2014.09.28 Acts 14:1- 22
Paul and Barnabas shake
the Gentile World
Good Morning every one it's great
to see you here this morning…. As most of you know.... We go through the Bible
verse by verse.... At the moment we are studying the birth of the church in the
book of Acts..... The focus of ministry has shifted to the Gentiles and as we
continue in Acts... We see mostly the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles..... As
we studied the sermon that Paul preached last week..... We witnessed a very
strong reaction by those who heard it.... Some repented and believed.... Some
refused to repent and became instant enemies of Paul and Barnabas.... Paul and
Barnabas shook the dust off of their fett and continued on down the road.....
They went to Iconium.... Let's pickup the text ther.. Turn with me to Acts
14...... v1....
Acts 14:1,2
NKJV sch 2000
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. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and
poisoned their minds against the brethren.
1 Und es geschah in Ikonium, daß sie
miteinander in die Synagoge der Juden gingen und derart redeten, daß eine große
Menge von Juden und Griechen gläubig wurde. 2 Die Juden jedoch, die
sich weigerten zu glauben, erregten und erbitterten die Gemüter der Heiden
gegen die Brüder.
V1… Here again, Paul and Barnabas continue to
proclaim the Good News everywhere they go….. They started in the Jewish
synagogue….. The fact that both the Jews and Greeks believed…… shows that Paul
preached the same Gospel to both groups…. It´s the same Good News…. Salvation
and mercy and forgiveness is available….. The
Grace of God has appeared…… Teaching us…. Titus 2:13….. That´s the Good News…..
The grace of God has appeared…. His name is Jesus…..
…. A great multitude believed…… This is great
to read…. Remember…. Because of
persecution….. they had just been kicked out of Antioch in Pisidia…..(Acts
13:50)….
V2…. Persecution begins again…… This is always
the outcome of proclaiming the Good News…… The Light of God´s word shines in
the hearts of men and women and they are forced to choose….. Turn with me to 2
Cor.. ….ch2….v14…
2 Corinthians 2:14- 17 NLT Neues Leben
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead
us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the
knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like
fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by
those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are
perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are
being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task
as this?
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for
personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s
authority, knowing that God is watching us.
2 Corinthians 2:14- 17 NLT Neues Leben
14 Doch ich danke Gott, der uns, die wir zu
Christus gehören, immer in seinem Triumphzug mitführt. Wo immer wir jetzt auch
hinkommen, setzt er uns ein, um anderen vom Herrn zu erzählen und die gute Botschaft
zu verbreiten wie einen wohlriechenden Duft.
15 Unserem ganzen Leben haftet der Wohlgeruch
von Christus an; und damit loben wir Gott. Aber dieser Geruch wird von denen,
die gerettet werden, anders wahrgenommen als von denen, die verloren gehen.
16 Für die Menschen, die verloren gehen, sind
wir der schreckliche Gestank von Tod und Verdammnis. Doch für die Menschen, die
gerettet werden, sind wir ein Leben spendender Duft. Wer kann einer solchen
Aufgabe gerecht werden?
17 Ihr seht, dass wir nicht zu den Menschen
gehören, die nur predigen, um Geld zu verdienen - und davon gibt es viele. Wir
predigen Gottes Wort aufrichtig und mit der Vollmacht von Christus und sind uns
bewusst, dass Gott, der uns gesandt hat, uns dabei zusieht.
When the Good News of the Gospel is
proclaimed…. Unbelievers must decide what to do with Jesus……. But even as
believers…… We are faced with choices every time we open this book…. Will we
let the Word of God speak to our hearts? Will we let it judge and cleanse our
hearts? Or will we reject the Word and refuse to repent and come to Him…. When
unbelievers refuse to repent and believe the Good news…. It becomes unbearable
for them…… and so the resistance to Paul and Barnabas appears again…. Those who
refused to repent tried to poison the minds of the people against the truth……
We certainly see this today don´t we…..
Back to Acts 14….v3…
Acts 14: 3 NKJV sch 2000
3 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.
3 Doch blieben sie längere Zeit dort und
lehrten freimütig im Vertrauen auf den Herrn, der dem Wort seiner Gnade Zeugnis
gab und Zeichen und Wunder durch ihre Hände geschehen ließ.
