SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Iconium – Division (vs 1-7).
• the apostles experienced conversions (vs 1):
• the apostles experienced opposition (vs 2)
• the apostles experienced supernatural signs (vs 3):
• the apostles experienced God’s guidance (vs 5-6):
(2). Lystra – Delusion (vs 8-20).
• a healing of a crippled man (vs 8-10).
• a mistake by the people (vs 11-13).
• an opportunity for the apostles (vs 14-16):
• a time to move on (vs 20).
(3). Antioch in Syria – Declaration (vs 21-28)
• they strengthened the new Christians (vs 22a):
• they encouraged them to persevere realistically (vs 22):
• they organised the Church (vs 23a):
• they entrusted them to the Lord (vs 23b):
• they gave an exciting report (vs 27).
SERMON BODY:
Quote:
“English a language that lurks in dark alleys, beats up other languages and riffles through their pockets for spare vocabulary.!
• That quote is surprisingly very accurate, of 80,000 English words,
• Roughly 28% originate from Latin,
• 28% from French, and 25% from Germanic languages.
Ill:
• From French we borrowed the words,
• Ballet, Café, Entrepreneur, Genre, Lingerie, Rendezvous,
• Two other common words that we use often and take for granted as being English,
• Actually, they originated from French words.
• They are, the word “Village” derived from a French word that refers to a group of buildings.
• The word “City” is also derived from a French word that means citizenry.
• TRANSITION:
• When you read the book of Acts, don’t think villages, but cities.
• The church in the Book of Acts was almost entirely urban.
Quote Historian Wayne A. Meeks writes,
“Within a decade of the crucifixion of Jesus, the village culture of Palestine had been left behind, and the Greco-Roman city became the dominant environment of the Christian movement”.
The church began in the city of Jerusalem, and then spread to other cities,
• Including Samaria, Damascus, Caesarea, and Antioch in Syria.
• At least forty different cities are named in the book of Acts.
Ill:
• In fact, in Acts chapters 13 and 14:
• Dr Luke describes Paul’s ministry in six different cities,
• (Beginning and ending in Antioch).
• (1). Antioch in Syria (Chapter 13 verses 1-5).
• (2). Paphos (Chapter 13 verses 6-12).
• (3). Perga (Chapter 13 verse13).
• (4). Antioch in Pisidia (Chapter 13 verses 14-52).
• (5). Iconium (Chapter 14 verse 1-7).
• (6). Lystra (Chapter 14 verses 8-20).
• (7). Antioch in Syria (Chapter 14 verse 26).
Note:
• We forget that Paul & Barnabas are first-time missionaries,
• In many ways they are two novices!
• They have never been in this situation before, and so they are still finding their feet.
• True, they were apostles, men of God.
• But they like us had to live out their faith in changing circumstances,
• Some good sometimes difficult and hard.
Ill.
• The apostles would have to learn.
• That it is through success & failure, through joy & sorrow,
• And not around it or over it,
• And it is situations like the ones recorded in these chapters,
• That give substance to and make real the teaching of Paul in his letters.
• The New Testament letters of Paul are born out of experience,
• They are not just good theory inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• We would say today, he’s been there and bought the T-Shirt!
• So, having endured opposition and difficult times the apostle Paul could write.
• The advice he gives concerning trusting God and depending on him,
• Come from firsthand practical experience.
• His writings were not penned in a cozy office,
• But at times a prison cell, or when life’s circumstances had been really tough.
Quote Philippians chapter 4 verses 11b-13:
“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how-to live-in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”.
In the following passage Paul models what he learned:
• Demonstrating the stability needed during life’s ups and downs.
• He shows us how we, too, can follow Christ . . . through it all.
Ill:
• Alistair Begg (Pastor, author & radio Bible teacher),
• Says that when he is confronted with a difficult passage of scripture,
• He says, “the main thing is the plain thing, and the plain thing is the main thing”
• TRANSITION: I like that, that is good advice.
• And this week and next week with so many verses to look at and so much in them,
• I am going to adapt Alistair’s advice and focus on one, “main thing.”
