Acts 15:5-11 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
 
THE gospel is for everyone, even the Pharisees. We know how the Pharisees confronted, criticized and crucified Jesus. How often our Lord had implored them to believe! But then some did believe during Jesus’ ministry. More came to faith as the risen Savior became known throughout Judea.
   Some of the Pharisees, who became Christians, though, wanted to hold onto circumcision. They couldn’t completely submit to know God’s grace was sufficient. They needed to learn, and the best way to do so was to hear from Peter, whom God sent to the Roman, Cornelius’ home.
   Peter’s testimony is clear and direct. He testifies it is God’s choice: “Some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.” Peter confirms God had a plan from ages past to call Gentiles to faith: “God, who knows the heart,” had chosen them to believe. Then, “God showed that he accepted them.” It was by God’s power Cornelius and his family understood salvation through Jesus because God gave the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
   Peter confirms all belilevers are united in Jesus’ church: “God made no distinction between us and them.” And they became holy as they believed: “For he purified their hearts by faith.” God had planned, decided, acted and saved.
   Then Peter asked the Pharisees, who had become Christians, why they tested God, why they want to put a burden on those whom God had freed from the law’s burden. The law had served its purpose, but it could not save. Jesus is the only reason anyone could claim, “I am Jesus; disciple.”
   God had appointed Peter to feed my sheep. (John 21:17c) That is precisely what he was doing. 

Acts 15:1-2 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
 
PETER had baptized the Gentile Cornelius and his family (Acts 10). Paul and Barnabas had especially ministered to the Gentiles. People from outside Judaism were believing in Jesus! Wasn’t that enough?
   Apparently it was not enough for many. Some Jews who had confessed Jesus as their Savior did not understand Jesus’ grace to redeem all believers. They held fast to God’s covenant of circumcision even though Jesus had commissioned a new covenant for a full relationship with mankind: Matthew 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
   Paul would often emphasize this in his later teachings as in Romans 3:25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.     Still, many of Jesus’ Jewish-born disciples wanted to add to Jesus’ grace. There was a problem in the church, and the church leaders needed to confront it.
 
Acts 15:3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
 
As Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, it seems the Lord confirmed that the Gentiles belonged in the church. The Christians from Judaism,  who fully accepted Jesus’ new covenant, rejoiced that God welcomed all people into his kingdom. Luke goes on to say v. 4 when they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
   This was another way the Holy Spirit enlightened the Jews to the next step in God’s salvation for the world. It was time for the Jews to receive the true Messiah. As they became Christians, they needed to receive the Gentiles in the same way Jesus received them. Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility through the confession of their faith.
   God so loved the world he has made a way for all to come to heaven. Confessing Jesus is confessing, “By grace I have been saved through faith. My birth nation does not matter because I am born again in Jesus.”

Acts 14:24-28 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
 
IN Acts 13-14 Luke (Remember Luke is the one who chronicles this history.) tells us of Paul’s and Barnabas’ work in about 13 different cities plus regions of Cyprus and other territories. They were busy men, determined to do a very difficult work for the Lord. We can scarcely understand the degree of physical, mental and emotional effort this ground-breaking evangelism and discipleship required. Paul would later describe the strain of his work: 2 Corinthians 11:27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. We have read that Paul and Barnabas were abused in various cities. Such opposition would deprive them of sleep, food and drink.
   Fruit-bearing ministry, too, has no set schedule. The Spirit may move in particular ways to cause a great response and long-lasting gatherings to pray, praise and worship the Lord. Teaching and preaching requires strength and durability. Traveling from place to place, too, was always a physical challenge for them. This is still is for very many of you reading this.
   Determined work with Jesus requires much. That’s why determined work with Jesus leads to much reward. Paul’s and Barnabas’ return to Antioch, where they were first commissioned to their work, is a joyous reunion. How encouraged and strengthened they would have been to see that their work was bearing fruit.
   A determined, productive Christian life requires a balanced life that works in unity with many believers. We must know when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to get up, time to lead and time to follow, time to teach and a time to listen. The church is a body of believers. A body requires all parts to function well to be healthy, strong and productive. Be a church that supports your pastor with determined Jesus-centered prayer, love, joy and purpose. Be a pastor that supports your church with determined Jesus-centered prayer, love, joy and purpose.
    

Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
 
IN the early days of the United States as people settled into new territory, men and women would come into new settlements to teach the children. Parents soon formed schools and hired these teachers to oversee the systematic education of their children. The children would not learn well if teachers came for a short time and moved on to new settlements. This is likely true in your particular country, too. Good education needs good leaders to oversee a good system.
   This is the same in the church., isn’t it? Acts has informed us of many evangelists, preachers and teachers moving from settlement to settlement to teach the gospel. They taught, and people in those cities and villages came to faith in Jesus, Lord and Savior. These new believers had the basic truth of Christianity to form a church. Now it was time to establish good teachers in the church to oversee a good Bible education system.
   Paul and Barnabas acted under God’s plan. When they appointed elders to oversee the church, they followed God’s good system for educating his people. This is the first time elder is used to designate church leaders. This was not Paul’s and Barnabas’ idea. It is God’s plan from ancient days.
   The term elder is rooted in a Hebrew word that means priest. Look back to Exodus to remember what God did to teach Israel about himself when he brought Israel from Egypt. God gave the law. Then he named the Levites to be priests – to be elders – to oversee God’s systematic instruction for daily life and worship. This was God’s good education system to teach his people who he is. To fully enjoy God’s blessings they needed to purposefully learn God’s good commands. We note Barnabas was a Levite (Acts 4:36), and Paul was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5). These men knew the need for good, orderly education. This was the Jews’ legacy. Appointing elders advanced the learning into the new church.
   Today the office of elder is in every church. But not all teachers and leaders in churches are called elders. Some are called priests, a correct title for Bible teachers. Others are called bishops. This means overseer. Teachers and pastors oversee the true teaching in the church. Thus elder, bishop and priest are appropriate terms for Christian pastors and teachers.
   In truth every believer is called to teach and oversee the education of God’s Word. This begins in our individual lives, extends to our families and influences the church. Peter exhorts the church to know, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
   Each Christian is responsible to teach God’s Word in a good systematic way. This is God’s good plan to help each of us personally know the wonder of his call out of darkness into life.
   

Acts 14:19-22 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, “ they said.
 
THE Jews and others in Lystra stoned Paul so badly they thought he was dead. We cannot imagine the brutal suffering Paul experienced. Stoned, dragged and left for dead, Paul could have said, “These people don’t deserve to know Jesus.” But instead he got up and went back into Lystra.
   And what might Barnabas have thought when he witnessed this brutality? How did he respond to Paul’s determination? Barnabas had been a significant influence on Paul’s discipleship. Barnabas, the encourager, was surely deeply encouraged to witness Paul’s faithful persistence.  
   As we’ve mentioned, these men were Jesus’ determined workers, helping other disciples to know the cost. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”  was the essence of their lives. They surely loved God, and they loved their enemies as Jesus had commanded. Focused, faithful and humble, they continued on mission.
   Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe for a time where Acts 20 records they were successful. Then they retraced their route through Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch. People in these cities had violently opposed and abused them. But they had vital work in these cities. Many people had become Jesus’ disciples. That means these new belilevers wanted to learn more of God and understand the Scriptures more completely. Paul and Barnabas needed to teach and encourage them to learn and be strengthened into Jesus’ commands. Paul and Barnabas followed in Jesus’ footsteps into the enemies’ territory. The Spirit empowered them to recruit new warriors for Jesus to fight for people’s souls.
          The church’s work remains the same. We must be disciples who learn the truth, stand firm in the truth and even suffer for the truth. We may become very uncomfortable and even reject this call to suffering. But the Bible tells us this is the past, present and future of Jesus’ church. God has determined the way to his New Heaven and Earth. As his disciples we must walk in his way.

Acts 14:11-17 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
 
PEOPLE are ignorant of God. When Peter and John healed a lame man in the Jerusalem temple, the authorities denied God’s work and jailed them. Paul and Barnabas did miraculous signs and wonders in Iconium. Some believed and some rejected the gospel. Now in Lystra, the evangelists heal a lame man. The people believe the pagan gods Zeus and Hermes have come.
   Is ignorance too harsh a word? Not according to God’s Word. For example, in Psalm 73 we read of Asaph, one of Israel’s faithful worship leaders and psalm writers. He was struggling with the success and wealth of ungodly people. If they were happy and well-to-do, what good was it to follow God’s laws? He wondered, “God, what are you dong?”
   But then Asaph went into the Lord’s sanctuary to be with God. Listen to how he came to understand the reason for his faith struggle: Psalms 73:22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. With worshipful humility, Asaph considered God and remembered who God is. Commentator Warren W. Wiersbe explains it this way: “Asaph realized God isn't a problem to wrestle with but a gracious Person to love and worship – especially when you are perplexed by what he is doing.”
   Yes, Paul, Barnabas, Peter and the others could have wondered God, “What are you doing?” as they experienced oppression’s deep hatred, and they watched friends and colleagues die in the Lord’s work. Instead, they worshiped God. They know he is the eternal God, who has revealed his personal power, unrelenting love and eternal salvation through his suffering. If Jesus had suffered to save them, they could suffer to save others.
   It’s easy to ask, “What are you doing, God?” But let’s first consider, “I know who you are, LORD. Thank you, God, for what you have done to redeem my life. I rejoice in your goodness now and forever.” Faithful disciples do not live in ignorance of God’s eternal love.
 