V3…. Therefore….. Paul stayed…… Paul was not
willing to let these unbelieving Jews…… poison and discourage the new
believers….. He did not leave to avoid trouble…. He stayed and taught the
people a long time….. speaking boldly……. He was busy making disciples even
though it was now becoming dangerous to do so….. He was not afraid…… And the Lord Himself put His big AMEN……. (Yes
it is so……) God Himself was bearing witness to the Word of His Grace…..
The gospel is here called the message of his
grace because divine grace is the message…… He is by nature a Savior…. Paul and
Barnabas preached the word of His grace…. because that is the only we can be
saved…..
God bore witness to the
preaching of Paul and Barnabas by providing signs and miracles…..
Paul often stayed in a region for an extended
period of time…. Strengthening the churches…… and raising up disciples to lead
the church when he moved on…..
I think we should see the persecution Paul had
in Antioch of Pisidia….. As God's way of moving him on to other places of
ministry…….. He was often forced to leave town…. But Paul left only when it was
absolutely necessary…..
Acts 14: 4-7 NKJV
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the
Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both
the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they
became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the
surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching
the gospel there.
Acts 14: 4-7 sch 2000
4 Aber die Volksmenge der Stadt teilte sich,
und die einen hielten es mit den Juden, die anderen mit den Aposteln.
5 Als sich aber ein Ansturm der Heiden und
Juden samt ihren Obersten erhob, um sie zu mißhandeln und zu steinigen,
6 da bemerkten sie es und entflohen in die
Städte Lykaoniens, Lystra und Derbe1, und in die umliegende Gegend,
7 und sie verkündigten dort das Evangelium.
V4,5….
Now after a long time….. the heat is too high…. They plan to stone them….. This is the penalty for
blasphemy……. They were ready to Kill Paul and Barnabas…..
v 6…. Finally when forced to…… Paul and
Barnabas leave Iconium and go to Listra which is about 40 Km away…. and then
also to Derbe….. This shows us that Paul and Barnabas were not foolish….. They
were not trying to become martyrs….. They were only proclaiming the Good News
as long as they could for the sake of the churches…. They did what they could
to preserve their lives……
v7… And they were preaching the gospel there…. God continued to lead and guide Paul and Barnabas through their
circumstances….. Think about this….. God
is leading them through their circumstances…… They were forced to get out
of town…. Here we see that… God´s
leading can even come through hard times…..
God
continued to put His approval on them as He continued to do miracles through
them…….v8….
Acts 14: 8- 10 NKJV sch 2000
8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was
sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man
heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith
to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Acts 14: 8- 10 NKJV sch 2000
8 Und in Lystra saß ein Mann mit gebrechlichen
Füßen, der von Geburt an gelähmt war und niemals hatte gehen können.
9 Dieser hörte den Paulus reden; und als der
ihn anblickte und sah, daß er Glauben hatte, geheilt zu werden,
10 sprach er mit lauter Stimme: Steh aufrecht
auf deine Füße! Und er sprang auf und ging umher.
v8….a cripple from his mother´s womb….. This is very important information here….. The fact that this man
was born disabled was to the people a sign of the curse and judgment of God……
They considered this man as a horrible sinner….. They thought of him as being
under the judgment and condemnation of God….. Hopelessly lost and doomed….. you
see his lostness was clear to see…..
But their sin and rebellion was not as clear to see…..
They judged themselves as better than this man….. But they were just as condemned because of their own sin and
rebellion…. This man was chosen by God
to reveal the truth of the Gospel and to display the Glory of God….
v9….. This man heard Paul
speaking…..The crippled man heard Paul preach about
Jesus…... When he heard about Jesus…… He believed…. And he knew that Jesus
could touch his life…… He was not some hopeless sinner after all…… He hears and
believes…..
