN, EVEN IN THIS PAGAN CITY.
WHEN THEY CAME TO THE SYNAGOGUE THEY FOUND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
HERE WAS THE SECOND MARK OF THE GOSPEL, AS IT IS GENUINELY PREACHED.
THERE IS ALWAYS AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT. WE READ HERE THAT THEY “SO SPOKE THAT A GREAT COMPANY BELIEVED, BOTH OF JEWS AND GREEKS.”
THIS IS TESTIMONY TO THE RADICAL CHARACTER OF THE WORD THEY BROUGHT.
THIS WAS A GOSPEL THAT HIT LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. IT HIT WITH POWER AND IMPACT. IT SHOOK PEOPLE AND JOLTED THEM AND MADE THEM SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
A GREAT CROWD BELIEVED WHEN THEY HEARD PAUL AND BARNABAS.
HERE WAS A SYNAGOGUE, A PLACE WHERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE HAD LONG GATHERED DISCUSSING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD.
A GREAT DEAL OF TRUTH WAS AVAILABLE THERE BUT THERE ALSO WERE EMPTY HEARTS.
ALL THEIR KNOWLEDGE HAD NOT BROUGHT THEM TO PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
BUT WHEN PAUL DECLARED THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS, THE FACT THAT IN JESUS THERE IS A WAY TO RECEIVE FROM GOD ALL THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR – A CLEANSING, FORGIVENESS, FREEDOM FROM GUILT, AND MUCH MORE – THESE PEOPLE BELIEVED AND THEIR FAITH MADE A LARGE CHANGE IN THEM.
THE GREAT TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IS THAT JESUS CHRIST CLEANSES, SETS FREE, FILLS WITH JOY, AND MAKES MEN WHAT GOD HAD INTENDED MEN TO BE.
A THIRD MARK OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS THAT IT WILL AROUSE OPPOSITION. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
WE READ: “BUT THE UNBELIEVING JEWS STIRRED UP THE GENTILES AND POISONED THEIR MINDS AGAINST THE BRETHREN”.
THEY NOT ONLY DISBELIEVED THE GOSPEL; THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IT A CHANCE OR EVEN CONSIDER IT.
THESE PEOPLE STIRRED UP THE GENTILES WHO WERE PRESENT AND POISONED THEIR MINDS.
THESE MEN WERE NOT MET WITH OUTRIGHT OPEN OPPOSITION SUCH AS THAT THEY HAS FACED IN ANTIOCH.
HERE IT IS SUBTLE, WHISPERING, DECEITFUL, POISONOUS PROPOGANDA AND IT HAD ITS EFFECT.
MANY WERE TURNED AWAY. BUT DR. LUKE TELLS US THIS OPPOSITION WAS OVERCOME. HE SAYS “ 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.”
GOD WORKED WITH HIS CHOSEN ONES BY CONFIRMING HIS WORD WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS.
THIS IS THE FOURTH ELEMENT WHICH IS ALWAYS PRESENT WHEN THE TRUE GOSPEL IS BEING PREACHED.
THERE IS A BAFFLING QUALITY ABOUT IT.
THINGS HAPPEN WHICH ARE BEYOND THE NORMAL WORK OF THE HANDS OF MAN AND THIS BAFFLING ELEMENT IS WHAT MAKES THE GOSPEL SO ATTRACTIVE AND COMPELLING TO THE WORLD.
HEARTS ARE CHANGED FROM BROKEN TO NOT.
THE FIFTH AND FINAL ELEMENT SEEN IN CHAPTER 14 IS THAT OF DIVISION.
HERE MORE WORDS OF DR. LUKE TEACH US:
“BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WERE DIVIDED; SOME SIDED WITH THE JEWS, AND SOME WITH THE APOSTLES.”
THIS IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH THE GOSPEL. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BRING PEACE, EXCEPT TO THE INDIVIDUAL HEART.
IT IS INTENDED TO BE DIVISIVE.
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 10:34:
“Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I have come to bring a sword.”
WE NOTE ONE MORE INTERESTING THING HERE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF ACTS BOTH BARNABAS AND PAUL ARE CALLED APOSTLES, IN VERSE 4 AND AGAIN IN VERSE 14.
VERSES 5-7 REVEAL THE SWORD SPOKEN OF BY JESUS:
“When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to molest them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lyconia, and to the surrounding country; and there they preached the gospel.”
