Chapter 14 Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium (vv. 1-7)
The same thing happened in Iconium: Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of Jews and Gentiles became believers. 2 But the Jews who would not believe stirred up the Gentiles and turned them against the believers. 3 The apostles stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord, who proved that their message about his grace was true by giving them the power to perform
miracles and wonders. a 4 The people of the city were divided: some were for the Jews, others for the apostles.
5 Then some Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, decided to mistreat the apostles and stone them. 6 When the apostles learned about it, they fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe b in Lycaonia c and to the surrounding territory. 7 There they preached the Good News.
Interesting Stuff:
a Jesus gave Paul and Barnabas the power to perform miracles so as to confirm the truth of the words spoken by them and the approval of God upon their ministry.
b Lystra was about 32 km (20 miles) from Iconium. Derbe was about 97 km (60 miles) southeast from Lystra.
c By referring to Lystra and Derbe as ‘Lycaonian cities’, Luke implies that Iconium belonged to a different region from Lystra and Derbe. All three were part of the Roman province of Galatia. But in the administration of so large a province, the Romans subdivided Galatia into various regions. In fleeing to Lystra and Derbe, therefore, Paul and Barnabas were leaving one political region to start afresh in another.
Questions:
Describe what happened to Paul and Barnabas in Iconium (vv. 1-6).
2. Why did the apostles flee from Iconium and where did they go to (vv. 5-6)?
Summary of Section:
- Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium and the same thing happened.
- They went to the synagogue and spoke in such a way that many Jews and Gentiles became believers. Those Jews who would not believe stirred up the Gentiles and turned them against the believers.
- The apostles stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord. He proved their message to be true by giving them power to perform miracles and wonders.
- The people of the city were divided, some were for the Jews, others, the apostles.
- Some Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, decided to mistreat the apostles and stone them.
- The apostles heard about this and fled to Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the surrounding area where they preached the Good News.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- As Paul and Barnabas left Pisidian Antioch, they were faced with a choice as to the future direction of their mission because there were two roads to travel along. One went north through a mountainous terrain while the other moved southeast to the important Greek city of Iconium, and from there to the Roman colony of Lystra. Choosing the southeastern route, they headed off to what would become a ministry to people of three very different types of cities in the southern portion of the Roman province of Galatia.
- Paul and Barnabas followed the same procedure as in Antioch, visiting the Jewish synagogue and preaching the gospel there. Here, too, many of their hearers believed, both Jews and Gentile God-fearers. And again, those Jews who rejected the gospel stirred up trouble for them with the authorities.
- The difference here is that it took a longer time for the opposition to become serious and they were able to preach the gospel freely and boldly. The preaching here was accompanied by miracles and wonders which helped to confirm the truth of the gospel.
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe (vv. 8-20)
8 In Lystra d there was a crippled man who had been lame from birth and had never been able to walk. 9 He sat there and listened to Paul’s words. e Paul saw that he believed and could be healed, so he looked straight at him 10 and said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” The man jumped up and started walking around. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they started shouting in their own Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” 12 They gave Barnabas the name Zeus, f and Paul the name Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of the god Zeus, whose temple stood just outside the town, brought bulls and flowers to the gate, for he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice to the apostles.
14 When Barnabas and Paul heard what they were about to do, g they tore their clothes h and ran into the middle of the crowd, shouting, 15 “Why are you doing this? We ourselves are only human beings like you! We are here to announce the Good News, to turn you away from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven, earth, sea, and all that is in them. 16 In the past he allowed all people to go their own way. 17 But he has always given evidence of his existence by the good things he does: he gives you rain from heaven and crops at the right times; he gives you food and fills your hearts with happiness.” 18 Even with these words the apostles could hardly keep the crowd from offering a sacrifice to them.
19 Some Jews came from Antioch in Pisidia and from Iconium; they won the crowds over to their side, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead. 21 But when the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
Interesting Stuff:
d Lystra was an ancient Lycaonian village whose origins are unknown. Jews also lived there but their influence seemed to have been minimal. The famous Roman Road from Ephesus to the Euphrates joined this city with Iconium. This was probably the road that the apostles travelled along from Iconium to Lystra.
e That Paul began his ministry at Lystra by preaching to a crowd may imply that no synagogue was available for him to preach in.
f Zeus was the patron god of the city, and his temple was there. The identification of Zeus, the chief of the Greek gods, with Barnabas may indicate that his appearance was more dignified. Paul was identified as the god Hermes (the Roman equivalent is Mercury), the spokesman for the gods, because he was the chief speaker. This incident might have been brought about by an ancient legend that told of a supposed visit to the same general area by Zeus and Hermes who were disguised as mortal men. They were, however, not recognised by anyone except an old couple, and so theydestroyed the people’s houses. Seeing the healing of the crippled man and remembering the legend, the people of Lystra believed that Zeus and Hermes had returned, and they wanted to pay them homage or respect lest they incur the gods’ wrath again.
g That the people shouted in Lycaonian explains why the apostles were so slow to understand what was happening until the preparations to honour them as gods were well advanced. But when the priest of Zeus joined the crowd and began to do them homage, Paul and Barnabas then realised what was happening.
h Tearing clothes was a Jewish way of expressing great anguish. When they finally realised what was going on, Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes in horror at such blasphemy that they should be worshipped as gods.