A person can hear God's word….. but never come
to the place where they receive God's healing and forgiving touch personally……
They were not proclaiming a signs and wonders ministry….. they were not traveling as miracle workers……
Their goal was preaching the GOOD NEWS
of the gospel……
v9b…. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to
be healed…. How could Paul "see" this man's
faith? Clearly…. God gave him the gift
of discernment at that moment…. so that He minister to this man…... From Paul's
boldness, we can also understand that God gave him the gift of faith, to
believe God would heal the man right then and there…..That this lame man had
faith was made plain by his ready obedience to Paul's command to stand
up." (Bruce)
v10…. Stand up straight on your feet… And he leaped and walked……
Wow! He definitely had faith to be healed….. By the
way….. this man´s faith was not a requirement….. There are no formulas for
divine healing….. Divine healing is in God´s hands alone…..
You know what…. I think that Paul had listened
well when he heard the accounts of the miracles
of Jesus…. I can imagine that he knew well the time when Jesus healed a
paralyzed man in Matthew ch 9…. I would like to turn there for a minute…..
Matt…ch9…v2…
Matthew 9: 2-8
NKJV sch 2000
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When
Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your
sins are forgiven you.”
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man
blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil
in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or
to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your
bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God,
who had given such power to men.
Matthew 9: 2-8 NKJV sch 2000
2 Und siehe, da brachten sie einen Gelähmten
zu ihm, der auf einer Liegematte2 lag. Und als Jesus ihren Glauben sah, sprach
er zu dem Gelähmten: Sei getrost, mein Sohn, deine Sünden sind dir vergeben!
3 Und siehe, etliche der Schriftgelehrten
sprachen bei sich selbst: Dieser lästert!
4 Und da Jesus ihre Gedanken sah, sprach er:
Warum denkt ihr Böses in euren Herzen?
5 Was ist denn leichter, zu sagen: Deine
Sünden sind dir vergeben! oder zu sagen: Steh auf und geh umher?
6 Damit ihr aber wißt, daß der Sohn des
Menschen Vollmacht hat, auf Erden Sünden zu vergeben — sprach er zu dem
Gelähmten: Steh auf, nimm deine Liegematte und geh heim!
7 Und er stand auf und ging heim.
8 Als aber die Volksmenge das sah, verwunderte
sie sich und pries Gott, der solche Vollmacht den Menschen gegeben hatte.
We know nothing about this man´s faith from
these verses…. But Jesus forgave Him …. That´s the greater miracle….. Then to
prove His power and authority….. Jesus heals him completely….
This man in our text today also believed that
Jesus the Messiah and Savoir….. was not only able to save him but also to make
him completely well…. Back to Acts 14….
Acts14: 11- 13
NKJV
11 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!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because
he was the chief speaker. 13 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.
Acts14: 11- 13 sch 2000
11 Als aber die Volksmenge sah, was Paulus
getan hatte, erhoben sie ihre Stimme und sprachen auf lykaonisch: Die Götter
sind Menschen gleichgeworden und zu uns herabgekommen!
12 Und sie nannten den Barnabas Zeus, den
Paulus aber Hermes, weil er das Wort führte.
13 Und der Priester des Zeus, dessen Tempel
sich vor ihrer Stadt befand, brachte Stiere und Kränze an die Tore und wollte
samt dem Volk opfern.
v11….. The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men! The excited crowd in Lystra
declares Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods, visiting the earth….. These people
saw an awesome miracle happen before their eyes….. yet their idea of who God
is….. has not changed at all….. it seemed logical to them to consider Paul and
Barnabas gods…..
Notice that the miracle only attracted
attention….. The miracle itself saved no
one……
v12… Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was
the chief speaker…. In Greek mythology…. it was common for the "gods" to come
to earth in human form…. though they did not always do so for the good of man……
the wanted to sacrifice to them out of honor and respect….. They expected these
false gods to do something terrible if they were not worshipped…. They were
talking in the native language and not greek….. Paul and Barnabas did not know
what they were saying or why they were doing these things at first….
v13….
But when Paul and Barnabas saw the priest of Zeus, with oxen and garlands …
intending to sacrifice, they knew things had gotten out of hand!... acts 14….v
14…
Acts 14: 14-18 NKJV
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore
their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 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,
16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17
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.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the
multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Acts 14: 14-18 sch 2000
14 Als aber die Apostel Barnabas und Paulus
das hörten, zerrissen sie ihre Kleider, und sie eilten zu der Volksmenge,
riefen
15 und sprachen: Ihr Männer, was tut ihr da?