Acts 14:8-10 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
 
HOW did Paul see the man lame from birth had faith to be healed? Is it possible to see faith?
   We know the Holy Spirit has given Paul and Barnabas the authority to v. 3 do miraculous signs and wonders. Under the Spirit’s anointing, Paul apparently had spiritual vision to see the crippled man had a faith-filled heart. Such people express a devotion to God. They are eager to hear his Word and submit to its teachings. You know the person believes the Bible is true because he understands it is the absolute guide for his life. The lame man apparently showed a devoted trust in the gospel message, and Paul noticed. In faith Paul commanded healing. The man walked.
   Yes, Paul needed faith, too, didn’t he? We might believe it would be easy for Paul to have faith that God would heal anytime he prayed for healing. God had already allowed him to heal some at Iconium. And he had the personal testimony that the Lord Jesus had blinded him and healed him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Had it become a natural work of God to heal as Paul always directed?
   We must remember each apostle is under God’s authority. They can do nothing on their own. They speak prayerfully and faithfully for the Lord to act. Yes, Acts disclosed Peter healing a lame man (Acts 3) and raising a dead woman (Acts 9). We know the Spirit transported Philip from Samaria to Gaza’s desert road (Acts 8). Yet Herod had James executed. Stephen was stoned. Paul and Barnabas faced riotous crowds who threatened to stone them. We also learn from Paul’s letters that God did not heal a chronic health problem Paul suffered (2 Corinthians 12:7).
   It was the same regarding salvation. On some occasions the gospel workers knew great joy as they watched people submit to believe in Jesus. At other times they witnessed people condemn Jesus’ name and threaten them. Nothing was guaranteed from day to day.
   The apostles and faithful evangelists were experiencing life under God’s authority. They worked to teach the gospel. Physical and spiritual healing did not always happen. But these wonders did happen at the times the Lord had chosen. Faithful sowing leads to an abundant harvest.  
   Acts is the history of the church working for the salvation of all. Not all will be saved. Not all will be healed. But God called the apostles, and he calls us now to be faithful people who expect God to fulfill his will on earth. In obedience we work with him and watch him respond.   

Acts 14:1-3  At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
 
THE pattern of Paul’s and Barnabas’ evangelism and preaching continues. Some believe and are joyous for the gospel. The two evangelists also continue to contend with the Jews’ opposition. This, of course, would always be, has always been and will always be true until Jesus comes again.
   But unlike their time in Pisidian Antioch, where they shook the dust from their feet and departed, Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time in Iconium, speaking boldly for the Lord.
   Here again, as written elsewhere in Acts, God will suddenly show himself through signs and wonders. The Lord chose Iconium as a place he would expand his gifts over the disciples. He first gifted them with bold speech. This means they had ample time to clearly explain the gospel. They also spoke effectively with eloquence rooted in the truth. Paul and Barnabas were sure of their message, and the Spirit gave receptive ears to hear the message of his grace.
   The Spirit also endowed Paul and Barnabas with the power to heal. This is not recorded in the other cities they have visited. God blessed Iconium with heaven’s very visible and immediate confirmation of  the gospel. When people saw God’s power to heal, they would more readily believe he could and would do the “impossible” even raise his Son from the grave.
   Such a compassionate, powerful God, who healed, could and would also forgive sins. God’s evident power showed everyone the impossible is possible. How could anyone deny such evidence of the Living Word? But of course they do, even to the point of violence. The peace in Iconium ended:
 
Acts 14:4-7 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat Barnabas and Paul and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the good news.
 
King David prayed in Psalms 140:1 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence 2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. Perhaps Paul and Barnabas prayed David’s prayer as evil’s violence threatened them. If you are experiencing opposition because of your faith or you feel you are under spiritual attack, this is a good prayer for you, too.
   Thankfully, it was not Paul’s and Barnabas’ time to be martyrs. Their evangelism and God’s power demonstration continued.  
 

Acts 13:42-43 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
 
THIS is the kind of response every gospel teacher hopes to experience. The people wanted to know more!  Luke, the historian, continues to emphasize the missionaries are speaking to both the Jews and devout converts to Judaism. For his gospel purposes, God has brought people from different economic, social, political and religious backgrounds into an essential unity of faith. Luke calls them devout because they are devoted to obeying God’s laws and understanding the prophets. The gospel is revealed first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. This is God’s order established when he called Abram to father a nation to bless the world: Gensis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
   Paul later confirms God’s plan is to deliver the gospel to the Jews first. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Jesus called Paul to be his apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15), but this did not exclude Paul’s work among the Jews. In fact it was Paul’s pattern to enter a city and meet first with the Jews. He then spoke to the Gentiles. Paul knew his commission. He was a man trained to follow orders, so he did what Jesus commanded him to do. For a time the gospel door seemed to be wide open.
 
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
 
The Spirit was stirring people to the good news of Jesus Christ in Pisidian Antioch. We can picture Paul and Barnabas on a crusade, and the stadium is filling to hear a message from heaven. People are hungry and thirsty for love, joy, peace and kindness in their lives. Will this message of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God, satisfy their hunger and thirst?