So we're gonna be in. Acts 14. X 14 this evening. Hopefully we'll get through.
The entire chapter.
Thanks, 14, so last. 2 weeks ago, Ray. Did, Acts 13, which began the Paul's first missionary journey.
So this is the continuation of Paul's first. Missionary Journey. Beginning there in Acts 13 when they were sent.
Out from Antioch.
They're in the beginning of X 13 they're sent out they go to Cyprus, which is an island in the, in the, Mediterranean.
And they were very. You know, preach the gospel through Cyprus and then went to Antioch in Pasidia.
And then we now come to Iconium. Now something that's interesting that you see as you're going through this.
The missionary journey, Paul is starting to develop a strategy and we see it. Happened very often. He, begins his labor in synagogue.
So he's going to all these different cities throughout. The Empire. And he goes to a synagogue.
And it was synagogue. You know what it it means that there's a Jewish population there.
There was at least 10 Jewish elders would need to be established to be there to establish a synagogue.
And his messages were appealing to the Old Testament scripture. So he would. Share and preach, from the Old Testament.
In regards to the Messiah, the coming Messiah, and these prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus and what he had fulfilled.
So take a look real quick in Act 17. Act 17 one. You know, here's an example of Paul and it says here.
Luke is helping us out here to see this. Strategy. I'm sorry.
Yeah, Act 17. Verse one, now when they had passed through M andpholius and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue of the Jews, then Paul as his custom was, went into them.
And for 3 Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that that the Christ had the suffering.
And rise again from the dead and saying this Jesus whom I preached to you is the Christ is the Messiah So as his custom was, so this is what he did.
This was his strategy. This was his custom.
Hmm. And so there was something else that would happen, that something else that was customary when he would go do this, opposition would arise and persecution would come.
This was commonplace as he labored in this way going to the synagogues, preaching from the Word of God, the Old Testament, opposition would arise.
Persecution in Antioch there at the end of Acts 13 there was persecution it says there Verse 50, Acts 13 verse 50, but the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the cities.
Raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region. But they took off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium.
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. So that's where we're starting off now.
Being expelled from, Antioch. And going on to Iconium.
So I'm gonna go ahead and read of chapter 14 to verse 7. So one through 7, I'll read.
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.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
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. But the multitude of the city was divided.
Part sided with the Jews in part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Listra and Derby.
Cities of Lyconia and to the surrounding region. And they're and they were preaching the gospel there.
When we pray again, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word that we can open it up and read.
We thank you for these wonderful this record of these events that took place. Given to us by your Holy Spirit through Luke and Lord, we thank you that we can read these things and learn and be instructed by how you worked in these days.
We thank you. For this time in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
So again, you see, so he, Paul goes to Iconium and he starts again at the synagogue.
Went to the synagogue of the Jews. And I like this it says and he's so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and the Greeks believe so He's so spoke.
He, to such a great extent, he spoke to such a great extent that many had believed.
And, you know, Paul, was not one to say that he was eloquent, right?
It wasn't his, his power or ability. In fact, he says in first printians take a look real quick, First Corinthians.
They're in. Chapter 2.
First Corinthians chapter 2, Paul. Gives all the glory to the Lord. He says, And I brethren when I came to you did not come with excellency of speech or wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
Friday determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit.
And of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men. But in the power of God.
So here we see Paul. Preaching in these in the synagogues really a demonstration of the power of God and so speaking in such a way that converted many people.
Many Gentiles and Jews for the Gospel. But again, we see. Persecution arises.
But the unbelieving Jews, verse 2, stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
So They were, you know, saying wicked, evil things about them, poisoning the minds. Sewing discord in regards to Paul and Barnabas so that people were turned against them.
And then it says here. You know. So there's this. Opposition arises and it says therefore they stayed there a long time.
So there's opposition and therefore they stay there a long time. So. Are they gluttons for punishment?
Is that what it is? You know, therefore they stayed there a long time. So Gcamo Morgan, he says, not because of their successes, but because of their difficulties.
That's why they stayed there because it was difficult. Perhaps it was. Assigned to them or understanding?