Auch wir sind Menschen, von gleicher Art wie ihr, und verkündigen euch das
Evangelium, daß ihr euch von diesen nichtigen [Götzen] bekehren sollt zu dem
lebendigen Gott, der den Himmel und die Erde gemacht hat, das Meer und alles,
was darin ist!
16 Er ließ in den vergangenen Generationen
alle Heiden ihre eigenen Wege gehen;
17 und doch hat er sich selbst nicht unbezeugt
gelassen; er hat uns Gutes getan, uns vom Himmel Regen und fruchtbare Zeiten
gegeben und unsere Herzen erfüllt mit Speise und Freude.
18 Obgleich sie dies sagten, konnten sie die
Menge kaum davon abbringen, ihnen zu opfern.
V14-18…. Paul and Barnabas run and tear their
clothes and cried out….. This was blasphemy…… They would not let the glory for
this healing come to them….. That was a great sin….. They cried stop this….. We
are only men…… Stop holding on to idols and worship the one true God…. They
preached the Gospel to them! It was all that they could do to stop the
madness…..
Paul says…. turn from these useless
things…..These were strong words from Paul to people who took their pagan
worship seriously…… but Paul wasn't afraid to confront this mob with the
truth…... And the truth was that their idolatry was wrong…... Paul is preaching
to a pagan audience…… and before he can tell them about Jesus and what He has
done…… he must turn the hearts of the people from these useless things to the
living God…… Jesus just can't be "added" to their pagan ways…….
Forget these idols…. Turn to the living God…. It is He who made
the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them….. Paul calls
the Lystrian crowd to turn from idols to the one true God…..
V17….
The things Paul mentions ….. He did good … gave us rain from heaven …
and fruitful seasons … filling our hearts with food and gladness) were just the
kind of things these people would think that Zeus would give them…... Paul is
letting them know these blessings come from the true God who lives in heaven……
not from Zeus…..
God's shows this kindness to all men (in giving
rain and fruitful crops) should be seen as a witness of His love and power…..
This is what theologians call common
grace…...
Back to Acts 14…v.19….
Acts 14: 19,20 NKJV sch 2000
19 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. 20 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.
19 Es kamen aber aus Antiochia und Ikonium
Juden herbei; die überredeten die Volksmenge und steinigten Paulus und
schleiften ihn vor die Stadt hinaus in der Meinung, er sei gestorben.
20 Doch als ihn die Jünger umringten, stand er
auf und ging in die Stadt. Und am folgenden Tag zog er mit Barnabas fort nach
Derbe.
v19… There was for a while calm
and it appears that the news that Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra made it to
his enemies in Antioch and Iconium….. the Jewish leaders who hated Jesus and
all of his followers pursued Paul and Barnabas…..
v20…. Stoned almost to death….can
you imagine the pain…. They thought that he was dead…… I´m sure he looked
dead….. so they dragged him out and threw him on the garbage dump to be eaten
by the dogs…..
Some of these persecuting Jews from Antioch and
Iconium would have traveled more than one hundred miles just to attack Paul and
try to shut him up….. Remember…. They had planned to kill Paul and when they
found out where he was…. They were filled again with hate and went after him…
v19b…. Having persuaded the multitudes…
They
incited the people of Lystra against Paul and Barnabas…. Think about this
these rocks are being thrown by some of
the the same people who wanted to worship them a short time before!....
How fickle the crowd is…… apparently…. their
admiration of the miracle…… and their desire to honor Paul and Barnabas as gods
was extremely short-lived……
It is such a dangerous thing for any spiritual
leader to cultivate or allow a kind of "hero-worship…..The same people who
honor you one day….. will feel terribly betrayed when you show yourself to be
only human after all…..
v20a…. However, when the disciples
gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city…..Paul was miraculously
preserved here……
Paul later refers to this stoning in 2
Corinthians 11:25……. When Paul later says I bear in my body the marks of Jesus
(Galatians 6:17)….. he may have had in mind the scars from this incident……
Paul must have thought of Stephen when he was
being stoned……and how he had been a part of Stephen's stoning (Acts 7:58-8:1).
v20b… He rose up and went into the
city….. When Paul was able to get up….
he did not flee the city that stoned him…… Instead he immediately went
back into it….. Why….? Where did he go? Maybe
he had already seen the hand of God on a certain young man….
