Acts 14

Acts 14:1

Traveling through present-day Turkey, Paul and Barnabas pressed on to the city of Iconium after being expelled from Antioch. As was their usual practice, Paul and Barnabas went first to the synagogue. Although many believed, those who didn’t believe sought to sabotage the ministry of Paul and Barnabas by speaking evil against them, gossiping about them, and starting rumors concerning them. During a freak electrical storm, a couple was gossiping on the telephone. The storm caused a scramble in the electrical signals and sent their conversation from the phone line to a cable TV line through which close to one million people heard their conversation. Would we say the things we do if we thought our conversation would be transmitted through the TV set? Is our conversation honoring to the Lord? Or does it grieve Him as it short-circuits ministry and hinders His work?

Acts 14:3

The Lord confirmed the Word of His grace with signs and wonderseven as He promised He would in Mar_16:17-18.

Acts 14:4

Due to the whispering campaign led by unbelieving Jews, lconium was divided. Bible students, take note that Barnabas is referred to here as an apostle. God appointed one Apostle: Jesus Christ. Jesus appointed twelve apostles: His disciples. The Holy Spirit continues to appoint numerous apostles: church-planters, founders, and spiritual statesmen like Barnabas.

Acts 14:5

The gossip campaign became so intense that Paul and Barnabas had to flee for their lives. The good work begun in Iconium was short-circuited by jealousy, unbelief, and innuendo. That is why I pray our churches would make covenants saying, “Accusations, insinuations, and allegations will find no place here. They will not have an audience. Period.” Notice that Paul and Barnabas didn’t go to the synagogue when they arrived at Lystra and Derbe. Because every town with at least ten Jewish males had a synagogue, we can assume that there were not even ten Jews in Lystra or Derbe. Legend had it that many years earlier, Jupiter and Mercury came to Lystra and walked among the people. Because no one but a man named Philemon and his wife, Baicus, realized they were gods, Jupiter and Mercury killed everyone in the cityexcept for Philemon and Baicus, whom they turned into trees to stand in front of the temple of Jupiter.

Acts 14:8

As Paul preached, he saw a lame man in the crowd who seemed to have a measure of faith. “Stand upright,” Paul said. And the man not only stood, but leaped and walked.

Acts 14:11

Thinking Mercury and Jupiter had returned in the form of Paul and Barnabas, the people of Lystra rushed to worship them. I personally believe this was the most dangerous point in Paul’s entire ministrymore dangerous than any snakebite, shipwreck, or stoning he would ever face. You see, when the entire town offered them garlands and called them gods, I wonder if the thought didn’t cross Paul’s mind that he could use their adulation as a platform for ministry; that he could accept their adoration as a way to be relatable. When Captain James Cook, discoverer of the Hawaiian Islands, first dropped anchor in Hanauma Bay, he was greeted with great ceremony. Realizing the islanders thought he was their god, Lono, Cook thought, Oh, well. Why not? Consequently, he and his men were treated to everything the island had to offeruntil one evening, when, Cook, about to take advantage of yet another woman, was clubbed in the back of the head by her husband, who, in his anger, forgot that Captain Cook was Lono. Bleeding and groaning, the Captain went down. By the time he regained consciousness, he found himself looking into the eyes of his aggressor, who said, “Gods don’t bleed. Nor do they groan.” And Cook was killed on the spot.

Acts 14:14

Paul and Barnabas were as wise as they were humble. They didn’t flirt with, joke about, or take lightly the worship of the people of Lystra. Instead, they rent their clothes in an outward demonstration of deep inner grief. No wonder God could use them so powerfully. “Vanities” means “idols.” Paul said, “Turn from Jupiter, Mercury, and all the other vain idols you worshipand turn instead to the living God.” Several years ago in India, ten people drowned when a mammoth stone statue of Buddha slid off a barge in the city of Hyderabad. Fifty people were aboard the barge at the time of the accident, but only forty were able to swim to safety. As tragic as this is, we must not be too quick to judge any other country for their idols when, in our own culture, we idolize men who can hit a leather ball with a wooden bat. Psa_115:8 says we become like whatever we idolizewhich is why worship is so important. When we worship the Lord, we become like Him. “The heavens declare the glory of God,” wrote the psalmist (Psa_19:1). And indeed they do! The vastness of space is truly incredible. If the distance between here and the sun (ninety-three million miles) was represented by the thickness of a single sheet of notebook paper, it would take a stack of paper seventy-one feet high to represent the distance between us and the nearest star; thirty-one miles high to represent the distance between us and the edge of the Milky Way, and three hundred ten thousand miles high to represent the distance between us and the edge of the known universe. It’s big out there, folks! Scientists have recently discovered worms ten feet long living a mile below the surface of the earth. The blue whale, a gigantic creature with a tongue equivalent to the weight of thirty-six full-grown men, survives on microscopic plankton. The Creator of whom Paul spoke filled His creation with incredible wonders.

