Paul Went Back

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.