The enemy is raging here. We're in the right place. You know when the enemy rages maybe you're exactly where you're supposed to be doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing because the enemy wants you to stop.
If we're left alone and everything seems okay, well, maybe we're not where we need to be.
Maybe sometimes we stir up. You know, this persecution and opposition and maybe that again. I remember in college in Madison we would go to State Street, which is a big, you know, where all the students would hang out and walk and go to different shops and we would set up.
Gospel presentation and we would do skits and hand out things and I always tell people if you ever doubt spiritual warfare.
Goal you know downtown Madison and get down the corner and and start sharing the gospel. You're gonna see it.
You're gonna see spiritual warfare. And the enemy raged. So people would do things you would never.
Like this nice ladies, people would just come up and like dump water on her. You know, people would never do that otherwise, but.
In that particular case, it's okay. So it's just, it's interesting.
And the other thing I see about this too, Jim was talking about Ed McCauley and his father on Sunday.
And, you know, this urgency. You know, in light of these difficulties and getting to this unreached population and sharing the gospel to it's difficult.
It was difficult to get to these people. There was much opposition. And yet they did it because there was an urgency, a desire, a the love of Christ constrains us.
So Paul. You know, even in the midst of this. Persecution and opposition. They continued there a long time.
They stayed there because they knew that's where God had him. The very fact that the enemy is raging is an indication that God is working.
That they, that they're exactly where they need to be doing exactly what they need to be doing.
And then verse 3. Therefore they stayed there a long time. Speaking boldly in the Lord.
Witnessing to himself. To that salt. When he when the gospels preached.
He's bearing witness to himself. You know, that's we can leave it up to him.
Right. It's not me. We leave it up to him. We share the gospel.
We sure that truth. Leave it up to him to bear witness of himself to that individual. For them to believe.
And then it says, you know, in this case, in this particular, time. They're speaking boldly in the Lord.
The Lord is bearing witness. To the Word of His grace, the gospel. Granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
So the Lord was using. Science and Wonders to confirm the truth of the message. Bearing witness.
To himself Confirming the message, validating the message. Endorsing the message. The apostles here Paul was able to do these Signs and wonders people would see and it would again confirm what he was being what was being said.
And you know the Lord grants it. He granted. He granted the signs and wonders. You know, I think about,
It was for his purpose, right? To confirm the message. You know there you don't see in the scriptures you know Paul inviting people to a healing meeting right it was It wasn't something that they did.
It wasn't like well we on our schedule we have healing scheduled at you know 7 30 tonight Sorry, it's not how it works.
You know, we can't schedule it. God does it. He grants it and it's done for his purpose.
And again, you know, to confirm the message.
So then it goes on. So here are these wonderful. You know miracles happening and then it says verse 4 But the multitude of the city was divided.
And that's really isn't that what happens? You share the gospel, you serve the truth.
It divides. It divides. There is a A point where a decision needs to be made.
Some people say no and some people say yes and there's a division. But the multitude of the city was divided, part sided with the Jews in part with apostles.
And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers, to abuse and to stone them.
So there, so, there was an organized attempt. But the magistrates by the leaders, leaders of the, the rulers of the city to abuse and stone them.
So They became aware of this. And they fled. So when it got to the point where they're gonna you know they could be killed they and they God gave them discernment it was time to leave it was time to go it was time to move on to the next city and that's what they did.
They became aware of it and fled to Lister and Derby, cities of Lyconia and to the surrounding region and they were preaching in the gospel there.
So, and you see the enemy raging, right? The enemy, there's opposition. And it does exactly the opposite of what the enemy intended.
It actually the gospel spreads even further and more people hear the good news. More, souls are reached with the gospel.
So now they move on to. Derby, Lister and Derby. These are 2 cities.
They're about 16 miles apart from each other. So Antiochidia is, is, you know, it's North of the shoreline there in Turkey.
I should have had a map And then Lister and Derby's further in further inland.
Lister and Derby are often named together. As you read scripture, you'll see them name together because they're close to each other.
This is more of a Gentile area. There doesn't seem to be any synagogues in this area.
Nothing's mentioned that they're synagogues. This is much more of a Gentile.
Area. It's it's off the beaten path a bit. They continue to speak like Konian amongst themselves.
