ACTS  14

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.

2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

3 So Paul and Barnabas s[ent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of Hid grace by enabling to do miraculous signs and wonders.

4 The people of the city were divided: some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.

5 there was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders to mistreat them and stone them.

 6 But they found out about it and fled to Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 

7 where they continued to preach the good news.

8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking, Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed

10 and called out. Stand on your feet! At that the man jumped up and began to walk.

 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted 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 because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, Shouting:

15  Men why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. 

 We are bringing you the good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.

 16 In the past Got He let all nations go their own way.

17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in there seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.

18 Even with these words they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead.

20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.

22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging to remain true to the faith We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, they said.

23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and with prayer and fasting committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.

24 After going through Pisidia they came into Pamphylia,

 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had  now completed.

27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Men why are you doing this? We are only men,  human like you. We are  bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. Acts 14:15

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. Revelation 19:10

WE ARE NOT FALSE GODS

THOMAS J. GRACE

1 Paul and Barnabas go as they usually do to the synagogue in Iconium to speak and tell the gospel of Jesus Christ to both the Jews and Gentiles that were present. They spoke effectively and a great number of both the Jews and Gentiles believed. It was the Jews who were responsible for them being rejected and expelled  out of the region, but here they are inside the Jewish synagogue where new persecution will be planned and begin. A great number believed the reaction of the people in the synagogue is better and quicker as many believe their first message. This would also alert the synagogue rulers that they might have a problem with this new teaching about Jesus Christ. At this time we would expect that the synagogue rulers would be alert to the two men Paul and Barnabas  and the message they would preach but they are still allowed to address the synagogue on the Sabbath.  We will soon learn that the actions of God fearing Jews, Gentiles and Pagans are the same when someone begins to teach something they do not believe and do not want their people to hear and believe. They all will be willing to work together despite all their differences to fight the common enemy Paul, Barnabas and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2 There were some Jews who refused to believe,  this might imply they knew the truth and were willfully denying that Jesus was the Savior in order to protect their synagogue and religion. Refused to believe and another new term are used here as the Jews poisoned the minds of the Gentiles KJV states the Jews made the minds of the Gentiles evil against the Christian believers. These new terms seem to indicate a strong program to cause the Gentiles to take action against the Church by causeing hatred and fear of what the apostles are doing in their city. The Jews have found a method to recruit the Gentiles to take action against the church, just as they had used Pilate when they accused Jesus of starting a rebellion to incite Pilate to punish Jesus.

     3 Paul and Barnabas will remain and speak boldly for the Lord as they were being opposed by Jews and Gentiles they proclaimed the word of the Lord in both public and private meetings. There were at the times of prayer when God did confirm their message of grace with miraculous signs and wonders. It is difficult for people who witness signs and miracles to suddenly persecute the people who are doing such good and powerful works for their own people.The Gentiles were amazed at the miracles that Paul and Barmabas were doing and only the Jews who did see all the miracles that Christ had done and did not believe him were able to still remain angry with Paul and Barnabas. The Gentiles might have also thought the apostles might use this miracle power against them as they would believe their own false gods would do to them if they opposed them. So we see the reason that the Jews needed to poison and make evil the minds of the Gentiles in order to convince them to oppose Paul and Barnabas. 

      As Paul and Barnabas would pray for the people God granted and performed miracles to cause some to believe their message and to assure those who did believe that they were speaking of the one true God and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. People would be healed and filled with the Holy Ghost which would be their own evidence that Christ was their Savior. Other miracles would be seen as a testimony to convince some to believe, and show evidence to others that they are rejecting and opposeing the will of God. Did some of the Jews who came to oppose Paul witness these miracles and continue to oppose Paul and Barnabas while some who did see these miracles may have become believers. 

     4 The city has become divided some agreed with the Jews and some with the apostles while both Jews and Gentiles were being saved there was enough of both groups that would oppose the apostles.  5 In Paphos Paul and Barnabas had been able to convert the proconsul Sergius Paulus who was the government leader and they secured some leadership support, here they do not have a leader convert. The Jews and unbelieveing Gentiles with the leaders of the city have now made a plan to mistreat the apostles capture them and stone them. Once again we see a city government opposeing the apostles and they would face both persecution from the Jews and Gentiles with the support of the government that will allow them to murder them. 6 But the apostles discovered their plan and fled to Lystra and Derbe. As they prayed and asked Gods will that they remain or leave God must have assured them that if they depart all the believers will be safe from harm but they must depart. If they had remained and were killed those who opposed them would have began to arrest and kill all the Christian believers in the city. this persecution could have spread to other cities also and Paul and Barnabas would not have been able to speak in other cities and people would not believe their message if they knew Christians were being killed in other cities.