• So, we have three cities in chapter 14,
• They all have at least four good points we could look at,
• I will tell you the four points and then focus in on “main thing.”
(1). Iconium – Division (vs 1-7).
“At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.”
Wherever the gospel is preached there are always to contrasting reactions.
• Some people accept the message and believe, and there is great joy.
• Some people will reject the message and instead you find division and disturbance.
• We find both of those reactions in these verses.
• We saw that last week in chapter 13 at Antioch,
• And we see it again here in this chapter at Iconium.
• e.g., Initial interest and response (14:1 & 13:44).
• e.g., Angry stirrers of trouble (14:2 & 13:50).
• e.g., Persecution and leaving (14:5 & 13:50).
Ill:
• Iconium is in modern day Turkey,
• Today it is called Konya and it is the 4th largest town in Turkey,
• Iconium, had become a Roman colony under Hadrian,
• But it was in every sense a Greek city in flavour and tone.
• And it was a center of agriculture and commerce.
• Iconium had become an independent city.
• And it was governed by its assembly of citizens.
• It was a wealthy town located in a well-watered,
• Fertile region along the Roman road called the Via Sebaste.
FOUR THINGS WE COULD FOCUS ON AT ICONIUM.
• the apostles experienced conversions (vs 1):
• the apostles experienced opposition (vs 2)
• the apostles experienced supernatural signs (vs 3):
• the apostles experienced God’s guidance (vs 5-6):
Adapting Alistair Begg’s advice, I am going to focus on one, “main thing.”
• The main thing in this city was division.
• The city was spilt some believed both Jews & Greeks,
• And others not only rejected the message, but they opposed it (vs 2).
“But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.”.
Quote: English evangelist Doug Barnett described evangelism as,
“Preaching treason in the devils kingdom!”
• If we are in a spiritual battle for the souls of men and women.
• If we are in a battle, a war, then expect opposition and casualties!
Ill:
• Founder of the Salvation Army
• Not the founder of a Salvation Friendship Club.
• William Booth was a man of action rather than religion,
• Offering the message of God's healing and hope to all those in need.
• William Booth discarded the traditional church pulpit concept,
• And he began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in London,
• He took to the streets to care for and feed the poor, hungry, and homeless.
• He founded the 'Salvation Army,'
• A global humanitarian charity to provide material aid and spiritual Salvation.
But the Salvation Army was birthed in persecution:
• Outbreaks of violence against the Salvationists was common,
• Local authorities and magistrates quietly sanctioned,
• And even openly supported violence against Salvationists.
• Riots occurred at Sheffield, Exeter and Worthing.
• One officer, Captain Susannah Beatty, became the first Salvation Army martyr,
• Killed on duty aged just 39.
• Some of the most scathing opposition came just down the coast at Eastbourne in Sussex.
• Local authorities received complaints that The Salvation Army’s meetings,
• Would be detrimental to ‘the comfort of visitors.’
• Salvationists began to be repeatedly charged with public order offences.
• When large groups arrived in Eastbourne to support the imprisoned Salvationists,
• They were attacked by large mobs.
• Violence against Salvationists became common,
• And the authorities refused to prosecute those responsible for it.
• It would take Parliament to intervene and in 1892,
• Laws were passed to give a legal basis to their open-air meetings.
• And to help stop the violence against them.
Quote: William Booth.
" We are sent to make war and to stop short of nothing but the subjugation of the world to the sway of the Lord Jesus."
Opposition to the gospel is nothing new.
• We saw the video by Open Doors - World Watch List 2022:
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/SCLR1ZN_vMY
• It is happening today all around the world,
• 1 in 7 Christians globally face persecution for their faith.
• It has happened in the past in this country,
• And expect more in the years ahead,
• As our Christian heritage is eroded away at an incredible rate.
• It happened at the beginning of Church history,
• As we see in these verses and the book of Acts.
• The first 300 years of Christian history is one of hostility and tyranny.
Note:
• Paul and Barnabas found themselves in a very dangerous situation.
