Episode #103. Today we’ll read Acts chapter 14 together. Iconium is divided, Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for Hermes and Zeus, and Paul is stoned…twice.
Transcript
Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #103. Today we’ll read Acts chapter 14 together: Iconium is divided; Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for Hermes and Zeus; and Paul is stoned…twice.
Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast. I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together. Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should. It’s just easier to do it with a friend. So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud. I’m so glad you’re here!
Get A Map!
Okay, did your eyes start to cross yesterday? Did you lose track of where Paul and Barnabas were with all the criss-crossing back and forth? You’re not alone. I always get confused. Again, take a look at the Biblical maps in the back of your Bible. There’s usually always at least one showing Paul’s first, second and third missionary trips. Or just Google Paul’s first missionary journey. It really does help. The names of the towns are so unfamiliar to most of us, that they all sound the same and we lose track…is this a new town or one they’re just revisiting? Let me know if you consult a map and whether or not it helps.
Acts Chapter 14
Growth and Persecution in Iconium
In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, 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. So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders. But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside. There they continued preaching the gospel.
Mistaken for Gods in Lystra
In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.
Barely Stopped
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Church Planting
After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.
Closing Thoughts
Paul and Barnabas were not happy that the people were trying to make them into gods. I don’t think ‘horrified’ is too strong a word. We’ll talk more about this tomorrow, but for now, we do well to accept that God hates idol worship. It is the 2nd of the Ten Commandments. He shares His Glory with no one. The One True God, who created the heavens and the earth is the Living God. To be treated the same and/or compared to a piece of wood or metal, made by human hands, is the greatest offense to Him. And rightly so.
But idols aren’t always so easily identified as they are in Acts 14, are they? Do we have idols in our lives? Things and people and activities that we tend to put ahead of God? Make no mistake, He is a Jealous God. He wants our complete focus and attention. Now, we will fail at that because we are only dust. And He will forgive us. But we must continually take stock of our hearts. Oh, yeah, we’ll probably fail at that too.
Prayer
Let’s pray. Oh, Father, what more can we say than ‘thank You for Jesus?’ Where would we be and what would we do? We would have no hope without Your love and forgiveness. Thank You that You said You would never leave us or forsake us, Jesus. Help us, Lord, to be pleasing to You. Help us to always remember to put You first in our lives and to check these hard hearts of ours. Deepen our hunger for You. Amen.
Thank you for joining me here today. I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here. In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort. Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us. If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you right here tomorrow. Be well!
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Show Notes
- Awesome Video of Solomon’s Temple
- These will help! Overview videos of all books of the Bible
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