     7 As soon as they entered the city they began to preach the good news about Jesus Christ. They were allowed to preach and were welcome by the people. Many of the people had heard of the miracles that were done and may not have heard the message but would listen in hope of seeing a miracle performed.  8 Paul and Barnabas have found safety in the city of Lystra where they meet a man who has been disabled since he was born he has never walked.  In this city they do not enter the synagogue it is possible there was not a synagogue. They might not have wanted the synagogue rulers there to know they were in the city others the Jews may be there and ready to stone them. 9 As he listened to Paul speak Paul saw that he had faith to be healed this must have been a disernment of Spitits or a word of knowledge that told him of the condition and willingness for the Lord to heal this man.  10 Paul shouts out so all will hear and see the responce of the man Stand on your feet! The man jumped up and walked.  This should have been a sign to those who would see the healing and match it with the words that Paul was speaking about Christ.  

     11 When the crowd saw the man walk they gave they reasoned to themselves that their false god had healed him. How did this man have faith among all these people who knew nothing about God. The crowd spoke in their own language which Paul did not understand. Paul would see their excitement but would not know what they were saying as they did not understand many things that Paul was telling them. They shouted the gods have come down to us in human form.  Paul had lived in Jerusalem where everyone believed in God and so far had traveled to cities where there was a synagogue and some teaching to the Gentiles about God. Now he is in a city where they worship pagan gods and have no knowledge of scripture and have never seen a man healed. The word of God that Paul spoke and the healing of this man were completely misunderstood as they listened and witnessed what God was doing. 12 They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul they called Hermes as the chief speaker. Did satan have a plan here to make these men a offer to live there as false gods who would be worshipped and given all of their needs a false god in human form would become very wealthy  and powerful from sacrifices and would turn the temple into a palace.

     The jews had not yet arrived to persecute them but it may have been that a greater enemy satan was there to bribe them or kill them.  How was the gospel going to be preached in such a place where people needed to hear the message of Jesus Christ to free them from this form of idol worship.  13 The priest of Zeus came with bulls and wreaths and the whole city was there to make sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. The priest would welcome these false gods to their temple because this would bring many people from all over to meet the false gods at his temple. 14 When the apostles heard what was about to happen they tore their clothes and rushed out to the crowd to stop them and explain who they were.  15 We are only men like you! We are not here to become your false god, we want you to stop believeing in these worthless things. This did not make the priest happy as Paul denounced their worship of Zeus. I must tell you of the Living God who made the heaven and the earth and sea and all things in them. I am here to teach you about God not to be one.

     16 In the past God allowed all nations to go their own way. As Israel believed in the law and God the other nations did not learn about God. Now because of the sacrifice and death of Christ all nations will now hear the gospel. Because of the sacrifice of Christ no man was now to be eliminated from the grace of God and the gift of eternal life. 17 God did have evidence of his love and power that you have all seen and enjoyed some of Gods benefits in your life even while you did not know Him. God has already given you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. God has provided you with food and filled your hearts with joy. The sun in the morning the fruit that you eat and many more things that you see each day are evidence of how God has cared for you and Christ has died for you and you have never known Him. 18 Even after Paul had spoke they were still demanding that they be allowed to sacrifice to them. These people would require a great deal of teaching if they did believe at all.

     19 Some Jews came from Antioch and convinced the people that Paul and Barnabas were somehow evil. How do they continue to win over the crowds and turn them against the apostles they saw the man healed who had never walked before, he was their neighbor that was well known to them. Maybe they convinced the crowd that as they refused to have sacrifices made to them that they were mocking and disgraceing their religion.  As the crowd came for Paul it did not seem that he was able to speak and denfend himself.  There was no trial or questioning not even charges were stated they found Paul and began the execution. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city because they thought he was dead. He would have broken bones, crushed organs, loss of blood, eye damage, head injury and teeth broken. Paul laid there on the ground and watched as these men threw stones at each part of his body he must have recalled how he stood there and watched Stephen being stoned and knew this was a certain death that he could not escape.  Paul does not speak while being stoned we do not hear of him saying God forgive them or Lord Jesus recieve my Spirit. As Stephen did say when he was being murdered.  There were no Christian witnesses to the act so we donot know what he may have said, he may have been struck on the head and knocked out with the first stone. Paul never spoke of the event.  When they were sure he was dead they began to drag him out of the city while they did this they saw no signs of life and they left him on the ground.  It is fortunate they did not bury Paul or burn him as a sacrifice to their god.