In Acts 16:1, we learn of a young Christian in Lystra and his
mother - Timothy…… Perhaps Timothy saw all this
and was inspired to the high call of the gospel…… I think he saw Paul's courage
and power in ministry……
Paul had been driven out of Antioch and Iconium
by this traveling mob…..
v20 end….Then
on the next day he left for Derbe… Did he go into hiding? His enemies had proven that they will
continue to hunt him…… He was not afraid….v21…
Acts 14: 21,22 NKJV sch 2000
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many
disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 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.”
21 Und nachdem sie in
dieser Stadt das Evangelium verkündigt und eine schöne Zahl Jünger gewonnen
hatten, kehrten sie wieder nach Lystra und Ikonium und Antiochia zurück;
22 dabei stärkten sie die Seelen der Jünger
und ermahnten sie, unbeirrt im Glauben zu bleiben, und [sagten ihnen,] daß wir
durch viele Bedrängnisse in das Reich Gottes eingehen müssen.
v21… Paul leaves Lystra for the
city of Derbe….. where they find more evangelistic success…… They preached the
Good News of the Gospel and made many disciples….. many disciples… despite the
persecution they found in Lystra….. the work of God continued…… It just
continued in a different place….. Derbe….. Once again we see Divine guidance by
disaster and difficulties.... But Paul and Barnabas continue their
work….preaching the gospel and making disciples…..
then they went back to the places where they
had been….
On their way back to Antioch…. they passed through the cities they had
visited before…. to strengthen and encourage the Christians in those cities….
Paul and Barnabas wanted to do far more than
get conversions….. they had a passion to make disciples an equip leaders…...
How we Christians need strengthening in our
faith…. How we need to be exhorted to
continue in the faith…. It is no small thing to walk with the Lord, year after
year….. trial after trial…… It takes a strong and encouraged faith……
How did Paul and Barnabas strengthen and exhort
these disciples? By bringing a simple message….. born of Paul's personal
experience…. We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God…. Paul
could preach that message because he had lived that message!
Sadly….. for many Christians today…. this is a forgotten message….. They consider
any kind of tribulation completely counter-productive to Christian living……
most believers refuse to accept the significant place that suffering has in
God's plan for us……..
Close
Turn with me to 2 Timothy ch3....
2 Timothy 3: 10-17 NKJV Sch 2000
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner
of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions,
afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what
persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and
all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But
evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured
of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you
have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
2 Timothy 3: 10-17 NKJV Sch 2000
10 Du aber bist mir nachgefolgt in
der Lehre, in der Lebensführung, im Vorsatz6, im Glauben, in der Langmut, in
der Liebe, im standhaften Ausharren7,
11 in den Verfolgungen, in den
Leiden, wie sie mir in Antiochia, in Ikonium und Lystra widerfahren sind.
Solche Verfolgungen habe ich ertragen, und aus allen hat mich der Herr
gerettet!
12 Und alle, die gottesfürchtig
leben wollen in Christus Jesus, werden Verfolgung erleiden.
13 Böse Menschen aber und Betrüger
werden es immer schlimmer treiben, indem sie verführen und sich verführen
lassen.
14 Du aber bleibe in dem, was du
gelernt hast und was dir zur Gewißheit geworden ist, da du weißt, von wem du es
gelernt hast,
15 und weil du von Kindheit an die
heiligen Schriften kennst, welche die Kraft haben, dich weise zu machen zur
Errettung durch den Glauben, der in Christus Jesus ist.
16 Alle Schrift ist von Gott
eingegeben11 und nützlich zur Belehrung, zur Überführung, zur Zurechtweisung,
zur Erziehung in der Gerechtigkeit,
17 damit der Mensch Gottes ganz
zubereitet sei, zu jedem guten Werk völlig ausgerüstet.
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