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. 1. Iconium is a large, wealthy city about 120 miles inland. It sat at the foot of the Tarsus mountains. 2. Paul and Barnabas went togeth... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE UNBELIEVING JEWS STIRRED UP THE GENTILES AND POISONED THEIR MINDS AGAINST THE BRETHREN. 1. Of course, when some believe and convert to Christianity, there are others who are not converted. They become angry. 2. The Jews sought support from their Gentile neighbors. Their minds were embitter... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. Paul seems to thrive on controversy. There was opposition so Paul decides to remain there for some longer stay. 2. It wou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MULTITUDE OF THE CITY WAS DIVIDED: PART SIDED WITH THE JEWS, AND PART WITH THE APOSTLES. 1. RESULT: The city was divided. One can imagine there was much discussion in the streets, stores, and synagogues. 2. Even the Gentiles, who did not really care about the arguments on one side or the o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN A VIOLENT ATTEMPT WAS MADE BY BOTH THE GENTILES AND JEWS, WITH THEIR RULERS, TO ABUSE AND STONE THEM, 1. The discussion moved to deep feelings and lead to violence. 2. Both Gentiles and Jews turned to violence. 3. They were reproached, treated shamefully - then they were going to stone t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BECAME AWARE OF IT AND FLED TO LYSTRA AND DERBE, CITIES OF LYCAONIA, AND TO THE SURROUNDING REGION. 1. Paul and Barnabas became aware of the plan. We are not told how they learned of the plot. 2. At this point they left Iconium and head to Lystra and Derbe. 1. Lystra is important because it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE PREACHING THE GOSPEL THERE. 1. Paul was not deterred in his mission. 2. Run out of one town, threatened with death, Paul moves to the next city and keeps preaching the gospel message.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN LYSTRA A CERTAIN MAN WITHOUT STRENGTH IN HIS FEET WAS SITTING, A CRIPPLE FROM HIS MOTHER ' S WOMB, WHO HAD NEVER WALKED. 1. As they enter Lystra, they see a man - a cripple, never able to walk. 2. Luke, being a medical doctor, is able to give more detailed information. The lameness was beca... [ Continue Reading ]
9_ THIS_ MAN HEARD PAUL SPEAKING. PAUL, OBSERVING HIM INTENTLY AND SEEING THAT HE HAD FAITH TO BE HEALED, 1. Lame is not deaf. This man not only heard. 2. Paul observed that this lame man was watching and listening with some intensity. 3. Paul also saw that he had the faith to be healed. 4. NOTE... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID WITH A LOUD VOICE, " STAND UP STRAIGHT ON YOUR FEET! " AND HE LEAPED AND WALKED. 1. Paul is speaking - loudly - not because the man was deaf. Paul is speaking loud enough that others can witness the miracle. 2. "Stand up" is easy for Paul to say. But it would take a person of faith to believe... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW WHAT PAUL HAD DONE, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICES, SAYING IN THE LYCAONIAN _LANGUAGE,_ " THE GODS HAVE COME DOWN TO US IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN! " 1. The miracle was seen by many people. Some of them knew that this could not have taken place by ordinary humans. 2. Conclusion: They... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BARNABAS THEY CALLED ZEUS, AND PAUL, HERMES, BECAUSE HE WAS THE CHIEF SPEAKER. 1. Zeus (or Jupiter) - Zeus is the Greek god, Jupiter was the Roman god. Both are known as the god of helps. How fitting! Barnabas was the encourager, the son of encouragement. 2. HERMES (or Mercury) - Hermes is th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE PRIEST OF ZEUS, WHOSE TEMPLE WAS IN FRONT OF THEIR CITY, BROUGHT OXEN AND GARLANDS TO THE GATES, INTENDING TO SACRIFICE WITH THE MULTITUDES. 1. Even the priest of Zeus brought animals ready to offer then as a sacrifice to Barnabas. 2. The whole city (multitudes) was ready to honor them as... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THE APOSTLES BARNABAS AND PAUL HEARD THIS, THEY TORE THEIR CLOTHES AND RAN IN AMONG THE MULTITUDE, CRYING OUT 1. APOSTLES - Barnabas and Paul and BOTH called "apostles." The word simply means - one sent - as an ambassador. We often use the word to describe certain selected - the 12 plus Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
