Acts 14:1-7 – At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform 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 both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
“At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.” As is the custom of Paul and Barnabas they first went to the Jewish synagogue to preach the Gospel. Remember that what their pattern was to go the synagogues to give proof from the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah to all of Israel who would believe. First to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. As in Pisidian Antioch many people, Jew and Gentile, upon hearing the Gospel, embraced it, believed it, and were saved.
“But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” The implication here is that the Jews were gossiping and backstabbing Paul and Barnabas. They did not have the scriptures to argue their point so they poisoned the people behind the apostle’s backs. Sound familiar. In the Garden of Eden the devil did not confront God in front of Adam and Eve and accuse God of lying. No, he snuck around and poisoned the mind of Eve. Today it is too often the same. When the so called “Christian cults” bring forth their heretical teachings, they do not first come to Christian leaders to expound their “new and true doctrine” but spread it first to their followers and those ignorant of the Word. They do not want to debate Christian scholars because they know there is no basis for the lies they spread. So what the Jews were doing and what those who spread heretical doctrine have in common is the devil is their source. Jesus said of the Jews who opposed Him “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:42-47) The devil is a slanderer and gossiper who tells lies to people. If the masses hear the lie long enough they begin to believe them. Even now we see much evidence of him doing the same. Family, don’t be deceived.
“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” When we are called by God to do ministry all too often we quit when it gets hard. Either someone or some others tell us that it is a sign that God has not called us to the ministry, or the devil whispers that into our ear, so we quit. Yet we see that there are many instances when the Apostles and Disciples of that day were opposed, were threatened, beaten, stoned and killed. It did not mean that they had not been called from the Lord. Jesus said that we would face opposition and that we would be hated (John 15:18-21). God loves us, the enemy hates us. We must remember that. And remember that greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Here it positively states that God performed signs and miracles through them to verify the message they preached and that they were of God. Today God will still provide signs and miracles for honest believers, though the rebellious are less likely to see them. God still does miracles in the world today. Don’t believe that God still works supernaturally? Read Lee Strobel’s book Miracles. He is proven factual author and the book is worth reading for both the believer and the skeptic.
“The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.” Then and now, some hear and believe and others reject the Word of God.
“There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.” Sometimes we stay and continue to minister, and sometimes the ministry is done, whether we perceive that or not, and God moves us to something else. Solomon said “There is a season for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Ecclesiastes 3:7b states there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” We must be led by the Holy Spirit and we will find there is a time stay and work and a time to move on.
So the apostles moved on, but they did not stop. They went to the cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country and they continued to preach the Gospel. Yes, they fled. But they fled from one city to continue in another. It was not surrendering, it was knowing that they had done what they could do and then continuing on to another place to continue their work, as led by the Spirit of God.
We too must learn to discern when God is speaking and leading us so that we know where and when to go to be used of God. Who knows what wonderful beauty we may see the Lord do as we learn to do that Praise our God! He wants to use us today. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.