Acts 14 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

14:1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.¹ 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,² 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Footnotes

[1] 14:2 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 14:9 Or be saved

Commentary

v1-3: A pattern begins to emerge;

Paul and Barnabas preach first to Jews;
some Jews believe, and some Gentiles converted;
there is opposition from unbelieving Jews;
there is on-going ministry, with signs and wonders.

It seems that, at Iconium, Paul and Barnabas stay longer than elsewhere.

v4: The message of Christ brings division, Matt 10.34.

v5-7: The violent persecution makes Paul and Barnabas move on, leaving infant churches; see v21-22 about their return visits.

The persecution ensures the gospel spreads to other towns and cities. Paul has no calling to remain in one place, but to move around, and the persecution enables him to fulfil that calling. We see too Gentiles uniting with Jews against the message of Christ, see 4.27; Luke 23.12.

v8-9: Paul and Barnabas arrive in Lystra. Paul preaches the message of Christ, not of himself. He sees, in the lame man, "faith to be healed," which is not the same as faith to be saved.

v10: Signs follow the preaching of the word, and give authority to the message.

The problem here is that the people give more attention to the miracle than to the message, and end up wanting to worship Paul and Barnabas. We do not however reject all miracles just because people react in an unspiritual way to them; see John 2.24-25. Human attitudes are naturally unspiritual.

v11-13: Praise of men, a dangerous thing; and best avoided; 3.12; 10.25-26.

v14-18: Paul and Barnabas attempt to turn the people from their idolatry; we see that false religion can be a powerful thing.

v19-20: Persecution follows Paul and Barnabas from Antioch and Iconium to Lystra. They therefore move on.

Paul was left for dead by the Jews who followed him from Antioch. The writer reports that the disciples gathered about him. We might presume that they prayed and laid hands on Paul for him to be healed. But the words are clear. The company of God's people around Paul brought healing and strength such that he was able to continue his ministry.

v21-22: Continuing ministry; Paul and Barnabas make return visits to the infant churches; they make disciples, not just converts (Matt 28.19); and they encourage and warn the disciples.

They speak of suffering, and then glory; this is the NT pattern, Luke 24.26; Rom 8.17.

There is a vital principle that young believers are helped, either by an extended visit, or a return visit.

Jerusalem (ch 2), Samaria (ch 8), Caesarea (ch 10), Antioch (ch 11), and Corinth (ch 18) all benefit from an extended visit.

There are return visits to Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia; and later to Cyprus (13.4; 15.39). Philippi (16.12 - 40), Ephesus (18.9; 20.1-2); Thessalonica (17.1) are followed up by letters.

Only at Berea (17.10) and Athens (17.16) is there no specific reference to any follow up.

v23: They appoint elders (plural) in the churches; Titus 1.5. In 15.6, 22, the elders in Jerusalem join with the apostles in making decisions. Timothy and Titus are apostles rather than elders, sent to establish a godly order in the churches. Elders are appointed from those in the churches, and their role is essentially to remain there.

v24-26: Paul and Barnabas return through towns they previously visited.

v27-28: They report back to the church at Antioch, and gathered the church separately to the normal worship meeting, as in 21.18-19. They remain at Antioch a long time, giving opportunity to resolve doctrinal issues, as in chapter 15. They do not return to the new churches until the Lord so directs.