Acts 14:16

God could have forced His ways upon this world. Instead, He chose to allow people and nations to “walk in their own ways.” What happens when nations choose their own way rather than God’s? When people ignore the Word, the results are tragic. If I were God, I would have judged this world, this country, this society long ago. I would have devastated this planet. But what does God do? Read on.

Acts 14:17

Although society rejects Him and nations turn from Him, God still does good. He allows rain to fall upon the just and the unjust. He allows food to be produced. He allows our hearts to be filled with gladness. He allows people to have life, to experience the joy of a sunrise, to surf, to hold a babyall because of His goodness.

Acts 14:18

After Paul finished this simple yet powerful sermon, the people decided not to offer sacrifices to him. It was a close call. But watch what happens next.

Acts 14:19

Those who had expelled Paul from Antioch and those who had sought to stone him in Iconium joined forces and followed him to Lystra. One minute the people of Lystra cried, “They’re gods!” The next, “Kill them!” We do the very same thing whenever we idolize an author, a speaker, or a teacher one day but criticize him the moment we see something in him of which we disapprove. The way to break free from the “Lystra syndrome” is not through adoration, nor annihilationbut through appreciation. The Lord instructed His people not to lay an axe to a fruit-bearing tree (Deu_20:19), for their own hunger would be the result. That’s what happened to the people of Lystraand it happens to us whenever we pick on groups, ministries, churches, or authors instead of picking from them. It’s the treasure, folks, not the earthen vessel that is important (2Co_4:7). I can be enriched, fed, and blessed by the Word others share, even though I may see some earthiness in their vessels.

On the other hand, God also instructed His people to chop down any trees that did not bear fruit (Deu_20:20). There is no place for ministries or cults that undermine our faith, deny the Word, or cast aspersions on the finished work of Christ. The men of Lystra backed down. They heard the Wordbut then turned away. Why? Why were the men of Lystra so fickle and so easily manipulated by those who wanted to see Paul dead? I believe Jeremiah 26 gives the answer… Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.Jer_26:2-3 In obedience to the Lord’s command, Jeremiah stood in the temple courtyard and preached powerfully, telling the people to repent of their evil ways so that the Lord could bless instead of chastise them. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.Jer_26:8 “We don’t like what you’re saying, Jeremiah. We’re going to kill you,” the people said. Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.Jer_26:12; Jer_26:14-15 “Do with me as you want,” said Jeremiah. “But if you kill me, you will only compound your problems and bring innocent blood upon your own head.” Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.Jer_26:16 Jeremiah took a stand. He refused to back down, and his life was spared. And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah…Jer_26:20 “Jeremiah, what you’re saying makes sense,” said Urijah. “So I’m going to prophesy just like you. The very words you say, I’ll say.” And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt…Jer_26:21 When Urijah heard his life was at stake, he backed down, ran away, and fled to Egypt. And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.Jer_26:22-23 Let me tell you one simple way to get wiped out: Run. Back away from the things you know are true and say, “I need a fix from the world. I think I’ll go to Egypt.” Whenever you take a vacation from the Lord or from the Word, like Urijahyou’ll get chopped up. Why did Urijah back down? Because, while Jeremiah was hearing and receiving directly from the Lord, Urijah was merely mimicking Jeremiah. He agreed with Jeremiah’s message mentally, but it wasn’t in his heart personally. Mom and Dad, pray for your kids fervently that they’ll have more than a head knowledge of the Lord based upon what they hear from you. Pray that, like Jeremiah, they’ll own the truth in their hearts based upon their own fellowship with Him. How does truth move from one’s head to one’s heart? Through prayer. Following the church service on Sunday, your devotions tomorrow, or the radio message you will hear next weekif your response is merely, “That’s interesting,” the Word of the Lord will never penetrate your heart. And when tough times come, you will join Urijah in Egypt. On the other hand, if you leave church, your morning devotions, or the radio message, saying, “Lord, what do You have in this for me today?“you will be able to stand strong like Jeremiah. You see, it’s not enough to mimic what we hear. Urijah did that and died. We, like Jeremiah, must internalize what we hear because it’s not enough to hear the Lord’s voice through an interpreterbe it an author, a pastor, or a speaker. We must hear His voice ourselves. Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.Jer_26:24 Jeremiah stood his ground and thereby saved his life. Had the men of Lystra done the same, their city would have been blessed. I personally believe that Paul was indeed dead. He will later refer to this event in 2 Corinthians 12 and write, “I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, (whether alive or dead, I really don’t know), was caught up in the third heaven, where he saw things unlawful to speak about.” When people write books saying, “I died on the operating table, went to heaven, and here’s what I saw…” I get very suspicious because when Paul went to heaven, he was forbidden to talk about what he witnessed. Paul went on in 2 Corinthians 12 to say that at that time he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming too proud about what he had seen in the heavenlies (2Co_12:7). The word “thorn” doesn’t mean a thorn like you would find on a rosebush. It means “tent stake.” Thus, Paul’s thorn in the flesh wasn’t some inconvenience he had to put up with now and then. It was painful and very possibly, according to many Bible scholars, the result of permanent injuries he received from this stoning. Yes, he went to heaven. Yes, his spirit was changed. But his body was permanently weakened as a result.

