comments
Media
• Lesson 16 (4) (Acts 14) • Speaking Boldly For the Lord We pick back up in this lesson with Paul and Barnabas in the midst of their first "missionary journey." We last left them in the city of Antioch in the region of Pisidia of Asia Minor. Paul and Barnabas had boldly rebuked some Jews who were intent on contradicting the message of the gospel and reviling them in the process: "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold,we are turning to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). Luke documents the spread of the word of the Lord throughout the whole region (13:49). Having been driven out of the district of Pisidia (13:50), Paul and Barnabas now travel 90 miles southeast to Iconium. Much more than simply documenting meaningless history, Luke is recording for us the beginning of the churches of Galatia to which Paul will later write his famous letter (Gal 1:1-2). Potential and Poison in Iconium Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. (Acts 14:1-2)=> Luke uses strong language in Acts 14:2. How might these unbelieving Jews have stirred up and "poisoned" the minds of the Gentiles in Iconium against Paul and his companions?So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)=> Read Luke's phrasing carefully. Who does he want us to recognize as the main character of this narrative? And how is this main character "bearing witness" and "granting"? To what is Luke drawing our attention? What does he want us to understand? But the people of the city were divided; some sided with theJews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was madeby both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat the mand to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, andthere they continued to preach the gospel. (Acts 14:4-7)=> Luke describes Paul and Barnabas as "apostles" in Acts 14:4 and14:14. The designation has been used to describe someone whohad traveled with Jesus during his earthly ministry and seen him risen from the dead-specifically, one of"the Twelve" (Acts 1:21-26). If the word (apostolosc) carries the general meaning of "one who is sent," in what way were Paul and Barnabas "apostles"?