“They preached the gospel in that city (Derbe) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14: 21-22
How lovely were the green, well-watered plains of Iconium! To the hopeful disciples, it was a metaphor that held the promise of a fruitful harvest of souls for the Gospel. Their hopes were confirmed when they spoke in the synagogue there, and a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed!
For these new believers’ sakes, they remained in Iconium a good while, even though the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. In spite of the Word of grace and signs and wonders being done by their hand, the city still was divided. It came to a head when Barnabas and Paul got wind of a murder plot against them. So they fled to Lystra and Derbe, and there they continued to preach the gospel.
They came initially to Lystra, where there was no synagogue. There was, on the other hand, a temple of Zeus at the entrance to the city. The disciples’ work looked to be cut out for them!
Paul noticed a man who was listening to him speak. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. Paul “looked intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And he sprang up and began walking.” This was the first time that Paul was used by the Holy Spirit to heal anyone. And before anyone could teach the cripple man that it was because of Jesus that he had been healed, the crowds immediately attributed the miracle to their pagan idols; “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They had no idea that the lie they believed was a counterfeit of the truth.
If they would only have listened further, they would have heard about the One God who was pleased to be a Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Last Adam—man as he was supposed to be! “Here am I, and the children God has given me." (Isaiah 8: 18)
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Heb.2: 14-15
Instead of waiting for this good news, in their ignorance they foolishly attributed the miracle to Zeus and Hermes, and wanted to offer the oxen as a sacrifice. They would not listen to reason. It was their loss. They had traded true riches for fool’s gold.
But no good deed goes unpunished. Added to the melee were now the outraged Jews all the way from Antioch and Iconium. They persuaded the crowds to stone Paul. They then dragged him out of the city, thinking him dead. But the disciples of Lystra gathered around Paul as he regained consciousness. Paul’s faith and courage were not lost on a young disciple named Timothy, whom Paul would meet on a return trip to Lystra.
Paul went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they preached the gospel to that city, they made many disciples. They then returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 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.
They sailed from Attalia for the return trip back to Antioch. Once home, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
But they almost died! Foolish, you say?
In the words of a 20th-century disciple, Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
Questions To Think About:
Acts 14: 21-22
How lovely were the green, well-watered plains of Iconium! To the hopeful disciples, it was a metaphor that held the promise of a fruitful harvest of souls for the Gospel. Their hopes were confirmed when they spoke in the synagogue there, and a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed!
For these new believers’ sakes, they remained in Iconium a good while, even though the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. In spite of the Word of grace and signs and wonders being done by their hand, the city still was divided. It came to a head when Barnabas and Paul got wind of a murder plot against them. So they fled to Lystra and Derbe, and there they continued to preach the gospel.
They came initially to Lystra, where there was no synagogue. There was, on the other hand, a temple of Zeus at the entrance to the city. The disciples’ work looked to be cut out for them!
Paul noticed a man who was listening to him speak. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. Paul “looked intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And he sprang up and began walking.” This was the first time that Paul was used by the Holy Spirit to heal anyone. And before anyone could teach the cripple man that it was because of Jesus that he had been healed, the crowds immediately attributed the miracle to their pagan idols; “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They had no idea that the lie they believed was a counterfeit of the truth.
If they would only have listened further, they would have heard about the One God who was pleased to be a Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Last Adam—man as he was supposed to be! “Here am I, and the children God has given me." (Isaiah 8: 18)
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Heb.2: 14-15
Instead of waiting for this good news, in their ignorance they foolishly attributed the miracle to Zeus and Hermes, and wanted to offer the oxen as a sacrifice. They would not listen to reason. It was their loss. They had traded true riches for fool’s gold.
But no good deed goes unpunished. Added to the melee were now the outraged Jews all the way from Antioch and Iconium. They persuaded the crowds to stone Paul. They then dragged him out of the city, thinking him dead. But the disciples of Lystra gathered around Paul as he regained consciousness. Paul’s faith and courage were not lost on a young disciple named Timothy, whom Paul would meet on a return trip to Lystra.
Paul went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they preached the gospel to that city, they made many disciples. They then returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 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.
They sailed from Attalia for the return trip back to Antioch. Once home, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
But they almost died! Foolish, you say?
In the words of a 20th-century disciple, Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
Questions To Think About:
- Paul and Barnabas returned to the very cities where they were persecuted. What difficult or uncomfortable situation is God calling you to revisit or stay in for the sake of others?
- “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” How does this truth reshape your expectations of the Christian walk when life gets difficult?
- When Paul was stoned and left for dead, his resilience deeply impacted a young Timothy. Who is watching your faith during your current trials, and what story is your endurance telling them?
- The crowds in Lystra traded “true riches for fool’s gold.” What temporary comforts or worldly approvals are you currently tempted to chase at the expense of eternal growth?
- Reflect on Jim Elliot’s quote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose,” What are you holding onto too tightly right now that is preventing you from fully trusting God?
Posted in Entering the Kingdom