# Overview Acts Chapter 14 recounts the missionary journey of #Paul and #Barnabas in Asia Minor, marking a significant phase in the spread of the #Gospel. They begin in #Iconium, where they preach in the Jewish synagogue, resulting in a divided response—some Jews and #Gentiles believe, while others oppose them. Despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas remain for a considerable time, speaking boldly and performing signs and wonders by the power of the #Lord. However, as hostility grows, they learn of a plot to stone them and flee to #Lystra and #Derbe in #Lycaonia. In #Lystra, Paul heals a man crippled from birth, which leads the astonished crowd to mistake them for gods—Paul as #Hermes and Barnabas as #Zeus. They vehemently reject this idolatry, urging the people to turn from worthless things to the living God who created all things. The chapter further demonstrates the resilience of Paul and Barnabas as they face persecution. Jews from Antioch and Iconium incite the crowd in Lystra, leading to Paul being stoned and left for dead. Miraculously, he survives and returns to the city. They then move on to Derbe, where they continue to preach the #GoodNews and make many disciples. Afterward, they retrace their steps, strengthening the believers and appointing #elders in each church, encouraging them to remain steadfast in the faith despite tribulations. Their journey concludes as they sail back to #Antioch in #Syria, where they report the work God has done through them, particularly how He has opened a door of faith to the Gentiles, thus highlighting the expansion of the early #Christian church beyond Jewish boundaries. ## Theological Insights In #Acts Chapter 14, the missionary journeys of #Paul and #Barnabas illustrate the expanding reach of the #Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, emphasizing the universality of the #Christian message. The chapter highlights the persistence and resilience required in ministry, as Paul and Barnabas face both acceptance and persecution. 1. **The Power of the Gospel**: The chapter opens with Paul and Barnabas preaching in #Iconium, where a "great number of both Jews and Greeks believed" (Acts 14:1). This demonstrates the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries, fulfilling Jesus' mandate to be "witnesses... to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). 2. **Perseverance in Persecution**: Despite the initial success, they encounter opposition and threats of violence. Their perseverance in the face of adversity highlights the Christian call to endure suffering for the sake of the Gospel, echoing Jesus’ words in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 5|Matthew 5:10-12]] about the blessedness of those persecuted for righteousness' sake. 3. **Signs and Wonders**: The miracles performed by Paul and Barnabas, such as the healing of the crippled man in #Lystra (Acts 14:8-10), serve as divine confirmation of their message. These signs and wonders attest to the presence and power of the #HolySpirit, reminiscent of the miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles earlier in the book of Acts, such as in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 3|Acts 3]] with Peter and John. 4. **Human Misunderstanding and Divine Correction**: The reaction of the people in Lystra, who mistakenly believe Paul and Barnabas to be gods (Acts 14:11-13), underscores the human tendency to misinterpret divine works. Paul and Barnabas correct this misunderstanding by pointing to the living God, who "made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them" (Acts 14:15), drawing a parallel to Paul's later sermon in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 17|Acts 17]] in Athens. 5. **Strengthening the Church**: After facing persecution and being stoned in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas return to strengthen and encourage the disciples (Acts 14:21-22). This pastoral care emphasizes the importance of discipleship and community in the Christian faith, as they exhort believers to continue in the faith, acknowledging "that we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." 6. **Establishment of Church Leadership**: The appointment of elders in each church (Acts 14:23) demonstrates the early church's commitment to establishing structured leadership and governance. This reflects the biblical pattern of leadership seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments, providing stability and guidance for the nascent Christian communities. 7. **The Sovereignty of God in Mission**: Paul and Barnabas report back to the church in #Antioch, recounting "all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). This acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in mission work and the inclusion of the Gentiles into the faith community aligns with the overarching narrative of God's redemptive plan for all nations, as promised to #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12|Genesis 12]]. Acts Chapter 14 thus serves as a testament to the enduring power and reach of the Gospel, the necessity of perseverance in ministry, and the importance of faithful witness amidst adversity. ## Thematic Connections ### Perseverance in the Face of Opposition Acts 14 highlights the recurring theme of perseverance despite opposition. #Paul and #Barnabas face significant resistance from both Jews and Gentiles in #Iconium, #Lystra, and #Derbe. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, where God’s servants often encounter hostility while carrying out their mission. For instance, the prophets faced persecution for speaking God’s truth, as seen in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 20|Jeremiah]] and [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 6|Daniel]]. Similarly, Jesus warned his followers of persecution in [[John/John Chapter 15|John 15:18-20]], encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith. ### Miraculous Signs as a Testimony to the Gospel The chapter underscores the role of miraculous signs in affirming the truth of the gospel. Paul heals a man crippled from birth in Lystra, which leads to an opportunity to share the gospel message. This theme is consistent with the broader biblical narrative, where miracles often serve as divine validation of God’s messengers, as seen with #Moses’ signs before #Pharaoh in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 4]] and Jesus’ miracles throughout the Gospels, such as in [[John/John Chapter 9|John 9]] with the healing of the man born blind. ### The Nature of Idolatry and True Worship Acts 14 addresses the issue of idolatry when the people of Lystra attempt to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul’s insistence on directing worship to the living God is a theme that resonates with the biblical call to reject idolatry and worship God alone, as instructed in the Ten Commandments in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 20]] and exemplified in the story of [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 18|Elijah]] and the prophets of Baal. Paul’s message reflects the consistent biblical theme of God’s exclusive worthiness of worship. ### The Expansion of the Early Church The chapter concludes with the theme of church growth and strengthening. Paul and Barnabas revisit the cities where they preached, appointing elders and encouraging the disciples. This reflects the expansion and establishment of the church, a theme that began with the Great Commission in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28|Matthew 28:19-20]] and continues throughout Acts, illustrating the spread of the gospel from #Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, as foretold in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 1|Acts 1:8]]. ### The Role of Suffering in God's Plan Acts 14 also presents the theme of suffering as an integral part of the believer's journey. Paul and Barnabas teach that “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” This echoes Jesus’ teaching in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 5|Matthew 5:10-12]] about the blessedness of those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake and resonates with #Peter’s exhortation in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 4|1 Peter 4:12-13]] to rejoice in sharing the sufferings of Christ. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Inclusion of the Gentiles In Acts 14, we witness the continuation of the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the inclusion of the #Gentiles in God's plan of salvation. This is in line with the prophecy found in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 42|Isaiah 42:6]], where God declares that He will make His servant a light for the Gentiles, that His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. The ministry of #Paul and #Barnabas in cities such as #Iconium, #Lystra, and #Derbe, where they preached to both Jews and Gentiles, exemplifies this prophetic outreach and inclusion. ### The Suffering Servant The experiences of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14 also resonate with the theme of the Suffering Servant found in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53|Isaiah 53]]. As they face persecution and opposition, including being driven out of cities and Paul being stoned and left for dead in Lystra, they mirror the suffering faced by God's servants in the prophetic tradition. This suffering is part of the fulfillment of Jesus' words in [[John/John Chapter 15|John 15:20]], where He reminds His followers that if they persecuted Him, they would also persecute His servants. ### Signs and Wonders The miraculous signs and wonders performed by Paul and Barnabas, such as the healing of the crippled man in Lystra, fulfills the prophecy found in [[Joel/Joel Chapter 2|Joel 2:28-29]], where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, resulting in prophetic visions and signs. These acts confirm the divine authority and the message of the apostles, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit's power is actively working through them to confirm the gospel message to both Jews and Gentiles. ### The Rejection of Idolatry In Lystra, when the crowd attempts to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, their vehement rejection of idolatry and their insistence on turning to the living God echoes the prophetic call to abandon idols and worship the true God, as seen in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 44|Isaiah 44:9-20]]. This incident underscores the fulfillment of God's desire for all nations to recognize and worship Him alone, as Paul and Barnabas urge the people to turn from worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth. ## Verses - **Acts 14:1** - "The same thing happened in #Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers." - See also [[Acts/Acts Chapter 13]] for Paul's previous mission efforts. - **Acts 14:2** - "Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas." - Compare with the opposition faced in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 13]]. - **Acts 14:3** - "But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders." - The signs and wonders are similar to those in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 5]]. - **Acts 14:4** - "But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles." - Division among the people is also seen in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 17]]. - **Acts 14:5** - "Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them." - Similar events occurred in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 7]]. - **Acts 14:6** - "When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of #Lycaonia—to the towns of #Lystra and #Derbe and the surrounding area." - See the missionary journeys in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 13]]. - **Acts 14:7** - "And there they preached the Good News." - **Acts 14:8** - "While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked." - Compare with the healing in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 3]]. - **Acts 14:9** - "He was listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed." - **Acts 14:10** - "So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking." - **Acts 14:11** - "When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, 'These men are gods in human form!'" - Similar misunderstandings occur in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 28]]. - **Acts 14:12** - "They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker." - **Acts 14:13** - "Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles." - **Acts 14:14** - "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting," - **Acts 14:15** - "'Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.'" - Contrast with the reaction of #Herod in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 12]]. - **Acts 14:16** - "In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways," - **Acts 14:17** - "but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts." - **Acts 14:18** - "But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them." - **Acts 14:19** - "Then some Jews arrived from #Antioch and #Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead." - Compare with Stephen's stoning in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 7]]. - **Acts 14:20** - "But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe." - **Acts 14:21** - "After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia," - **Acts 14:22** - "where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." - **Acts 14:23** - "Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust." - **Acts 14:24** - "Then they traveled back through #Pisidia to #Pamphylia." - **Acts 14:25** - "They preached the word in #Perga, then went down to #Attalia." - **Acts 14:26** - "Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed." - **Acts 14:27** - "Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too." - Compare with the mission report in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 15]]. - **Acts 14:28** - "And they stayed there with the believers for a long time." ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Paul and Barnabas' Ministry** - [[Acts/Acts Chapter 13]], [[Acts/Acts Chapter 15]] - **Opposition to the Gospel** - [[Acts/Acts Chapter 6]], [[Acts/Acts Chapter 7]] - **Healing Miracles** - [[Acts/Acts Chapter 3]], [[Acts/Acts Chapter 5]] - **Divine Misunderstandings** - [[Acts/Acts Chapter 28]] - **Stoning and Persecution** - [[Acts/Acts Chapter 7]], [[Acts/Acts Chapter 8]]