They're not speaking Greek, although they probably know Greek, but amongst themselves are speaking this other language.
And Paul would visit this area every missionary journey, every missionary journey, the second and third he would come through this area.
Perhaps this is where in Paul met Louis and Eunice. Timothy's grandmother and mother.
In, you know, Paul must have held these women in high esteem. Take a look at second Timothy.
Cause this is where Timothy was from. Lestrone Derby. But here you see in second Timothy.
Chapter one.
Verse 3. I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience. As my forefathers did as without ceasing, I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you being mindful of you.
Being mindful of your tears that I may be filled with joy. When i call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.
And I am persuaded is in you also. So like I said, he must have held them in high esteem.
That Timothy was, you know, the heritage that Timothy had with these women and perhaps this is when Paul met them.
We do know that on the second missionary journey through The same area there in Act 16.
Act 16 1.
It says. You know coming through again it says then he came to Derby and Lister and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy.
The son of a certain Jewish woman who believed? But his father was Greek, he was well spoken of by the Brethren.
So, who was at Lister and Iconium. So, He, you know, Lois and Eunice believe first and then later on Timothy is now believing and he takes him with him so it's just kind of interesting.
Fact about the area. Listra and Derby.
So back there in chapter 14.
So, he leaves iconium. Now he's going to Lister and Derby. And again, preaching the gospel.
And verse 8. And in Lister a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting a cripple from his mother's womb.
Who had never walked. So he's without strength. From his mother's womb. He was in this state.
He never walked. He was born that way. And this man versus 9. Heard this man heard Paul speaking.
Paul observing him intently and seeing that he had faith. To be healed. So this man was listening to what Paul was saying and Paul in some way he understood he could tell that this man was understanding and believing what he was saying.
And then in verse 10. Paul said with a loud voice, stand up straight on your feet and he leapt and walked.
So this is a great event here and I think this is important. Because I believe the Holy Spirit is showing us in this that Paul had the same authority as Peter with these apostolic authority and and gifts.
Because it's very similar to what happened in X 3 this man, it real quick, it's a common story that people know and kids know there's a song that goes with it, walking and leaping and praising God.
You know, he's, Peter sees this man. And, you know. He, the Lord heals him through Peter and, and there's.
There's a people see this and they wonder in amazement what has just happened and Peter uses the the opportunity to share and preach.
So this these group of people. So it's a wonderful event and it's very similar to what just happened here with Paul.
And again, I think it's to show us. That Paul has the same authority. As Peter.
But, you know, the, the, you know, Peter, they're preaching.
About the Lord Jesus Christ to a Jewish audience And now it's a little bit different here in Lystra, what happens with with Paul performed you know this miracle being performed and and Paul people seeing it and filled with wonder and awe what is going on what happened So we we see here in verse 11 X, 1411.
Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices saying in the Lyconian language, the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.
And Barnabas they called Zeus. And Paul Hermes. Because he was the cheap speaker.
This is actually kind of humorous, right? That they they believe that these 2 men were, Zeus.
In Hermes or, or, Jupiter. And Mercury. So, you know, here these people are, they're steeped in.
Polytheism, right? They believe they're pagan, they believe in these multiple gods the pantheon of gods they believe that Paul is Hermes because he's the he's speaking Hermes was he was the herald of the gods.
That's where we get the word. Cause it's communicating or, heralding the messages from the gods.
That's what he did. So that's where we get hermenetics from because we're trying to understand and the message from God.
So there's a little background here. I think that's interesting. So, Ovid in his metamorphosis.
It's a Greek, a Roman. Mythology. He tells the story of Zeus and Mercury actually visiting Lister.
And so that when they came to visit the town. And no one would show them any hospitality. So they came in, they were disguised.
They came into the town and no one showed them any hospitality except one. A couple. And so they judged the city.
The entire city was flooded. And except for the one home that was on the hill this couple that showed them hospitality their home became the temple to Zeus.
And the reward was to become trees on the on the entrance. The the temple. So the one on one side, one on the other on the entrance.
So, so this was something that would have been familiar to the people. And when they saw these 2 men and they saw them perform miracle, they thought, hey, it's.