     20 The disciples had gathered around Paul maybe they saw some body motion and began to pray for Paul they might have been there for hours. Barnabas doesnot seem to be there for the rescue and had evaded the very same treatment. There might have been a warning prophecy that Barnabas was told and was not able to reach Paul quick enough to take him away.  Paul gets up and goes back to the city he would not make any public appearance. Like Peter when he was taken by a angel out of Herods prison where he would have been severely beaten Paul would require Jesus to heal and rebuild many parts of his body. Bones and organs and bleeding wounds would have to be healed. Paul may have recieved a eye injury there that did not recover which Paul would pray and speak about. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messanger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. Galatians 4:15 What has happened to all your joy?  I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. This might have been where Paul recieved the messenger from satan and the eye problem that troubled him for the rest of his life.

      When Paul recovered he must have remembered the words that Jesus had told Ananias which he would have shared with Paul on the visit when Ananias prayed for Paul to recieve his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 9: 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.  Could this also have been the time that Paul spoke of as when he did recieve the great revelation  he spoke of later. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether is was in the body or out of the body  I do not know-God Knows. And I  know that this man- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know but God knows. was  caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe.  Paul made sure he was not seen by many people who would either try to kill him again or declare that he certainly was a god.

      The news that Paul was dead would travel fast back to Jerusalem. Paul would send someone  to Jerusalem and all the cities where he was known to bring the news that he was still alive many there would thank God for this news while others would not be pleased.  21 In Derbe  Paul and Barnabas preached the word of God and many believed in the Lord there. Paul was well enough and had all his strenght and was prepared to face what might be new danger. Had these people heard that Paul was killed did he have to explain how it was that he was still alive. It was helpful when someone was healed to explain the power of God and lead many more to believe.

     We do not hear of Paul shareing the story of his near death in any of his preaching. Later Paul returns to Lystra, Iconiun and Antioch. In Lystra some that thought he was dead must have seen him but he stayed privately in the church. 22 They traveled back to these cities to strenghten the church and encourage them to remain in the faith. These were church visits to enforce their faith even during times of persecutions when the church will be in danger. We must go through many hardships  to enter the kingdom of God. As Paul taught this they would know that he has suffered to bring them the story of Jesus Christ and would have less fear of their own sufferings. 

     23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church as they prayed and fasted they committed them to the Lord. In the church the Holy Spirit gave gifts for teaching and prophecy and other gifts that would be needed in the church. But for the elder men would pray and decide who would become the elder the leader of the church. 24 In Pisidia and Pamphylia they would pray and fast and build strong leaders and elders in each church. 25 In Perga and Attalia Paul and Barnabas visited each church . These were all churches that heard of Paul being killed in Lystra and Paul needed to assure each of them that he was well and still served the Lord. 26 At Atalia they sailed for Antioch where they were sent out together to preach the word of God. Here it says their work was completed as they must have believed and would be confirmed by some word from the Holy Spirit that they had done the work that was given to them at this time.

     27 In Antioch Paul and Barnabas gathered the church there was no large meeting place they gathered all the Christians who were meeting in homes to be addressed by them. They are not returning to the synagogues where they might find many believers but will only be meeting with Christians. They would report all that God had done the signs and wonders the people healed and all those who now believe in Christ and how the Gentiles are now believeing in Christ in every city they have gone and taught the message of Jesus Christ. 28 They stayed in Antioch a long time and the people were pleased to have the men who first shared the gospel with them present. Paul and Barnabas would be plesed to meet people they had baptized and hear all the good reports of how much they have all learned and believed. Paul would have many new lessons to teach these Christians because they were much more mature in their faith than when he had left. They would be happy to learn the greater spiritual truths that Paul would share with them. They would pray and fast many days together to find what the new will of God would be in their lives. Antioch will become the capital  for Gentile Christians as many others will come to visit and study with Paul there.

     The next journey for Paul and Barnabas will not begin as their last one had with the church prophets sending them out. It will begin as Christian Pharisees visit Antioch and begin the debate about Gentiles being circumcised a matter that most thought was settled in the home of Cornelius.  This matter will send Both Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS