Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
The City of Iconium was about ninety miles southeast of Antioch of Pisidia, which is modern Turkey today. As according to Romans 1:16, Paul took the gospel to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles. The Greeks were either proselytes or Gentiles who left the polytheism of Rome to seek the one true God.
2 But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.
The unbelieving Jews of Judaism were not tolerant of Christianity. They joined with the Gentiles to persecute the new church of Iconium.
3 Long time therefore they tarried there, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bear witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium for a long time, boldly speaking about Jesus. They did not teach salvation by the Law, but salvation by grace. Paul and Barnabas, not the congregation, performed signs and wonders to authenticate that their message was from God. Charismatics will use this verse to teach that miracles can still be done in the modern local churches today. However, Luke is recording history, not doctrine. The doctrine of the church can be found in Paul's letters. There is nothing in 2 Timothy that states that the modern church is to perform miracles, speak in tongues, or prophecy. Pastor-teachers with the gift of teaching are to teach the congregation the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level. The congregation is to become Bereans and check out what they are being taught.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Some of the Jews sided with Paul and others with the apostles. Notice that the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas apostles, meaning those who were sent by God to deliver a message.
5 And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them.
The Greek word for "onset" is ὁρμή (orpmay), meaning to make a quick, impulsive, angry rush at the apostles. The Jews and Gentiles did not like the apostle's message of salvation by grace through faith alone in Christ alone, so they rushed them, wanted to shame them in public, and then execute them by stoning.
6 They became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about,
Paul and Barnabas were able to flee across the border.
7 and there they preached the gospel.
The persecution caused the gospel not to be silenced, but to be spread even more to other cities in the region.
The Visit to Lystra and Derbe
8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
Lystra was located 100 miles south of Antioch of Pisidia. It was a major trade route city. It was more pagan than Greek.
The Greek words for "impotent in is feet" is Λύστροις τοῖς ποσὶν (austrois tois pisin), a medical term, showing that Luke was indeed a physician. The man was crippled from birth. He had never walked in his life.
9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
Paul was teaching grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone. Paul looked at the man with the miracle of apostolic discernment and knew that the man believed his message and was saved. The cripple had saving faith, not faith that he was going to be healed. Charismatic faith-healers falsely use this verse as an excuse when they cannot heal. They will claim that the person did not have enough faith.
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet. And he up and walked.”
Paul said this in a loud voice so that others could see and witness the miracle. The man jumped up and walked, showing that Paul's message came from God.
11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.”
The people were not speaking Greek, so Paul did not understand their language. They were pagan and believed that gods had descended to earth in human form.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
Jupiter was known as a tall, bearded man, meaning that Barnabas must be tall and bearded. Mercury was known as the herald of the gods. He was like the shorter son of Jupiter. Therefore, Paul must have been a short man, at least shorter than Barnabas. Archaeologists have confirmed that these two gods were the main gods of the city.
13 And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
There was a myth that Jupiter and Mercury visited a city, but no one would give them hospitality, except for a couple named Baucis and Philemon. Jupiter and Mercury destroyed the entire local population, but made Baucis and Philemon the priest and princess of the temple. The local people of Lystra did not want to be destroyed, so their priest brought sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out,
Notice that the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas apostles. Apparently, someone who spoke Greek told the apostles what was going on, causing the apostles to tear their garments in grief and shock and horror.
15 and saying, “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is,
Paul informed the Lystrans that they were not gods, but men who came to give a message of the one true living God, who was Creator of all things.
16 who, in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own way.
The Greek word for "suffered" is ἐάω (eaow), an aorist active indicative verb, meaning to reluctantly permit one to place himself in danger. God reluctantly permitted the Gentiles to walk in their own ways and after their own lusts, even though it would place them in great danger.
17 And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
Jupiter was the Roman god of the sky and rain. Mercury was the Roman god of merchandise and agriculture. Paul informed the Lystrans that God was actually the living Creator God of the heavens and earth who brought them food and happiness. His witness was through creation and through his grace.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.
Agrippa I, Antiochus, and Caligula would have accepted worship, but Paul would not.
19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
The Jews from Antioch and Iconium hated Paul's message of grace so much, that they traveled ninety miles to stop this message. They stoned Paul, supposing that he was dead.
20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city, and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
The disciples were the new converts of Lystra. Paul rose up, not from death, but from serious medical injuries that caused unconsciousness, and he walked right back into the city which stoned him. This must have been a shock and a powerful witness to the City of Lystra. The next day, Paul and Barnabas traveled forty miles to Derbe, the center of the Cult of Mithras. Derbe was in modern Turkey. It was the last city inside the Roman Empire.
The Return to Syrian Antioch
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
Paul found many believers in Derbe. The church of Derbe was established. Paul and Barnabas returned through Lystra, where Paul had been stoned. The apostles then returned to Iconium, where they were threatened. Finally, they returned to Antioch of Pisidia, from where they had been expelled.
22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
The apostles confirmed that the disciples had been saved. They encouraged the disciples to continue in the faith, even though they would experience tribulation. Notice that the saints were promised suffering and tribulation, not prosperity. Beleivers are called to suffer, not prosper materially, as many prosperity teachers falsely proclaim.
23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Notice that the elders were appointed by the apostles. They were not chosen by the congregation. The congregational form of government that many Baptists practice is not a New Testament doctrine of church government. Notice also that there was a plural of elders in every church. Each of the elders had equal authority. The believers are to be subject to the plurality of elders. The elders were chosen by prayer and fasting.
The Greek word for "commended" is παρατίθημι (paratithami), meaning to set a dinner before them and entrust them to the Lord.
24 And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
The apostles passed through these cities where they founded churches.
25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
The Apostles did not speak the gospel during their first visit to Perga, but they did now. Attalia was a seaport city near Perga.
The Report to the Church at Antioch
26 and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
Antioch was the home church of Paul and Barnabas. Antioch had laid hands on their two elders and supported them with gifts and prayers. The first missionary trip had now been completed. The missionary trip lasted almost two years. Many Gentile churches had been established in the region of what is today modern Turkey.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Notice that it is the local church that is to send out the missionaries and it is the local church who is to receive the support.
The Greek word for "rehearsed" is ἀναγγέλλω (angel), meaning that they told a long story in detail. It was clear to the messianic Jews that God had now opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles.
28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.
The apostles stayed with their home church in Antioch for some time. All of the churches were discussing Gentile salvation and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The question of Gentile salvation will be discussed in the next chapter at the Council of Jerusalem.