Zeus and Hermes again. So, and they probably were afraid, like we better show them hospitality this time.
So perhaps they were afraid and the the priest verse 13, the priest of Zeus whose temple was in the front of their city brought oxen and garlands to the gates intending to sacrifice with the multitude.
So the ox, that's a symbol of Zeus, a symbol of his. Many of the gods have different symbols and animals associated with them and the ox was associated with Zeus.
Verse 14. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes.
And ran in among the multitude crying out so Don't do this. Do not. Worship us in this manner.
And, It's a wonderful thing for them to make this stand at this time, how easy.
Human nature would be to enjoy that and take that. But they absolutely not they tore their clothes.
It was blasphemy. You know, how many false teachers are there that would willing to take?
That praise and title. I talked a lot about, no, I can't think of his name.
Called leader that basically just, you know, the one that he took his people down to South America.
Yeah, yeah. And, You know, the, he basically said he was God.
And people believed it so So here we see. Absolutely rejecting. That and so verse
So verse 15, so here's what they say, versus what Paul says. So they ran into among the multitude crying out and saying men why are you doing these things We also are men with the same nature as you and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God.
Who made the heaven? The earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. Just a few thoughts here.
So. You know, he's saying, Why are you doing these things? I'm just a man with the same with like passions.
With the same nature as you. And see, that's something that's so different. And Paul is introducing them to the living.
God, the living God. The the Greek and Roman concept of the gods. They're just, amplified humanity.
The strengths and the weaknesses just amplified. Super human. Just like us, but bigger.
Stronger, but also. The same weaknesses. The strength, the strengths and weaknesses, jealousies, envies lost.
All these sorts of things just bigger. More and that's That was their idea, but Paul is saying no, there's a living God who is completely beyond us.
He's the living God who created. Who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.
So I think that's interesting. Here's a difference. So when he spoke to the Jews.
He could very just open up the scrolls and read from the Old Testament and these prophecies and and they understood what was being said and they understood.
Paul goes right to creation. He goes right to you know, and what a witness, right?
That God is the creator. He is the one that he's beyond time and space. Zeus is a creature of time.
He was born. He, Kronos, the Titans and he overthrew the Titans and you know they're very powerful these Greek gods these Roman gods But they're still at the mercy of fate.
They're creatures of time. They're at the mercy of fate. They're, full of sin.
You know, Zeus, he was known for his affairs. With mortal women. And so a lot of the stories are him attempting to hide his unfaithfulness.
To his, from his wife, Hera. But God is. Is beyond all of these things.
Man made gods in their image and likeness. That's what these are. A man making gods in their image.
But Paul comes to tell him about Jehovah God who made them in his image and likeness.
He's outside of time and space. And the message to these Gentiles. Is that or these, you know, ignorant.
Gentiles. He is the living God who made the heaven. You know, he's not just a resident of heaven.
He created him. Zeus is just, he's a resident of Mount Olympus and the heavens.
God created heaven. He's above it. He created the earth, he created the sea, you know.
All these ideas of, well, there's Poseidon and there's, you know, Zeus is the god of the sky and Like, God, mean all those things.
God's above all these things. He made the C and all the things that are in them.
So they had the pantheon of the gods, every one of them had a little different thing that they made or created or were responsible for.
God's in charge of all of it. And then it says here.
In verse 16.
So this living God that I'm introducing you to here today. Who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk?
In their own ways. So there was a time when God let them allowed them to kind of walk in their own ways, but nevertheless verse 17.
He did not leave himself without a witness. We we read in Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God, right?
There's there's something that is inside of man or people, humanity. They know that there is.
A god, there is a god. He uses The heavens themselves to declare his existence. And then it goes on it says nevertheless he did not leave himself without a witness and that he did good.
Gave us rain from heaven. You know, it rains on the just and the unjust.
God's grace to the to all of mankind to all the earth. He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons.
Filling our hearts with food and gladness again. You think about the references to these Greek gods and you know the god of the food and gladness and fruitful seasons and all these sorts of things that they would they would have to give reverence to again that's it's The living God, Jehovah God that gives us all these things.
Hmm.