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, 1. Why are you doing this? - Paul pleads with... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IN BYGONE GENERATIONS ALLOWED ALL NATIONS TO WALK IN THEIR OWN WAYS. 1. Ever since God separated the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be His chosen people, the rest of the world seemed to be free of restraint. 2. This does not mean that God abandoned them, but that they abandoned God. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS HE DID NOT LEAVE HIMSELF WITHOUT WITNESS, IN THAT HE DID GOOD, GAVE US RAIN FROM HEAVEN AND FRUITFUL SEASONS, FILLING OUR HEARTS WITH FOOD AND GLADNESS. " 1. God was still present with them - IF they had paid attention. 2. God was giving them sunshine and rain. They still had the seas... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH THESE SAYINGS THEY COULD SCARCELY RESTRAIN THE MULTITUDES FROM SACRIFICING TO THEM. 1. Even will all of this - it was all Paul could do to prevent them for offering sacrifices to them as if they were gods. 2. They were so convinced that gods were in human form among them that all this ple... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JEWS FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM CAME THERE; AND HAVING PERSUADED THE MULTITUDES, THEY STONED PAUL _AND_ DRAGGED _HIM_ OUT OF THE CITY, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE DEAD. 1. Trouble arrives - Jews from Antioch. This is not Antioch of Syria (from which Paul and Barnabas began their trip) but Antioch of Pis... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWEVER, WHEN THE DISCIPLES GATHERED AROUND HIM, HE ROSE UP AND WENT INTO THE CITY. AND THE NEXT DAY HE DEPARTED WITH BARNABAS TO DERBE. 1. When the angry mob left - no doubt to rejoice in their victory over Christianity, the followers of Paul gather around. 2. No doubt they were praying, wonderin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY AND MADE MANY DISCIPLES, THEY RETURNED TO LYSTRA, ICONIUM, AND ANTIOCH, 1. Summary statement of the rest of their work. 1. They preached and made many disciples in Derbe. 2. Then they retraced their path - back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTHENING THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES, EXHORTING _THEM_ TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AND _SAYING,_ " WE MUST THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. " 1. Their purpose was to exhort, encourage, support and strengthen the new converts. 2. Paul urged them to continue in the faith. 1. NO... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN THEY HAD APPOINTED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH, AND PRAYED WITH FASTING, THEY COMMENDED THEM TO THE LORD IN WHOM THEY HAD BELIEVED. 1. IMPORTANT: These early churches needed leadership. Paul and Barnabas appointed: 1. ORDAIN - This word simply means to appoint, to set in office. 2. ELDERS - Th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THEY HAD PASSED THROUGH PISIDIA, THEY CAME TO PAMPHYLIA. 1. They continue to retrace their path. They now return to the region of Pamphylia. This is the area they first entered Asia Minor when they left Cyprus.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN THEY HAD PREACHED THE WORD IN PERGA, THEY WENT DOWN TO ATTALIA. 1. They preached in Perga - 7 or 8 miles inland from the sea coast. 2. Attalia - The coastal town is reached as they prepare to sail back home.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THERE THEY SAILED TO ANTIOCH, WHERE THEY HAD BEEN COMMENDED TO THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE WORK WHICH THEY HAD COMPLETED. 1. Back on board a ship, they sail to Antioch of Syria, back home, back where they started. 2. They are returning to the place where the elders laid hands on them and bid the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. Now it was time to report on the work. 2. They gathered the church. They gave a report - converts, miracles, stoning, problems, succe... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY STAYED THERE A LONG TIME WITH THE DISCIPLES. 1. Mission work is exhausting. It takes it toll on their energy. They have worked, now they need some rest. 2. They remain in Antioch for some time working, teaching and preaching in that area. 3. Albert Barnes makes this observation: "How long... [ Continue Reading ]