Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
1 At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
4 The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. 5 But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
God is using Paul and Barnabas to spread the Gospel; however, Satan is moving in the hearts of those opposing them. There are unbelieving Jews, some zealous for their faith and others zealous for their businesses. There are unbelieving Gentiles intransigent in their beliefs in lesser gods and also fearing for their businesses. Why must these two trouble makers show up anyway? Why can’t they take their strange speeches of a resurrected Jewish religious leader somewhere else? Local rulers are worried because there are always informants, ready to rush to higher authorities with reports of any potential threats to the Roman Empire. Throughout the ages, politicians remain the same. When Paul and Barnabas learn of a threat to stone them, they flee to Lystra and Derbe and other smaller villages in the area, preaching the Gospel as they go. Persecution is only motivating Paul and Barnabas to spread the Gospel more effectively, proving that God has a sharp sense of humor. And meanwhile, there’s a man in Lystra who is about to get the shock of his life.
The Visit to Lystra and Derbe
8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
18 Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Well, once more, the crowds prove fickle. When Paul speaks to a man crippled from birth and the man stands on his feet, local citizens are ready to honor Paul and Barnabas as personifications of the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes. The priest of Zeus is thrilled because these men are reinforcing the idea that Zeus really exists, so he brings animals and wreaths to sacrifice at the city gates. Too bad this man is wrong. Paul and Barnabas are aghast, for the last thing they intend is to be venerated. But veneration rapidly becomes agitation and then persecution when Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuade the crowds that they should attack Paul and Barnabas. Paul collapses as they are stoning him, and the angry mob drags him outside the city; however, once the disciples gather around him, he gets up and returns to the city. Does Paul really die, only for the disciples to lay hands on him, serving as channels of the Holy Spirit’s power so that he is resurrected? Paul never says much about the experience, only mentioning that he has been stoned and has returned to the very people who have stoned him.
How do we react when people persecute us? In the course of my career as a bush doctor in a remote mission hospital, I have endured staff strikes and humiliating meetings where those who have taken bribes have screamed insults at me. But at the end of the day, we know that God has called us to be where we are and God has not changed our marching orders. I have endured at least thirteen years as the only doctor in such hospitals and months since where I have continued to serve while colleagues have gone on leave or transferred, causing me to resume my position as the only doctor.
During these periods of distress, God has sustained us with His love, His grace, His mercy, and His assurance that we are in the center of His will for our lives. And the patients with their needs have always been there. I can only focus on a limited number of things at a time; pregnant women with obstructed labor, pale children in desperate need of blood, and men with strangulated hernias or typhoid perforations are far more important than insults delivered by small people.
2 Corinthians 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.…
I love white water canoeing and kayaking. One of the first lessons I had to learn was to look at the river and not at the rocks. If I focused on the rocks, I would wind up on the rocks. I had to focus on the channels of water, finding the best path. The same thing is true in life. Paul and Barnabas sensibly left places where people were threatening to stone them. Even when Paul was stoned, he returned to the city, likely to greet believers there, and then moved on. Paul and Barnabas never lost their focus. May God help us, so that we will maintain our reliance on Him, no matter what kind of opposition we might face.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to look to You and not to events around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen
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