Acts 14:21

Acts 14:21 says, And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,  The next day, they departed for Derbe, preaching the gospel and teaching many. Then, they went to Lystra, and Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming and exhorting the disciples, telling them they would go through much tribulation to enter the kingdom of God.  This was hardly a prosperity gospel. We may like to tell people to accept Jesus as their Savior and everything will be wonderful, but that is not what God said.  We will be hated and reviled for His namesake. Verse twenty-two adds, 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.  Paul and Silas confirmed the believers in these churches and exhorted them to continue in the faith.  They were told that they would enter the kingdom of God through great tribulation and not through riches and prosperity.  I don’t understand why we think that Christians today are any different.  We are promised a cross to take up daily and not a mansion to live in.  Verse twenty-three continues, And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.  While visiting these churches, they also ordained elders in every church.  They prayed and fasted while doing this and commended the church members to God.  We need to work to ensure that new churches have all the workers needed in positions of authority, but it must be done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-four says, And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.  Verse twenty-five adds, And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:  These two verses simply tell us of Paul and Barnabas’s travel back to Antioch.  Verse twenty-six continues, And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.  After visiting the surrounding churches, Paul and Barnabas came back to Antioch.  This was where they had been sent out from, so they returned there.  I don’t believe we should ever see ourselves as totally independent from a local church.  Verse twenty-seven says, And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  They told the church there what God had been doing with the Gentiles.  If we were sent out by a church today and returned to them after a period of time, would we have anything to tell them about what God had been doing?  If we faced stoning, would we remain true?  Verse twenty-eight adds, And there they abode long time with the disciples.  They stayed with the other disciples a long time.  Paul wasn’t always travelling to share the gospel, and most likely we won’t be either.  Sometimes he enjoyed the fellowship of a local church, and so should we.   

 

Acts 14:12

Acts 14:12 says, And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.  Barnabas was called Jupiter and Paul was called Mercury, two of the false gods.  All we can ever be if we attempt to assume the role of God is a false god.  Verse thirteen continues, Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.  The priest of Jupiter was ready to offer sacrifices to them.  This could have put Paul and Barnabas in a powerful position had they been willing to glorify themselves.  No matter how powerful we might become by allowing people to give us credit for what God has done, we should never allow it to happen.  Verse fourteen declares, Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,  Paul and Barnabas were very distressed by the actions of the people.  If people begin to look on us as some sort of god, we need to be very distressed as well.  Verse fifteen adds, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:  They told them that they should turn from their vanities to the Living God, Who made the heavens and the earth.  The people of Iconia were attempting to make gods to explain everything in the world.  Anytime they couldn't explain something, they made a god to be in charge of it.  The world today is no exception, though they might not call their answer a god.  If you cannot understand how the world came into existence, call it the god of Big Bang.  If you cannot understand how animals and humans came to be, call it the god Evolution.  Those who disagree with your gods and proclaim One God, Creator and Sustainer of all, call small minded and simple.  Verse sixteen continues, Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.  Paul and Barnabas told them that in the past God had left the nations to walk in their own ways, but He had not left them without a witness of His existence, in the very goodness of nature.  Verse seventeen concludes, 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.  They had the rain and food to enjoy. Now, they had been worshipping nature, as many do today, but Paul and Barnabas were there to tell them that it was time to worship the God of Creation, Who had sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to redeem all of mankind. This is the only message we will ever have for the world: Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, Lord.  Verse eighteen states, And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.  Paul and Barnabas were continuing to help the followers of Christ to grow in faith.  It didn't start out smoothly, since there were those who had attempted to worship them.  They were upset, and there were also Jewish leaders from Iconium and Antioch ready to cause trouble.   Verse nineteen adds, And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  We have a group of God's chosen people following Paul and Barnabas simply to attempt to silence them.  They persuaded the people against Paul and Barnabas.  There are many people today who will go to great lengths to silence the gospel, but hopefully it isn't God's people doing it.  Though His chosen people, Israel, still go to great lengths to stop the gospel from being spread, especially in the nation of Israel.  They took Paul outside the city and stoned him, leaving him for dead. The next time you think God doesn't want you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable, remember Paul.  He is viewed as one of the greatest men of faith, and he was stoned and left for dead.  Verse twenty continues, Howbeit, 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.  We are told the disciples stood around him, and he rose up, and went into the city.  He didn't run or hide but went back into the city for the night.  When we are doing God's will, we need to stand firm, no matter how strong the opposition may be. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 14:8

Acts14:8 says, And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:  At Lystra there was a man who had been lame since birth.  Verse nine adds, The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  The lame man was listening to Paul speak, and Paul perceived that the man had faith to be healed.  I am not sure how Paul could perceive this other than by the Holy Spirit revealing it to him.  Verse ten continues, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.  Paul called out in a loud voice for the man to stand up and walk, and he did.  This was an act of faith on the part of both the man and Paul.  I believe that if we have faith, we can do great things if it is God’s will.  Paul called out loudly not for the benefit of the man but for the benefit of the crowd.  We need to make sure that God is given the glory for what we do for Him or through His power.   Verse eleven concludes. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.  Paul and Barnabas were declared gods come to earth but told the crowd they were just men come to tell them of the God come to earth, Jesus Christ.  We should always give God the glory and let people know that we are but sinners saved by grace.