• Iconium was an especially unsafe place because it was an independent unit.
• It was Turkish in geography but Greek in every other sense.
• Iconium was unique in its government,
• It was governed by its assembly of citizens.
• This assembly had the power to condemn and execute the Christian missionaries,
• Without Rome’s involvement.
• So, Paul could not appeal to their Roman citizenship for protection,
• (As he did in other places - Acts 16:37-38, Acts 22:25-28)
• Because their enemies had a trump card.
• Yet the missionaries did not despair & go into hiding,
• Rather the work carried on, they may well have stayed there for several months.
• But a plot to kill them was discovered and they decided to move on (vs 5-6),
“There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,”.
• Notice this is a case of common-sense guidance:
• Quote: “trouble with common sense is it is not so common!”
• Paul and Barnabas had to make a quick decision,
• Face the possibility of being illtreated and a possible stoned.
• Or flee to safety.
• I think they chose wisely!
• They used common sense and fled.
• Question:
• Did the missionaries lack faith because they escaped when their lives were threatened?
• Answer:
• No, their actions demonstrated the use of common sense in determining God’s will.
• Since God had provided them a way of escape, to stay would have been foolish.
Ill:
• Matthew chapter10 verse 23:
• “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another”.
• ill: “Trust in God but tie up your camel”.
• ill: “You trust God, but you all locked your car & locked up your house.”
• When it comes to guidance:
• Too many Christians are too spiritual.
• We may face danger, but we do not have to actively search it out!
• Key to guidance following the Shepherd each day,
• Keep your eyes on him and he will guide you through common sense or another way.
So, the missionaries leave that area and enter another Roman district.
• Dr Luke records nothing about Derby,
• But records the events at Lystra.
(2). Lystra – Delusion (vs 8-20).
• Lystra was 18 miles southwest of Iconium,
• In the Roman province of Galatia.
FOUR THINGS WE COULD FOCUS ON AT LYSTRA.
• a healing of a crippled man (vs 8-10).
• a miscalculation by the people (vs 11-13).
• an opportunity for the apostles (vs 14-16):
• a time to move on (vs 20).
Again, adapting Alistair Begg’s advice, I am going to focus on one, “main thing.”
• The main thing in this city was delusion.
• The people see a miracle and think the gods have come down among them.
Lystra, is a very different place to Iconium.
• Among other things, there were not enough Jews to establish a synagogue,
• So, the missionaries preached on the streets to anyone who would listen.
One man who listened was a crippled beggar (vs 8-10).
• Dr Luke records the fact “he was lame from birth”.
• This is important because if the man’s lameness had been caused by disease or accident,
• The cure could have been attributed to a sudden change in his health.
• But those words “Lame from birth”,
• Emphasis the fact this cure was miraculous,
• His healing could only be a supernatural event.
• The lame man overhears Paul preaching about Jesus,
• And Paul’s words had an effect on him.
• Note the words in verse 9: “Saw that he had faith”.
• Once again God chose to authenticate their preaching with a healing.
And once the miracle takes place the delusion sets in.
“When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.2
• Now this might seem an overreaction by the people of this city.
• But we need to understand their own mythology.
• The people link this event to one of their legends,
• Their superstition caused them to assume that Paul and Barnabas were gods.
• After all, only the gods can do the miraculous!
A bit of background might help our understanding:
Ill #1:
• 50 years earlier, the Latin poet Ovid.
• (Publius Ovidius Naso) born in Sulmo, Italy in 43BC.
• Had narrated in his Metamorphoses (a narrative poem in 15 books),
• An ancient local legend.
• To summarize the relevant bit,
• The Greek gods Zeus and Hermes had come to this earth in disguise.
• No one in all the land would give them hospitality,
• Except for two old peasants called Philemon and his wife Baucis.
• As a result of this incident,
• The whole population was wiped out by the gods except Philemon and Baucis.
• They were rewarded and made the guardians of a splendid temple,
• And when they died, they were also turned into two great trees.
• So, when Paul and Barnabas suddenly appear and perform a miracle,
• By healing the crippled man.