So and then Romans 1 20. About bearing witness and they are without excuse.
For 18. So Paul gives this. You know, message to these Gentiles and then, and then it says, Verse 18 and with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
So they were still added. They were slow, didn't matter what he said, they were still gonna try to sacrifice to them.
So. Just it's, it's, it's actually, it's kind of comical, right?
But. Like every other time here comes the opposition. First 19 then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there.
So these people followed them. So they must have known that they left and they followed them to Iconium to Lystra.
And having persuaded the multitude. So. These people that were just about to sacrifice to them and worship them.
Suddenly are now. Switched over to we're gonna stone these guys we're gonna kill. You know, maybe the the Jews they told him, you know, hey, these guys are imposters.
They're pretending to be. Hermes and you know they're pretending to be speaking.
For the gods, but they're false. They're false prophets. So we're gonna kill him.
So the Jews from Antia, so yeah, they stone Paul So having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city.
Supposing him to be. To be dead. So Paul, refers to this later on. Second Corinthians, 1125, going through all of the things that you'd suffered.
You know, that had happened to him and one of the things was he was stoned. And some people maybe that he actually was dead at that time because in Second Corinthians 12 1 3 4 Paul talks about being caught up.
And seeing the third heaven and these sorts of things maybe that's what happened maybe not it says supposing him to be dead.
So they thought he was dead. And Luke, you know, being a physician, maybe he would have said something a little more clear if he actually was dead and he came back to life.
I don't know, but that's just a thought.
First 20. So, so Paul, stoned. And people believed him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city.
So, you, you couldn't, hold this guy down. I mean, he was ready to go.
It wasn't even, you know, let's take a day off. Like, no, there's work to be done.
If as long as he could stand and walk, he was about the father's business. He rose up and went into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derby.
So again, Hey, let's maybe go back with our, you know, the tail between our legs and get back to safety.
No, let's continue to go deeper into Gentile territory with is the time to take a day off?
No. First 21. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lister, Iconium, and Antioch.
So now here was a choice that they made. So he was in Derby. And it wouldn't have been too much farther for him just to go to tarsus back to where he was from and then go back to But instead, they turn around and went back the way they came.
And it tells us why. They made many disciples. Return to Lister, Iconium and anioch strengthening the souls of the disciples.
So Paul just wasn't making converts and See you later, making baby Christians and leaving them alone.
He came back and he disciples these people. He exhorted them. He was strengthening them.
That's what we need that. We need to be strengthened and encouraged, exhorted. Strengthening the souls of the disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith saying we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.
So as on this Christian journey. On our way to the kingdom of God, there's going to be tribulation.
There's going to be Persecution. He said Paul says all that desire to live Godly will suffer persecution.
Second Timothy 3 10. Paul was not preaching health and wealth, right? You know, believe in Jesus in your light, everything is going to be great.
No, there's going to be persecution. There's gonna be struggle. There's gonna be Opposition.
There will be, you know, hard times.
On this Christian journey. So back there, see. X 14.
So when they had appointed elders and every church, So there we have, we see another example there of the plurality of leaders in the church.
Elders appointing elders in every church and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
So. Appointing leadership in the churches praying for them. Committing them to the Lord.
And after they had passed through Presidia, they came to Pamphilia. So this is they're on their way back now.
This is the first missionary journey. They went all the way to Derby and now they're turn around and come back with the same way they came.
Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attila.
From there they sailed to Antioch. Where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them. And that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. So. Paul was sent out from Antioch.
With the leadership there and he came back and he gave a report. But what happened? Again, so he's, He's honoring that assembly that sent him out coming back and giving a report telling him being accountable.
In some way to that. Assembly letting them know about what had happened there. And it's thought that perhaps Paul had.
Britten or be in a right Galatians at this time. So.
That's all I've got, X, 14. So. There's any comments or questions.
If not, we can just. We can close in prayer.
Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for this. This book, we thank you that we can see.
Your work and we thank you for your servants, Paul and Barnabas and how they were sold out for the gospel and or how you kept them and how you used them.
We thank you for all these. Believers in this the This early days. Lord, we just thank you that.
That we can read this and be encouraged. We thank you again for this time now. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.