Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt October 17, 2010 Page 1 THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS Acts 14 One of the distinctives of the Christian churches in the United States is that they have not experienced persecution. Christians in Germany suffered persecution when the Nazis took control of the churches. Ministers had to submit their sermons for approval by the government before they were delivered on Sunday. Some Christians resisted the government on that account or because of its persecution of Jews, Gypsies, mentally retarded persons. Christians in Communist countries, Christians in Muslim countries, and Christians in other countries have been persecuted for their faith. So far Christians in the United States have not been persecuted for their faith. How has that affected us? There are more Bibles in the possession of individuals in this country than any other country on earth. Year after year the Bible is the best selling book. How many people are reading those Bibles. Twenty years ago the American Bible Society said that for over half the people in church pews on any given Sunday the only Scripture they would receive all week is what is read to them in church. Most Christians could give an explanation of what the gospel is and what it can do. How many Christians, even once a month, tell someone the gospel. Even when they know the person is unsaved they remain silent. Why? Ironically, if it was going to put them in jeopardy of going to jail, they might be more likely to be a witness for Christ. We will see in our lesson today that Paul and Barnabas were in danger of their lives on more than one occasion simply because they boldly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt October 17, 2010 Page 2 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. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 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. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. (Acts 14:1-7 NKJV) Apostle means someone who has been sent. Paul and Barnabas had been sent by the church in Antioch at the direction of the Holy Spirit. In that sense Barnabas was an apostle of the church. Paul had been sent by Jesus Christ after his conversion on the Damascus road. But the Lord said to him (Ananias), "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV) Barnabas was an apostle of the Church, but Paul, like Peter, James, John, and the other Twelve, were apostles of Jesus Christ. They received revelation from heaven, had greater authority in the church. In Iconium the Gospel was received by both Jews and Gentiles and many of them believed. The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas and those who had believed. When someone refuses the Gospel they develop a hatred for it and for those who do believe. They poisoned the minds of those who still had not heard or believed the Gospel. The response of Paul and Barnabas was to dig in their heels and stay a long time. They spoke boldly in the Lord and the Lord bore witness to the word by working miracles. The resistance mounted until it became violent and plans were laid to abuse and stone them. The apostles heard of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe.
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt October 17, 2010 Page 3 2.) they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. 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!" And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 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. (Acts 14:6-13 NKJV) If you remember, there was a similar healing of a crippled man by Peter and John at the gate of the Temple. Peter preached to the crowd attracted by that healing and he and John were arrested and put in jail. Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel. Miracles are always used to give credence and authority to God s Word. Paul looked at the man intently and saw that he had faith to be healed. No one can produce faith within themselves. Faith is a gift of God. When Paul saw that the man had faith to be healed, he knew that was what God was going to do. Paul was simply announcing what God was doing. The people to whom Paul and Barnabas had been preaching Jesus Christ do not give credit to the God of Jesus Christ. Instead the credit their own heathen gods by calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul they called Hermes. Were Paul and Barnabas flattered to be called gods when the people cried out, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" No, they were appalled. The priest of Zeus came out and was going to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. There was an element of greed in this. He knew that if were told about that the gods had come down to Lystra then people from all over would come to worship in his temple. It is blasphemy to give credit for God s work to some other person.
Rev. Troy Lynn Pritt October 17, 2010 Page 4 3.) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 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, "who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. "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." And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. 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. 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. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 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." (Acts 14:14-22 NKJV) Paul begins by insisting that they are men of the same nature as all of the rest of them. He continues by attacking the heathen worship of false gods such as Zeus and Hermes whom he calls useless things. He preaches that they should turn from them to the living God who made the heavens and the earth. Even then they still wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. They stubbornly held on to their false gods. Satan sent reinforcements Jews came from Antioch and Iconium where Paul and Barnabas had been opposed and had to leave town. They stirred up the crowd until the same people who had wanted to worship Paul now stoned him until they thought he was dead. They dragged Paul s body out of the city. When the believers came out and were standing around him Paul got up and went into the city. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe. Then he went back to those cities that had persecuted him, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, to strengthen the believers and to exhort them to continue in the faith We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." he told them.
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