• The people of Lystra were determined not to make the same mistake as their forefathers.
Ill #2:
• There are also archeological evidence clay tablets etc.
• Which informs us that these people were worshipping Hermes & Zeus on a regular basis.
• Verse 13: Informs us they had a priest who made regular sacrifices to these false gods.
• We use the expression that a certain person, “is an accident waiting to happen,”
• The people of this city were a people, “waiting for the appearance of their gods”.
• TRANSITION:
• We know that was not going to happen, because their belief was based on mythology.
• But it left them vulnerable to superstition, a clever deceiver or circumstances.
• For them circumstances brought Paul and Barnabas into their city,
• And they misunderstand the events that took place.
• Now because Paul was the speaker the crowd took him for Hermes,
• And Barnabas was taken to be Zeus.
Note:
• When Paul & Barnabas realize what is going on,
• They turn the situation into an opportunity to preach the gospel (vs 14-16).
• The missionaries will not be put on a pedestal,
• So, they ran among the people tearing their clothes,
• This was a Jewish way of showing remorse and distress.
• Trying to draw their attention away from himself and into his message,
Notice Paul’s approach to sharing Christ:
• Dr Luke gives us a very brief abstract of Paul’s sermon.
• Notice: When Paul preached to Jews, he used the Old Testament scriptures.
• To support his argument and reasoning.
• But these people had no Jewish heritage,
• No knowledge that he could draw on,
• So, he started with nature, the natural world around them.
• He started with the here and now, to get to the three and then.
Notice Paul tells them five key truths:
(a).
• There are not many gods but one true God.
• He is the living God, not a myth or a statue, but the creator if heaven & earth.
(b).
• In the past “he let all nations go their own way”
• For the time being people might rebel against him and do what they want.
(c).
• Yet, he has never at any time or in any place “left himself without testimony.”
• But people are without excuse, because God has made himself known.
(d).
• Despite mankind’s rebellion, God has still been kind to them.
• “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons”.
(e).
• He provided for your bodies and your hearts.
• “He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
• In other words:
• God blesses all people in spite of their sin.
In Verse 19 just as they are getting to the heart of their message:
• Certain Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium,
• And they cause trouble, and we are talking big trouble!
• Suddenly from being worshipped as gods,
• The missionaries are being jeered and attacked.
• Because if they are not Gods, then they must be imposters!
• Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city and left to die (vs 20).
• Game over!
• Well not quite, I love verse 20b:
• “He got up and went back into the city.”
Ill:
• Hatun Tash the polemist/evangelist at Speakers Corner was stabbed in 2021.
• I was there and saw it.
• I also saw her back in the very same spot seven days later!
• You can read the story or see the incident on YouTube.
• YouTube video: https://youtu.be/pv6DOPwoQKc
• Newspaper web article: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/an-interview-with-hatun-tash-the-christian-preacher-stabbed-at-speakers-corner
• TRANSITION: For Hatun and the apostle Paul,
• This was an incredible thing to do:
• And would surely cause people to think,
• And ask themselves the questions,
• Who is this man? What did we do to him?
• Where did he get the courage from to act in this way?
• Were we mistaken in how we mistreated him?
Paul and Barnabas then decide it is time to move on (vs 20-21a)
• “The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.”
• We are not told very much about what happened in Derbe,
• From Derbe, Paul and Barnabas backtracked through Asia Minor,
• The next city is…
(3). Antioch in Syria – Declaration (vs 21-28)
• We are concluding Paul's first missionary journey (46-48 A.D.),
• The missionaries are on their way back to Antioch where it all began.
• A lot has happened in the two years that this missionary journey took.
FOUR THINGS WE COULD FOCUS ON AT ANTIOCH.
• they strengthened the new Christians (vs 22a):
• they encouraged them to persevere realistically (vs 22):
• they organised the Church (vs 23a):
• they entrusted them to the Lord (vs 23b):
• they gave an exciting report (vs 27).
Again, adapting Alistair Begg’s advice, I am going to focus on one, “main thing.”
