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? 

Acts 13:38-41 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 (from Habakkuk 1:5) ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
 
THIS is a wonderful message, isn’t it? “Therefore – because Jesus is risen from the grave – I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Paul is excited God has granted him the forgiveness of sins. Paul loves Jesus, his Savior, and he wants to tell everyone God will forgive them, too.
   But this forgiveness is not automatic. To teach everyone the difference between God’s justification and God’s condemnation, Paul draws a spiritual Life Line: Everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. To be justified in God’s sight is to be completely without sin’s guilt that keeps you from the Holy God.
   Yes, on one side of the Life Line will stand those who believe Jesus is their risen Savior. On the other side of the Life Line are those who do not believe. They will scoff and wonder, “How can this be true?” People will reject the idea of sin, or they will doubt their sins will keep them from heaven. They will scoff at the truth Jesus is risen, ascended and coming again. People who scoff at the Savior and doubt their sin will be condemned.
   Yes, this would be difficult for the Jews, trained in the law, to understand and believe. The gospel would also be unbelievable to Gentiles, who had little or no knowledge of God’s sovereign authority over creation.
   Once again Paul used the prophets to affirm God can and will do what we believe is impossible. That’s why Paul quotes Habakkuk 1:5. This was a prophecy of Israel’s destruction into exile. The ruling Jews and king did not believe Habakkuk or other prophets who warned of God’s impending justice over his idolatrous people.
   In a like manner, Paul is warning the Jews. God has destroyed his unbelieving people in the past. He will destroy those who do not believe Jesus is the eternal Savior.
   Telling the gospel is drawing the line between belief and unbelief. Many who reject Jesus reject the need to be justified. People need to know they are guilty of breaking God’s commands. They must know God will make them innocent through their faith in Jesus.
   Yes, this is an obvious lesson to most of us. We must, then, be mindful to tell the reason for Jesus’ great sacrifice.
    

Acts 13:27-29 (Paul continues his defense of the gospel.) “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus; yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Jesus executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.”
 
AS we listen to Paul’s explanation and defense of Jesus here and in previous lessons, we should stop to understand he knows what he is saying. When Paul later defends his knowledge before a very hateful crowd in Jerusalem, he says in Acts 22:3: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” To be trained in the law means he has learned and taught God’s law; he also knows how to defend the gospel with the law. This is Paul’s defense of Jesus of Nazareth:
 
Acts 13:30 “But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.”
   A good lawyer has credible witnesses. Jesus’ resurrection is not a rumor or convenient lie to elevate his followers. In fact, their testimony that Jesus is alive threatens their lives. That is one way we know the resurrection is a historic event. People saw him, talked with him, learned from him and ate with him. They watched him ascend to heaven. Paul reminded the Jews of the witnesses to Jesus’ life.
   Paul also used Scripture to defend the gospel: Acts 13:32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written (Psalm 2:7): ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’ 34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words (from Isiah 55:3): ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35 So it is stated elsewhere (Psalm 16:10): ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ 36 For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.”
   The eyewitnesses tell the direct current message. And the scriptures of long ago promise the Holy One will live forever: “Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)  Because “He will not see decay.” (Psalm 16:10)
   Paul’s summary is a four-part confession: Jesus was crucified, placed in a tomb, raised from the dead, and seen by many in the days that followed. (from The Life Application Commentary) The evidence is clear and proven. Believe and be saved. 

Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
 
PAUL, Barnabas and John Mark traveled to the town of Perga in the Roman colony of Pamphylia. Luke tells us John (Mark) left them to return to Jerusalem. We don’t know why. To you readers in Africa, you may find it interesting to know malaria was a distinct threat to people in Pamphylia. There is evidence Paul contracted malaria here, and some feel John Mark left to avoid the disease. We learn later Paul considered Mark’s departure a desertion of his duty.
   In any event Paul and Barnabas traveled to Pisidian Antioch. This was a town in the region of Antioch, different than the city of Antioch. These details help us understand Paul and Barnabas were faithfully following the Spirit’s leading into new territory. Paul is now God’s primary apostle to minister to the Gentiles. He is doing what he is told, even though he is already experiencing health challenges.
   As was the custom, a synagogue ruler welcomed Paul to speak. What follows through verse 40 is God’s redemptive story from Egypt to Jesus’ resurrection. Stephen had spoken in this way as he defended the gospel against his persecutors.
   It seems a common practice among the apostles and evangelists to tell of Jesus through God’s work to form and teach Israel. This is the only way to fully know Jesus. Churches and philosophies that remove the law from the gospel remove the root from the tree. If these men who had been face-to-face with Jesus spoke of the “Old Testament” as God’s plan for his Redeemer, than so must we. Let’s examine here and in the next lesson what the Spirit-anointed teacher Paul said.
     
Acts 13:16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.  All this took about 450 years.”
   Paul first wants all to know God’s message is for the Jews and Gentiles. He then reinforced God’s authority over Israel. God chose our fathers. He made the people prosper. He led them. God endured their conduct. He overthrew seven nations. He gave their land to his people as their inheritance. God’s work was a big work far beyond common understanding. He directed a huge nation into a new land, even as his chosen nation rejected him. God’s goodness, grace and majesty are evident in his history. “All this took about 450 years.”
          The story continues in next lesson.

Acts 13:6-12 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Bar-Jesus opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over Bar-Jesus, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
 
PAUL confronts a demon-possessed man named Bar-Jesus, who opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. We don’t know what Bar-Jesus did or said, but he must have been very aggressive against Barnabas and Paul. As the demons had recognized Jesus’ power over them, the demon in Bar-Jesus understood Almighty God’s power was in his evangelists. The unholy spirit knows that one word from God’s Spirit-empowered men will end his authority in Paphos.
   Anointed to remove the demon, Paul speaks, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.”
   Paul’s words define evil: 1) The sin-guided life is full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Without God’s righteousness, the sinner’s heart only knows the devil’s deceit. Such people can even seem good in their words and actions. But even they are deceived. 2) Evil causes people to think it is good to prevent the right ways of the Lord. In whatever culture we live, there are customs, rules and attitudes that keep us from knowing God’s ways.  
   God has given Paul the power to confront and defeat the evil spirit, and he does so. “Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.”
   The Spirit strikes Bar-Jesus with the same authority he used to change Saul’s life. Saul had been completely helpless in his blindness. God gave Saul time to come to terms with his sin and with the Lord’s authority. Saul quickly recognized his life was no longer his own. God had chosen Saul, and Saul’s unbelieving heart became a believing heart.
   We don’t know how Bar-Jesus responded to his blindness, but God’s power amazed the proconsul. Hopefully the proconsul would be even more amazed at God’s power to transform this man who wanted to hear the word of God.
   From this point on, Paul becomes God’s dominant evangelist. God has used Barnabas to mentor Saul for several years. It’s now time for Paul to become the primary teacher of the gospel to fulfill God’s amazing call on his life.
   When God calls you, he continues to mature you into the person he has prepared for you to be.