1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there. 8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Commentary
Preamble: With the Jews rejection of the Gospel at Antioch of Pisidia the Apostles Paul and Barnabas now set out on a fervent evangelistic campaign and begin to reach many Gentiles, (as the Lord worked mightily through them), establishing then churches throughout the regions where they now preach the Gospel. Churches which did not bear their own names, as they would never permit that (1 Cor. 1:12-13), but only the Name above all names Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). For our fellowship with God in heaven is not under the banner of men, but only through Jesus Christ who is the Head of the church here on earth and in heaven. His Name alone then we all bear who believe in Him (i.e., Christians).
Vs. 1 1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.
There first stop then after departing from Pisidia is at Iconium, the capital of ancient Lycaonia, which along with the cities Lystra, Pisidian Antioch, and Derbe were all considered part of Galatia.[1] And so once again they enter the synagogue of the Jews, and use it as a means to preach the Gospel. Now a great multitude of the Jews and the Greeks that were attending believed. However, as we will see just as the Apostle Paul first foresaw at Pisidia (Acts 13:46-47) so now the majority of the Jews at Iconium will likewise turns against the Word of the Lord spoken to them.
Vs. 2 “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.”
Once again it would be the unbelieving Jews (to whom the Gospel came to first) who would now stir up the Gentiles against the Apostles Paul and Barnabas preaching, poisoning their minds against the brethren.
Vs. 3 “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
The Apostles though were not deterred, indeed because they had made many disciples they stayed there, speaking boldly in the Lord, (which is always a sign of His Spirit working), indeed the Spirit Himself to establish and verify Jesus Christ through the Apostles preaching also bore great witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Vs. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
The effect then was that the city whose majority was made up of Gentiles became divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Vs. 5-7 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
And so, with Apostles ongoing boldness, and the lines now drawn with the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in His Person as the way to salvation, the unbelieving Gentiles and Jews along with their rulers now seek to abuse and stone the Apostles, that is they sought to destroy them, so as to end they’re preaching the Gospel there (Vs. 5). However, the Apostles were not without allies, and so when they became aware of it, they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there (vs. 6-7). Therefore, rejection or even the threat of death or harm in one place did not mean the end of the ministry, indeed it was often the means by which the Gospel was preached to a whole new region!
Vs. 8-10 8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Now Lystra was located about 20 miles southwest of Iconium, and so arriving safely there once again the Apostle Paul and Barnabas begin preaching the Gospel, this time though they remain outside of the synagogue of the Jews, and take Christ’s Message directly to the people in the streets! Now while they were doing so that there was a man there, a cripple from his mothers’ womb who had never walked, who was listening intently to the Apostle Paul’s preaching. And so, Paul seeing the man had faith to be healed said in a loud voice to him, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And with that the man leaped up and walked! This miracle of the Holy Spirit then mirrors the one which the Spirit did through the Apostle Peter when he too was boldly preaching publicly in Jerusalem (see Acts 3:2-10). Again, these things were done to establish an undeniable witness of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection Power first the Jews, and now to the Gentiles. All which we now have recorded for us in the Scriptures so that we too may believe.
Vs. 11-13 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
So amazed were those who saw what the Spirit had done through the Apostle Paul that they now attributed to him and to Barnabas the status of “gods”, calling Barnabas Zeus, and Paul, Hermes because he was the chief speaker (vs. 11-12). Even their priest of Zeus, whose temple was in the front of their city, which indicates the importance their misguided belief in their Greek gods had to them, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. And so, these people truly believed that the “gods” had come down to them, when if fact it was God in heaven revealing Himself through His Apostles to them.
