Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. As exciting as it was during the the success of the gospel, such success always incurs unfavorable responses. Satan is always battling against God’s message of salvation (1Th 2:18; Re 2:9).

2. The Jews, who were filled with jealousy, who were contradicting Paul’s teaching (Ac 13:45), began to “incite” (parotrunō - spur or stir up) the people against Paul and Barnabas.

3. They stirred up the God-fearing woman of social standing. This was probably done in attempt to have the women influence their husbands and leading men of the community.

4. The Jews successfully “instigated” (epegeirō - rouse and raise up) a persecution against Paul and Barnabas.

5. In the NT, the word “persecution” (diōgmos - press or pursue in hostility) includes the idea of physical mistreatment and even death (Ac 8:1; 9:4; 1Ti 1:13).

6. Though it does not specifically say, it can be surmised that Paul and Barnabas may have been beaten at this time at Antioch (cf. 2Ti 3:11; 2Co 11:25).

7. After being persecuted, they were “driven out” (ekballō - throw out, expelled) or thrown out of that district.

II. THE MISSIONARIES WERE FORCED TO ICONIUM (Ac 13:51-52)

A. Paul and Barnabas Were Forced to Iconium (Ac 13:51).

1. The response of Paul and Barnabas shaking the dust off their feet was actually a poignant theological protest and judgment against those who rejected the gospel.

2. The Jews had a custom of shaking off the dust of their feet before entering into the border of Israel. They did not want Gentile soil to pollute the holy land.

3. Even Jesus instructed the twelve to shake the dust off their feet when a city did not receive them or their message (Lk 9:5).

4. After Paul and Barnabas had given their protest against this city, they went to Iconium.

B. The Disciples were Filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit (Ac 13:52).

1. However, in spite of persecution, the disciples (mathātai - learners, followers) who believed were experiencing great joy being filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. This joy was a result of the Holy Spirit’s illumination of the truth of God’s salvation for those who believed.

III. THE MINISTRY IN ICONIUM (Ac 14:1-5).

A. Many were Converted in Iconium (Ac 14:1).

1. Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium, a chief city in southern Galatia. It is the modern city of Konya in Turkey. It was about 80 miles southeast of Pisidian Antioch, near the the Taurus Mountains .

2. As was their custom, Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue of the Jews and again had an opportunity to speak.

3. They “spoke in such a manner” that was biblical, clear, and in the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Ac 14:3). Therefore, a “large number” believed, both Jews and Greek proselytes attending the synagogue.

B. The Jews Stirred Up the Gentiles (Ac 14:2).

1. Again, they found the Jews hostile to the gospel. It was not so much that they were Jews, but that they were unbelievers (“disbelieved” - apeitheō - not allow oneself to be persuaded, disbelieve or disobedient). The unbelieving heart refuses to believe and is hostile to God (1Co 2:14; Ro 8:7).

2. The Jews “stirred up” (epegeirō, same as vs. 50, roused up or instigated) the Gentiles. In fact they “embittered” (kakoō - turn or poison against) and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren

C. Paul and Barnabas Stayed Longer (Ac 14:3).

1. We might think that this would have caused Paul and Barnabas to leave, but in fact, they “spent a long time there” (diatribe, emphatic, beaten path).

2. They stayed and persevered through this hostility by speaking boldly (cf. Ac 13:46) for the Lord (epi could be “upon the basis of” i.e. with reliance upon NASB).

3. The Holy Spirit was “testifying,” through Paul and Barnabas, the “word of His grace” which was God’s grace in salvation (cf. Ro 3:24; 5:20-21).

4. The Lord was also testifying to their message by the signs and wonders they performed (cf. He 2:4).

D. The People were Divided (Ac 14:4).

1. In spite of this great demonstration in word and wonders, a great division (schizō split, Eng. “schism”) took place in the city of Iconium. Some strongly sided with the Jews and some with the apostles (cf. Mt 10:34).

2. It appears that Luke calls both Paul and Barnabas “apostles.” Paul is certainly an apostle. But in what sense is Barnabas an apostle, especially in light of the fact that he also was performing signs?

3. To be an apostle of the primary sense, a person had to have seen the resurrected Christ, been commissioned by the resurrected Christ, and empowered by the resurrected Christ.

4. Nowhere do we read that Barnabas saw the resurrected Christ. Even if Barnabas may have seen the resurrected Christ at Galilee along with the 500 brethren (Mt 28:10, 16; 1Co 15:6), this does not constitute apostleship. Otherwise, there could have been 500 apostles. Barnabas was commissioned by the Holy Spirit along with Paul for this mission trip (Ac 13:2), but this was not the same as Christ’s commission to the other “apostles of Christ” (1Th 2:6).

5. It is most likely that Barnabas was an “apostle of the church” (2Co 8:23, here apostoloi could mean messengers) in a secondary sense, having been commissioned not by Christ, but by the apostles (Ga 1:1).

E. An Attempt was Made to Stone the Apostles (Ac 14:5).

1. By this time, the Jews had poisoned the minds of Gentiles, Jews, and their rulers.

2. Together they made an “attempt” (hormā - swift rush of a mob) to “mistreat” (hubrizō - insolent or treat injuriously) and to stone Paul and Barnabas.

IV. THE MISSIONARIES FLED TO LYSTRA AND DERBE (Ac 14:6-7).

A. The Apostles Fled to Lystra and Derbe (Ac 14:6).

1. This time, however, when Paul and Barnabas became aware of the plans of the mob, they “fled” (katafeugō - flee or take refuge).

2. They traveled southeast into the region of Lycaonia, to the cities of Lystra and Derbe, as well as the surrounding regions.

B. The Apostles Continued to Preach the Gospel (Ac 14:7).

1. While it could be stated that they fled for safety, they were obviously aware that their ministry was not finished (Mt 10:23 cf. Mt 12:14-15; Lk 4:29; Jn 8:59; 10:39-40; 12:36).

2. For when they arrived in a new area, they continued to do what they were commissioned to do, namely preach the gospel.

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.

A. What are some qualifications for missionary work?

B. Persecution does not always stop evangelism.

C. Evangelism sometimes includes shaking off the dust.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516