Acts 14

Exalted and Cast Down

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Paul continues the same pattern, first preaching in the synagogue to the Jews and interested Gentiles. This time a great multitude are saved, but remembering the revival and then the attack by the angry Jews, Paul no doubt expects opposition here as well.

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Envy and evil hearts again oppose the gospel message.

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Paul and Barnabas with Holy Ghost power continue in the word of his grace. God grants his approving signs and wonders by their hands.

Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

They used judgment, yes God will be with us, but we must use his judgment, walking or running as the Spirit leads.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Acts 14:7 And there they preached the gospel.

Note that they did not hide or quit doing what they were sent to do. They preached the gospel where they were at. Satan caused them to move on, but God used this to spread the gospel.

Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

God continued to perform signs and wonders. The scoffers say, "if you are a healer, go to the hospitals and heal all of them!" Paul first noticed that he had faith to be healed, then by the Holy Ghost commanded him to stand upright. The combination of faith and the presence of a sent man of God, provided the healing, to glorify God.

Acts 14:11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

Wait! They were to glorify the God of Israel, not their own false gods. Paul and Barnabas were not Gods. Miracles are not as important as the knowledge of God. A man may be healed and still go to hell. The best healing is a heart that has been changed by the truth and converted by our Lord Jesus. In this case the miracle was received wrong. Miracles are meant to give our God glory.

Miracles without the gospel are a danger.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

Acts 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

The Romans called them Jupiter, a father god and Mercury, the messenger. In the Greek they were called Zeus and Hermes. Paul being the "messenger" was thought to be the god Mercurius. Interesting to me that these are names of planets and the angels are referred to as stars as are the Spiritual children of Abraham.

Neh 9:23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Acts 14:13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

There was a temple to Jupiter in front of the city. Oxen were brought in as sacrifices and garlands for decorating. What a mess. Yet, when we receive glory for the work of God, are we not claiming to be gods? A dangerous thing. Paul and Barnabas are quick to renounce this title. We are not to draw attention away from God.

Paul explains who the true God is.

Acts 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

They showed their outrage at this blasphemy in a typical Jewish way, they tore their clothing.

Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

We are of like passions, we are humans with failings, turn from your empty actions to the true God. The living God who created all things.

Acts 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Paul gives glory to God who gives all good food and gladness. He does not preach to the pagans using Jewish history, these were not Jews. He appealed to them through nature.

Acts 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Even with his words the people wanted to sacrifice to them, yet they did not.

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Now don't you hate this? Not only were they out of there own city, but they were judge and executioners. Talk about your highs and lows in ministry? One moment they are worshipped as gods, they with grace and humility tried to calm down the worshippers and point them to the true God. Then appears the stoning party. They threw stones at Paul, you know that hurt, and they thought they had killed him.

Perhaps at this time he actually had entered heaven as he relates later to the Corinthians;

2 Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2 Cor 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2 Cor 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2 Cor 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Acts 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Talk about enthusiasm for his calling, Paul was brought back from the doorway of death, he arose and came into the city. I can imagine the people seeing him, surely he is a god? they must have thought. He spends the night there and on the next day moves on to Derbe with Barnabas.

Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

2 Cor 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Cor 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Cor 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Paul witnessed everywhere he went. Signs and wonders followed the preaching of the gospel, but so did persecution. Persecution caused them to move from one city to the next. What the devil did to stop them, God used to spread his salvation message; Jesus' blood shed for the forgiveness of sins and he arose on the third day.Even though Paul was stoned near to death, he arose and continued to minister the message of hope. What a glorious work God did in Paul who once was a persecutor of the church. He had become a champion of the faith. Through his ministry many would be saved.

Confirmation

Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Paul does not let stoning slow him down, with body no doubt suffering from the many blows from the large stones, still he continues the work he was sent to do. What message is so important? He preaches the gospel message of a new life in Christ. If he can do this after such suffering, shall we not give this message importance as well? Jesus has received our sorrows, taken our sins to the cross. His blood ran as our sacrifice for sins and he has arisen from the grave into eternal life, from which he came. The God-man offers new eternal life to all who will come to him. He has said:

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

After preaching in Derbe they return to the cities where they had converts. Confirming their salvation. Perhaps laying on hands and imparting the Holy Spirit and the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. (Rom 12) (Gal 5:22,23)

He was persecuted in these cities and yet his love for the people overcomes his fear of personal harm. I am sure he took caution but more importantly, the Holy Ghost was his guide.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2 Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (You be nothing)

Jesus used care in his walk, knowing that the Jews had plotted to kill him.

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Paul showed confidence in the Lord, fearing not persecution, yet he warned those present that tribulation from the unsaved was part of the Christian experience.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

To ordain, meant to choose by raised hands. The elders were older people, chosen by popular vote. These were the leaders of the churches. Then they prayed and fasted seeking God's will, committing them to the Lord. They repeat the pattern of commissioning as practiced in their sending church in Antioch.

1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Tim 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Acts 14:24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
Acts 14:25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

They preached there way back to their sending church in Antioch. (Acts 13:1-3) It is time to testify and give God the glory.

Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Acts 14:28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

It was a time to heal and be restored for further service. They had tasted the fruit of revival and of persecution. It seems the devil always sends his workers to try to undo God's work. But, he can't have our soul's, because we were bought with the Lord's shed blood. He will attempt to control our thoughts though. Now more than ever we must study God's word.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Gary

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Acts 15
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