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| Chapter 14 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ And it came to pass in Iconium that together they both went into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude of both the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and planted evil in their minds against the brethren. 3 A long time therefore they tarried among them, 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. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both by the Gentiles and also the Jews, with their rulers, to use them spitefully and to stone them, 6 they were aware of it and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about. 7 And there they preached the Gospel. 8 ¶ And there sat at Lystra a certain man, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9 This same one heard Paul speak, who, steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet!" And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men." 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates and would have done sacrifice along with the people. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, 15 "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions as you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all things that are therein, 16 and who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 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." 18 But even with these sayings they scarcely restrained the people from doing sacrifice unto them. 19 ¶ And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people; and having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. 20 However, 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. 21 And when they had preached the Gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, 22 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. 23 And when they had ordained elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the Word in Perga, they went down into Attalia 26 and thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27 And when they had come and had gathered the church together, they recounted all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they remained a long time with the disciples. |
Iconium - a divided city. This is a city which is more Greek than Roman, it was in the Roman province (area) of Galatia. v1-3 Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue to minister to the large number of Jews and Greeks present. Their message was received by most present with great happiness, many believed in Jesus as the Messiah. But as had happened before, the unbelieving Jews caused problems and stirred up hatred and evil in the Greeks against the ministry, but this did not stop the work and Paul and Barnabas continued to preach, performing, by the power of God, signs and miracles as proof that they were God’s messengers and they had faith. Acts 15:12; Gal 3:5; Heb 2:4. But faith does not come from miracles, it helps, but it is all of His Word of grace. see v26; John 2:23-25. v4-6 The city, as a result of the Jewish unbelievers, was split, part supporting the apostles, part the Jews. The Christians were threatened with stoning by the unbelieving Jew’s, Greek’s and the town leaders, but the apostles became aware of the danger and left for Lystra and Derbe, towns in the Roman province of Galatia. Lystra was about eighteen miles to the southwest of Iconium, Paul was to visit this town three times on his various missionary journeys. The second, Acts 16:1-5, where Paul met Timothy, and on the third journey Acts 18:23. Lystra. v8-10 They meet a crippled man, disabled from birth so had never been able to walk. This man was listening to Paul talking in the market place. God made Paul sense that this man believed the Words of God and had faith. Rom 10:17 Paul turns to him and commands "Stand up on your feet!," immediately the faith brought healing and the man jumped up and began to walk. If the damaged legs of the man had been due to a recent illness people may have doubted the miracle, but they knew this man had never walked. Peter also healed a man crippled from birth Acts 3:1-11. v11-13 The crowds reaction and response showed a crowd who believed in mythical (imaginary, fictitious) gods. Jupiter (or Zeus) was the supposed chief of these gods, so Barnabas was thought to be Jupiter, while Paul, the messenger, was Mercury (or Hermes). Jupiter was believed to be the protector of the city and this reaction allows the temple of Jupiter priests to become important and started offering sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. v14-19 Paul and Barnabas could have easily accepted this worship and tried to use the event to preach the truth but this is not the way of God, only He should be worshipped. Consider 2 Cor 4:1,2; 1 Thess 2:1-5. Paul and Barnabas told the people that they were not gods but normal people just like them, the gods you were worshipping are just imaginary, a fable, we are telling you about the true God. Paul does not refer to the Old Testament because most of the people were Gentile pagans and knew nothing of the Old Testament. He starts with creation, made by one God, who is alive. A God which gives many blessings and is a forgiving God. Neither has He judged the nations for their wrong lives as yet. v19 The people had calmed down a little, until unbelieving Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, these quickly stirred up the people and they stoned Paul until they thought he was dead and threw him out of the city. v20-22 There were new believers in Lystra, as they stood looking at the apparently dead body, praying for guidance and help, Paul suddenly stands up. Was Paul really dead? We are not told. Out of this event God was glorified. Paul and Barnabas departed for Derbe the next day, preaching and teaching. They later returned to Lystra, then onto Iconium and Antioch, preaching and encouraging the new believers, to remain in faith and be prepared for problems and tribulation. How they were able to enter and preach in these cities from which they had previously been thrown out is not explained, but we must remember nothing is impossible to God, He opened the doors. v22 The apostles were able to encourage the believers, "confirming" their belief and increasing their faith. v23 The apostles, having prayed for each new church and created church leaders. "Ordained" indicates that they were appointed by some sort of vote. By appointing these leaders the apostles were ensuring the proper operation and organizing of the local churches. The title "elders" is the same position given as "bishop" or "pastor" elsewhere in the New Testament. Titus 1:5,7. v24-28 Working their way through the area they finally come back to Antioch. The church is called together and they were able to report how God had opened the doors to the Gentiles and the result was the opening of the door of salvation to the Gentiles. |
Easy English Translation
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