Questions:
Describe what happened to the crippled man in Lystra (vv. 8-10).
2. How did the crowds react when they saw what happened (v. 11)?
Which gods did they think the apostles represented (v. 12)?
3. What did the people want to do with the apostles (v. 13)?
4. Why were the apostles disturbed by the reactions of the people (v. 15)?
What did the apostles then do (vv. 14-17)?
How did Paul describe God to the people at Lystra (vv. 15-17)?
5. Show how Paul adapted his preaching to suit the different group of people here.
6. Name another apostle who refused to accept worship from men (10:25-26).
7. What happened to the apostles after this incident (vv. 19-20)?
Summary of Section:
- In Lystra there was a man who had been crippled from birth. He sat and listened to Paul’s words.
- Paul saw that he believed and could be healed. He looked straight at him and told him in a loud voice to stand up straight on his feet.
- The man jumped up and started walking around.
- When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they started shouting in their Lycaonian language that the gods had become like men and come down to them.
- They named Barnabas Zeus and Paul, Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
- The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls and flowers to the gate because he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice to the apostles.
- When Paul and Barnabas heard what they were about to do, they tore their clothes and ran into the middle of the crowd. They shouted and asked them why they were doing this.
- They told that they were only humans like the crowd themselves. They were there to announce the Good News to turn them away from their worthless things to the living God.
- They explained that this God is the Creator of all that they see. In the past, God had allowed all people to go their own way.
- But He had always given evidence of His existence by the good things He had done. He had given them rain for their crops, and was the source of their food and happiness.
- Even with these words, they could hardly keep the crowd from sacrificing to them.
- Some Jews came from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium. They won the crowds over to their side and stoned Paul. They dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead.
- When the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day, he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- On all previous occasions and most of the subsequent ones, the activity of the missionaries began in the synagogue among the Jews or Godfearing Gentiles. Here for the first time, they came to a town where there was no synagogue or at least no mention was made of it.
- Seeing ‘that he had faith to be healed’, Paul commanded him to stand up. The man jumped up and walked about. Luke undoubtedly wants his readers to recognise the parallel between the healing of this crippled man and the healing of another one by Peter (cf. 3:1-8). But the sequel to the healing of the crippled man here differs significantly from that of Peter’s miracle.
- The sermon Paul gives here differs considerably from the earlier sermon given to the Jews in the synagogue who already believed in Yahweh. To a pagan audience, Paul began a stage further back by pointing them to the works of God in His creation, something which they could see and be able to relate to.
- The Lystrans were probably offended by the missionaries’ refusal to accept their sacrifices. Thus when the Jews came from Antioch and Iconium to stir up trouble, they turned against Paul and were willing to let the Jews stone him.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch (vv. 21-28)
21 Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News in Derbe and won many disciples. Then they went back i to Lystra, to Iconium, and on to Antioch in Pisidia. 22 They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. “We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God,” they taught. 23 In each church they appointed elders, j and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
24 After going through the territory of Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 There they preached the message in Perga k and then went to Attalia, l 26 and from there they sailed back to Antioch, the place where they had been commended to the care of God’s grace for the work they had now completed.
27 When they arrived in Antioch, they gathered the people of the church together and told them about all that God had done with them and how he had opened the way for the Gentiles to believe. 28 And they stayed a long time there with the believers.
Interesting Stuff:
i Having preached at Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch. Why they did not push further east into the province of Cilicia, Luke does not tell us. Undoubtedly their concern for the new converts in the Galatian cities led them to return by the same road. In returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, they probably confined their ministries to those already converted, and thus did not stir up any further opposition.
j In the early Gentile churches (and also probably at Jerusalem), the terms ‘elders’ and ‘bishops’ (or ‘overseers’ as some versions translate) were used somewhat interchangeably and referred to those chosen as leaders over the church.
k This was the first city they landed in at Pamphylia where John Mark left them (see 13:13-14). They were able this time to share the gospel, something that they had been unable to do on their first visit.
l Attalia was a port next to Perga and had the best harbour on the coast of Pamphylia.
Questions:
What was the result of Paul and Barnabas’ preaching in Derbe (v. 21)?
2. Where did they go after leaving Derbe (vv. 21, 25-26)?
Describe what they did in the different cities (vv. 22-26).
4. What did they do when they returned to their church in Antioch (vv. 27-28)?
Summary of Section:
- Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News in Derbe and many came to believe.
- Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia. There they strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith.
- They reminded them that they must go through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God.
- In each church, they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord.
- Then they came to Perga in Pamphylia where they preached the gospel. They went to Attalia and sailed from there back to Antioch.
- When they arrived back, they gathered together the people of the church and told them about what God had done with them and how He had opened the way for the Gentiles to believe.
- They then stayed on in Antioch for a long time.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Paul and Barnabas courageously went back to the three cities despite the fact that they were greatly persecuted there. The members of those churches needed to be encouraged for they had seen Paul and Barnabas violently assaulted and driven out, and they most likely had to endure some measure of persecution as well.
- It is almost taken for granted throughout the NT that persecution and hardship is the normal lot of Christians in this age. It is those who suffer for and with Christ now who will share in his future glory.
- One way of strengthening the churches was to make sure that there were good leaders to care for each church. This Paul and Barnabas did in each of the churches before they left.
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