Acts 13:42-14:28

Paul finished speaking to the Jews at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13-41) and when they exited the synagogue, “the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath” (13:42). When the next Sabbath arrived, “almost the entire city came together to hear the word of God” (13:44). However, the preaching of the apostles was not without opposition because when the Jews observed how many people had gathered to hear the message about Jesus Christ “they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming…” (13:45). The Jews were set in their ways, believing a relationship with God was automatically given to them because they were God’s chosen people, but when Paul preached repentance and belief in Jesus Christ they felt threatened. Instead of backing down from speaking about Christ, Paul and Barnabas boldly spoke to the Jews saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you [Jews] first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth” (13:46-47). The Jews were God’s chosen people, but they had rejected Jesus as God’s payment for sin and therefore Paul was going to focus his efforts on the Gentiles, who desired to hear about Him. Over and over Israel had their chance to repent and receive salvation through Jesus, but they were more comfortable in their obedience to the law of Moses.

When the Gentiles heard that they would also receive the gospel, “they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord” (13:48). The message of Jesus Christ continued throughout the region, but the Jews “stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city” and brought persecution upon Paul and Barnabas who were forced to leave the region (13:49-52). This rejection by the Jews did not stop Paul and Barnabas from preaching, so they journeyed to Iconium where they spoke in the synagogue about the Jews and Gentiles who had believed (14:1); but the unbelieving Jews were angered and deceived the minds of the Gentiles (14:2). Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium for a “long time, speaking boldly in the Lord…but the multitude of the city was divided: part with the Jews, and part with the apostles” (14:4). The multitude became so angry against Paul and Barnabas that they attempted to “abuse and stone them” but when they found out about the plot they fled to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region” (14:5-7).

In Lystra, Paul healed a man who had been crippled from birth (14:8-10) and when the people saw the miracle they began worshipping Paul and Barnabas as gods (Hermes and Zeus). Their reaction to this supernatural work was related to the some false beliefs in the city of Lystra. When Paul and Barnabas began to understand that they were being worshipped as gods, they were sorrowful and said, “We are also men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things [worship of false gods] to the living God…” (14:14-17). When the pagans at Lystra heard what the apostles were saying, they could “scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing them” (14:18).

About this time, the Jews from Antioch and Iconium found Paul and Barnabas in Lystra so they convinced the multitudes to stone Paul (14:19). Apparently, Paul’s stoning was so bad that they thought he was dead, but when the disciples gathered around his badly beaten body, he rose up and went to Derbe in the power of the Holy Spirit (14:20). After preaching the gospel there, he returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch to strengthen those who had believed saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (14:21-22). They set elders in every church along the way to oversee the believers and continued into other cities to preach Christ (14:23-26). This would conclude Paul’s first missionary journey.

Dear God, please empower those who are preaching Jesus Christ in places where their message may not be well received. Help them not to be discouraged, so that the gospel will continue to go forth to all nations!