Vs. 14-18 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Now when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what the multitude was going to do, they themselves tore their own clothes (as a sign of contrition before God) and ran right into the midst of crowd, crying out and asking them why are they doing such things. For in preaching salvation to them, they were not seeking to be glorified, but rather to testify too and glorify the Lord of Glory the Lord Jesus Christ who had just revealed Himself through the mighty miracle He had just worked through them. Therefore, having run into the midst of the crowd they now tell the crowd that they themselves are not “gods”, but they are men just like them, with the same nature as them. Therefore, they tell the people to turn from their useless idols and worship of them, and prayers towards them, and turn to the Living God (who does not give His Glory to another, Isaiah 42:8), because He alone has created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all things that are in them and on them! Who as the Apostles point out in bygone generations, allowed the nations to walk in their own ways, nonetheless He has always made sure that He Himself has always had a witness, “…in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Vs.17 Now when the multitudes heard that the Apostles could scarcely keep them from sacrificing to them. For these people who had spent their lives serving their useless idols (which never did nothing for them) when they heard about the One True God in heaven who always does and intends good towards them, they themselves were completely enamored with Him, and so not having Him there to worship they sought to worship His messengers who had made Him so plainly known to them. This then is the peril of a Gospel preacher who must always be on guard against people becoming enamored with him.
Vs. 19-20 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Now the Jews who had rejected the Word of the Lord at Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium had not only driven the Apostles Paul and Barnabas from their region but when they found out that they were at Lystra, they came there and turned the people there against them. And so, these people who once thought Paul and Barnabas gods, but who rejected their worship of their persons, and told them to worship the living God not men, now became in their minds their enemies, and so they stoned Paul (the one who had done the miracle amongst them) and they dragged him out of the city supposing him to be dead (vs. 19). Miraculously though when the disciples gathered around him Paul rose up and went into the city, likely to get Barnabas. Here we see then the fearlessness that the Lord imparts to those who fear Him and not man. And so, it was likely having visited those who believed there, Paul and Barnabas depart from there and move onto Derbe. Now Derbe was another city of Lycaonia located southeast of Lystra, and being the farthest civilized extant of that Province it was a frontier city.
Vs. 21-23 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Though the Apostles Paul and Barnabas had a rough go of it at Lystra, they were not deterred from their preaching the Gospel, and thus witnessing to and testifying of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. And so it was at Derbe when they preached the gospel there and they made many disciples, they returned to Lystra (the city where Paul was stoned), Iconium and Antioch (the cities where the Jews first raised up opposition to them), and they strengthened the souls of the disciples there exhorting them saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (vs. 22). And so, though it isn’t always going to be easy, or pleasant, you don’t quit. And so, it was upon their return to all these places where they had preached the Gospel, and now realizing that they themselves could not stay there and disciple all the believers there, they now appoint elders in every church, praying over them with fasting and commending them to the Lord in whom they had believed. This then marks a new direction in their ministering the Gospel. For before when they made disciples at Antioch, they stayed there for almost two years discipling them, but now Paul has realized that his mission and focus must be greater than ministering the Gospel to just a single congregation of believers. Paul then will now do the work of an evangelist, while committing those who believe in the Lord through his preaching to local elders and Pastors. His work though in discipling brethren though will not end, but will in fact now come through his epistles which again the Lord will create the circumstances where that ministry will grow and flourish as his time as His traveling evangelist winds down. Therefore, in every circumstance of our lives, even those negative circumstances, the Lord has plans for us, and so if we remain faithful to Him, we will see Him fulfill them!
Vs. 24-26 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
Having then gone through all the region of Pisidia and preached the Gospel in its major cities and all the places wherever the Holy Spirit led them to go, the Apostles Paul and Barnabas now come to Pamphylia, a Roman Province that equates with modern day Turkey, whose capital city was Perga. And so, it was when they had preached the Gospel there, they went down to Attalia which was a port city on the southwest coast of Pamphylia. From there they then sailed back to Antioch and the church there, “where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.” Vs. 26
Vs. 27-28 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Upon the Apostles Paul and Barnabas’ return to the church at Antioch they reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, and thus reached many Gentiles with the Gospel through them (vs. 27). And so, it was through two ordinary faith-filled men God accomplished some extraordinary things. Now the Apostles Paul and Barnabas when they returned to Antioch, they stayed there with the disciples a long-time, during which time their service would’ve been directed towards establishing the church there, though preaching and teaching and through whatever other kinds of service they could render to the brethren that would do so. For that was always their ongoing concern and battle, that Christ’s’ disciples not be led astray by those who wanted to turn the Gospel of God’s grace into works and merit, or those who wanted to turn the Gospel of God’s grace into a license for sin. And so, we will see this battle first play out at Antioch.
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
[1] Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). In Harper’s Bible dictionary (1st ed., p. 416). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
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