Acts 14:20

These disciples were risking their own lives by standing around Paul’s body. What were they doing? Were they praying? Was Luke trying to revive him? Were they crying? Were they having a memorial service? The Bible doesn’t say. It just says they were there. My mom, who lives in Southern California after being a widow for about a month, told me her days were very, very challenging. During that time, following an earthquake, she told me she felt helpless as the house and pool were rocking and rolling. When it was over, she went outside and started walking around her neighborhood, looking for someone to talk to. Since no one was outside, she went back to her house, only to feel a second quake. Just then, she said, the phone rang and on the other end was a sister from Applegate Christian Fellowship saying, “Mary, I know you know God’s promises, so you don’t need a sermon. I just want to talk with you. No sermon, no promisesjust talk.” My mom was deeply touched and greatly encouraged. We all have experienced times when we have felt wiped out, finished, dead. And then some precious people gathered around us and we felt our hearts resurrected, our spirits revived. There are those whom the Lord will lead you to stand by, hang out with, and be there forbe it in person, over the phone, or through a letter. Be sensitive to His leadingand watch for revival. After he was stoned, what did Paul do? He went right back into the city. How do you stop a guy like that? Wrapping up their year-long tour that began in Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas doubled back on their return trip. In 2Ti_3:11, Paul made mention of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch when he wrote of the persecutions and afflictions he suffered there. In Antioch, he was expelled. In Iconium, he narrowly escaped. In Lystra, he was stoned. The Lord delivered Paul out of all of these dangerous traps. But in each case it was in an entirely different way. In Antioch, he was kicked out. In Iconium, he caught wind of a plot. In Lystra, he was left for dead. I point this out because our tendency is to say, “If I’m going to get out of my dilemma, it must be in this way, or according to these ten steps.” But God will not be boxed in by any program, agenda, or formula. He has promised to deliver us (2Co_1:10), but He has not predicted how He’ll do it.

Acts 14:22

How do we enter into the kingdom? Through much tribulation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew this. They were in a fiery trial, indeed, yet they didn’t come out until they were ordered out (Dan_3:26) because they preferred walking in the fire with the Lord to sitting in the shade without Him. What happened to the fourth Man in the furnace (Dan_3:25)? He remained in the fire. Where is Jesusthe fourth Mantoday? In the fire. We have a tendency to try to avoid the fire whenever possibleand it’s a great mistake. I’m not saying we should be masochists. I am saying it’s in the fire, when times are tough, when your heart is breaking that Jesus is most visible, most real, and most precious.

Acts 14:23

These elders were probably only a few months old in the faith. Yet, with prayer and fasting, Paul and Barnabas commended them to the Lord.

Acts 14:24

Did Paul and Barnabas live happily ever after? Not by a long shot. Stay tuned. In chapter 15, we’ll find out what happens next.