READ ACTS 14:1-7 *
How did some of the Jews and Gentiles temporarily overcome their aversion to one another for a common cause?
How did God confirm the message of His grace?
How did Paul and Barnabas respond when they found out about the plans to mistreat and stone them?
After their experiences in Iconium, what did Paul and Barnabas do when they reached Lystra and Derbe?
READ ACTS 14:8-20 *
Why were bulls and wreaths brought to the city gates in Lystra?
Why did Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in verse 14?
Imagine you are Barnabas, watching Paul being stoned. What kinds of things might be going on in your mind?
READ ACTS 14:21-28 *
Why do you think Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch on their way back to Syrian Antioch?
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church before they departed for Pamphylia. What evidences can you find to support the seriousness of these appointments?
Paul and Barnabas had suffered and survived many things. They had also performed miracles. How did they resist any self-praise according to verse 27?
Based on Acts 13-14 what was Paul’s pattern of ministry? *
Summary of Acts 14
ICONIUM (14:1-6)
Iconium, modern Konya, was 90 miles east of Galatia.
A relatively fruitful ministry began at the synagogue. This synagogue ministry, however long it was tolerated (Luke calls it "a long time"), led to the conversion of a great number of Jews and Gentiles.
A resistance on the part of many led to an unsuccessful effort to stone Paul and Barnabas, resulting in their departure. Unbelieving Jews stirred opposition among the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas. Consequently the city was tense and divided, and the hostility led to an effort to assault and stone them. Fortunately P and B learned of the plan and fled to Lystra.
LYSTRA (14:6-20)
Lystra, still in provincial Galatia, was in the district of Lycoania, 18 miles south. Three incidents are specifically detailed here.
1. A cripple's healing created a stir.
The man was lame from birth. As he listened, Paul detected his faith and commanded his healing. The result excited the people.
2. An effort to worship P and B was barely stopped by them.
Seeing the miraculous healing, the Lystrans jumped to the conclusion that P and B were Greek gods. There was a local legend that Zeus and Hermes had visited there as men before. Obviously such notable guests deserved sacrifices in their honor. There was a temple in the front of the city, and the priest of the cult made appropriate preparations. When P and B learned what was about to take place, they were horrified. Verses 15-17 contain Paul's presentation of the gospel to the Gentile/Greek audience (similar to Acts 17:22-31).
3. Paul was stoned, near death, and miraculously restored.
This came about as a result of the hostility of Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who learned that Pa and B were in Lystra and came there to persecute them. What they had failed in at Iconium they succeeded at here. A mob was aroused, and Paul was attacked with stone and dragged to the dump outside the city. He was left for dead, but when the believers gathered around he got up and accompanied them back into the city.
We don't know why Paul was stoned and not Barnabas. Could simple be that P and B were not together when the mob seized Paul.
Also worth mentioning here something Luke does not: Young Timothy was converted under Paul's ministry during this visit to Lystra. On Paul's next journey he visited Lystra again, and Timothy became a traveling companion and co-worker (2 Tim 3:10-11).
DERBE (14:20-21)
Derbe was also Lycaonian, about 60 miles from Lystra to the southeast. All we are told is that they evangelize that city and made many disciples, typical of the entire journey. This was the farthest point of the first journey.
LYSTRA, ICONIUM, AND PISIDIAN ANTIOCH (14:21-23)
These cities were revisited in reverse order, with edification of the young churches as a goal. Here they guided the selection of elders, who would have been responsible for the spiritual leadership in the church.
PERGA (14:24-25)
ATTALIA (14:25-26)
Another Pamphylian port near Perga, was the place from which they sailed for home.
ANTIOCH IS SYRIA (14:26-28)
Antioch was home base. P and B reported all that happened, including the many Gentile conversions. The church no doubt welcomed the report and rejoiced to have these two men back with them.
We have no way of calculating with any precision the duration of the first missionary journey. Estimates vary from one to four years.
Iconium, modern Konya, was 90 miles east of Galatia.
A relatively fruitful ministry began at the synagogue. This synagogue ministry, however long it was tolerated (Luke calls it "a long time"), led to the conversion of a great number of Jews and Gentiles.
A resistance on the part of many led to an unsuccessful effort to stone Paul and Barnabas, resulting in their departure. Unbelieving Jews stirred opposition among the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas. Consequently the city was tense and divided, and the hostility led to an effort to assault and stone them. Fortunately P and B learned of the plan and fled to Lystra.