• The main thing in this city was declaration.
• They declared, they spoke out, they taught the Word of God.
• The thrust of the missionary journey was evangelism.
• Helping people come to faith in Christ!
• On their return the thrust is discipleship,
• They want to strengthen the new Churches that have been formed.
It was not easy for the missionaries to retrace their trail of blood and heartache,
• Did they do this openly or secretly, we don’t know,
• But they return via Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch.
• In these verses we see their five-fold plan to build up the Churches,
• Principles that still apply for us today.
FIRST: They Strengthened the new Christians (vs 22a):
“Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.”
• This Greek word translated into English as ‘Strengthening’,
• Is a word rarely used in the New Testament,
• It has been defined as "to make more firm, to give additional strength"
• We might say "to beef up"- to add strength to what is already present.
• These new Christians had very little food for their nourishment,
• So, the missionaries are going to give them a full-course meal,
• They intend to put some meat on their spiritual bones.
• So, Paul and Barnabas devote themselves to teaching them.
• The Christian faith is a taught faith.
• In the New Testament we ‘build up’ when we are taught the ‘Word of God’.
SECOND: They Encouraged Them to Persevere Realistically (vs 22):
“Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, they said.”
• The missionaries did not paint a rosy, trouble-free future,
• Come to Jesus and he will solve all your problems!
• In fact, the opposite, Paul & Barnabas had faced persecution,
• And these new Christians should expect it as well.
Quote:
• “Christ calls men to carry a cross.
• We call them to have fun in his name.
• He calls them to forsake the world.
• We assure them that if they but accept Jesus the world is their oyster.
• He calls them to suffer.
• We call them to enjoy all the comforts that modern civilisation affords.
• He calls them to self-denial and death.
• We call them to receive their promised blessings.
• He calls them to a life of holiness.
• We call them to a life of possible choices.”
• TRANSITON:
• Paul & Barnabas are preparing the believers for battle.
• They warn them that troubles will come,
THIRD: They Organised the Church (vs 23a):
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church”
Ill:
• Stuart Briscoe tells the true story.
• One of his young colleagues was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran.
• “The dead man’s military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home,
• So, they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket,
• Stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance,
• And then lead them out through the side door.
• This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred.
• When he picked the wrong door.
• The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet,
• In full view of the mourners and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion”.
• He goes on to say:
• This true story illustrates a cardinal rule or two.
• “First, if you’re going to lead,
• Make sure you know where you’re going.
• Second, if you’re going to follow,
• Make sure that you are following someone who knows what he is doing!”
• TRANSITION:
• It is worth pointing out, that this is the first time in the book of Acts.
• We find Church leaders appointed.
• The word translated ‘Elders’ (Greek: ‘Presbuteros’,)
• Has in some versions has been translated as ‘bishop’ or ‘overseers’-the office was the same.
• The word is used sixty-six times in the New Testament.
• ‘Elder’ is the title and ‘Overseeing’ is the function.
We do not know how ‘elderly’ these ‘Elders’ were.
• But we do know that they had not been Christians very long.
• The name of course is not referring to the advancement of years,
• But rather that the person chosen was spiritually mature.
• Some in the Church had grown up enough to take on this responsibility.
FOURTH: They Entrusted Them to the Lord (vs 23b):
• We've seen Paul and Barnabas teach, encourage, and organize these young believers.
• Next, they entrust them to God's care:
“With prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”
• Having done all that was possible for their converts,
• Paul and Barnabas commend them to the Lord.
• After all their faith was not resting on Paul and Barnabas.
• But on the Lord in whom they had trusted.
Ill:
• The Greek word translated as ‘Committed’ or ‘Commend’.
• Means "to deposit as in a bank."
• Paul and Barnabas were aware that God is big enough to look after his people.
• The Church belongs to him, not them!
• And if we do our part; “going….and making disciples”.
• We can be confident that God will do his part!
MP3 AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=ObHpZ94Afp2PChc34zzYMxGjpf2csgBU
YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/mVS9QCtqKwo