HERE WE COME TO THE SECOND CITY IN THIS CHAPTER, THE GENTILE CITY OF LYSTRA.
HERE THERE WAS NO JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.
WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH NO DESIGNATED PLACE TO BEGIN?
VERSES 8-13 SHOW US THE NEW PATHWAY FOR THESE APOSTLES.
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lyconia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.”
GOD HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF THE CITY TO HIS CHOSEN MEN.
VERSES 14-18 PROVIDE US WITH THE PATTERN NEEDED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO NON-RELIGIOUS PEOPLE:
“Which, when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
AS WE SEE THE APPROACH PAUL USED FROM NON-RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IS THROUGH NATURE, NOT OF SCRIPTURE FOR THESE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY WORD AS DID THE JEWS.
WHEN HE WENT TO THE GENTILES, HE STARTED WITH NATURE, THE TRUTH OF GOD WHICH ALL THERE KNEW. HE POINTS OUT THREE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PLAIN TO THEM AS THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR CONTACT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
FIRST HE SHOWS THAT THERE IS ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.
SECOND, HE FOCUSES UPON THE ONE LIVING GOD PERMITS MEN FREE CHOICE AND THEREFORE BY THAT FREE CHOICE ALLOWS EVIL.
PAUL IS SAYING THAT GOD, IN GENERATIONS PAST, ALLOWED ALL THE NATIONS TO WALK IN THEIR OWN WAY WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING HE GAVE THEM FREE WILL.
IN ORDER TO PERMIT FREE WILL, HE MUST ALLOW EVIL. PAUL’S EXPRESSION HERE IS NOT ABLE TO BE ANSWERED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT RELIGIOUS.
THIRD HE SAYS, GOD WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO GO TOO FAR.
HE DOES NOT ALLOW EVIL TO FULLY ENGULF HUMANITY AND WIPE MAN FROM THE EARTH, AS HUMAN EVIL WOULD LIKELY DO IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF LEFT UNRESTRAINED.
GOD HAS RESTRAINED IT.
GOD HAS SHOWN HIS LOVE BY GIVING RAIN, AND FRUIT, AND HARVEST AND GLADNESS AND THOSE THINGS ARE PROVIDED BY HIS GOODNESS.
THESE IDEAS ARE OF THE GOD PAUL PREACHED AND THE CITY WAS OPENED TO PAUL BRINGING THE GOSPEL AND PROCLAIMING IT IN POWER AS HE HAS ALREADY SHOWN IN SIGNS AND WONDERS SEEN.
AT THIS POINT THE COUNTER ATTACK OF THE ENEMY BEGAN STRIKING BACK AT THE GOSPEL PREACHED WHOSE POWER HAD BEEN UNLEASHED AND THE ATTACK WAS MADE IN THE FORM OF DIRECT VIOLENCE AS SEEN IN VERSES 19-20:
“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”
SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME PAUL WAS STONED.
HIS ENEMIES DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE CITY AND THREW HIM OUT LIKE RUBBISH THINKING HE WAS DEAD.
HOW HORRIBLE MUST HAVE BEEN THIS TIME FOR BARNABAS AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES.
AS THEY GATHERED AROUND PAUL ALSO THINKING HIM DEAD, PAUL SUDDENLY SITS UP AND GOD RESTORES HIM AND ON THE NEXT DAY THEY LEFT FOR DERBE.
VERSES 21-23 TAKE UP THE STORY AS THE GROUP MOVES ON TO THE THIRD CITY OF THIS CHAPTER.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
HERE IS AMAZING EVIDENCE OF COURAGE.
THEY HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA, THREATENED IN ICONIUM, ACTUALLY STONED IN LYSTRA, BUT YET, WHEN GOD RAISED PAUL UP, THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO THOSE SAME CITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE DISCIPLES.
SUCH COURAGE COMES ONLY FROM FULL TRUST IN THE LORD.
THEY WERE CONFIDENT THAT GOD WAS WITH THEM AND SO BACK THEY WENT WITH COURAGE.
AS THEY RETURNED TO ANTIOCH THEY GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND DECLARED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM AND HOW HE HAD OPENED A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES AND THERE THEY REMAINED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
HERE WAS A MISSIONARY MEETING, WITH A REPORT GIVEN OF ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED INCLUDING THE EXCITING STORIES OF SO MANY WHO HAD COME TO CHRIST THROUGH THE MINISTRY.