LYSTRA (14:6-20)
Lystra, still in provincial Galatia, was in the district of Lycoania, 18 miles south. Three incidents are specifically detailed here.
1. A cripple's healing created a stir.
The man was lame from birth. As he listened, Paul detected his faith and commanded his healing. The result excited the people.
2. An effort to worship P and B was barely stopped by them.
Seeing the miraculous healing, the Lystrans jumped to the conclusion that P and B were Greek gods. There was a local legend that Zeus and Hermes had visited there as men before. Obviously such notable guests deserved sacrifices in their honor. There was a temple in the front of the city, and the priest of the cult made appropriate preparations. When P and B learned what was about to take place, they were horrified. Verses 15-17 contain Paul's presentation of the gospel to the Gentile/Greek audience (similar to Acts 17:22-31).
3. Paul was stoned, near death, and miraculously restored.
This came about as a result of the hostility of Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who learned that Pa and B were in Lystra and came there to persecute them. What they had failed in at Iconium they succeeded at here. A mob was aroused, and Paul was attacked with stone and dragged to the dump outside the city. He was left for dead, but when the believers gathered around he got up and accompanied them back into the city.
We don't know why Paul was stoned and not Barnabas. Could simple be that P and B were not together when the mob seized Paul.
Also worth mentioning here something Luke does not: Young Timothy was converted under Paul's ministry during this visit to Lystra. On Paul's next journey he visited Lystra again, and Timothy became a traveling companion and co-worker (2 Tim 3:10-11).
DERBE (14:20-21)
Derbe was also Lycaonian, about 60 miles from Lystra to the southeast. All we are told is that they evangelize that city and made many disciples, typical of the entire journey. This was the farthest point of the first journey.
LYSTRA, ICONIUM, AND PISIDIAN ANTIOCH (14:21-23)
These cities were revisited in reverse order, with edification of the young churches as a goal. Here they guided the selection of elders, who would have been responsible for the spiritual leadership in the church.
PERGA (14:24-25)
ATTALIA (14:25-26)
Another Pamphylian port near Perga, was the place from which they sailed for home.
ANTIOCH IS SYRIA (14:26-28)
Antioch was home base. P and B reported all that happened, including the many Gentile conversions. The church no doubt welcomed the report and rejoiced to have these two men back with them.
We have no way of calculating with any precision the duration of the first missionary journey. Estimates vary from one to four years.
Question: Based on Acts 13-14 what was Paul's pattern of ministry?
THE PATTERN OF PAUL'S MINISTRY
1. Preach to Jews (and proselytes), using the synagogue (if there was one) as long as tolerated there, resulting in faith in Jesus on the part of many, though never a majority.
2. The inevitable ostracism form the synagogue and "turning to the Gentiles," drawing believers from Jews and heathen Gentiles into their own assemblies.
3. Suffering at the hands of unbelievers, usually stirred up by hostile Jews.
While there may be some variation, these three elements characterize Paul's approach to evangelism in almost every city he entered. The principle exception would be in a place where there were few Jews.
The method was very practical. The Jewish population provided Paul a ready-made contact with people of his own background, whom he could appeal to on common ground. The synagogue gave him contact with Gentile proselytes to Judaism, an especially fruitful soil for the gospel. The proselytes in turn gave him access into the Gentile community.
Reference: Pircilli, Robert. Paul the Apostle. (pp. 76-77)
1. Preach to Jews (and proselytes), using the synagogue (if there was one) as long as tolerated there, resulting in faith in Jesus on the part of many, though never a majority.
2. The inevitable ostracism form the synagogue and "turning to the Gentiles," drawing believers from Jews and heathen Gentiles into their own assemblies.
3. Suffering at the hands of unbelievers, usually stirred up by hostile Jews.
While there may be some variation, these three elements characterize Paul's approach to evangelism in almost every city he entered. The principle exception would be in a place where there were few Jews.
The method was very practical. The Jewish population provided Paul a ready-made contact with people of his own background, whom he could appeal to on common ground. The synagogue gave him contact with Gentile proselytes to Judaism, an especially fruitful soil for the gospel. The proselytes in turn gave him access into the Gentile community.
Reference: Pircilli, Robert. Paul the Apostle. (pp. 76-77)
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