A Study of Acts: Acceptance and Opposition
Acts 14:1-7 - Paul and Barnabas do their best to convert many in Iconium, despite opposition.
“In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they continued to preach the gospel.”
Acts 14:1-7 NASB1995
I used a photo at the top that is the King James Version of verse one of Acts 14, although my go-to translation is the NASB1995. The point is made, however. This first missionary journey (and often on the ones that followed) can be summarized by this strategy of evangelization and reactions (rinse and repeat):
Paul and his companions (in this case, Barnabas) go to the synagogue of the Jews first when they arrive in a town.
They preach the Gospel, bringing many to belief (both Jews and Gentiles, in this case the Gentiles are Greeks of the region).
The opposition from the enemy begins almost immediately, either through envy or disbelief or embitterment. The opposition is not tied to one specific person or group, although the Jewish communities own more than their fair share of the opposition.
The recipients of the Gospel are divided about the subject, although the preaching of the Gospel of Grace continues in earnest in an attempt to establish a congregation. Signs and wonders often accompany these attempts.
The missionary group is threatened with physical harm and they flee for another town.
So what do we know about this city of Iconium? Here is an excerpt from Precept Austin about Iconium:
Iconium was at the meeting place of several Roman roads and on the highway from east to west. Iconium was an agricultural center famous for its wheat fields and orchards of apricots and plums. Iconium's ideal location and climate helped establish its place as a major link in the trade routes between Syria, Ephesus, and Rome. And so it was an ideal center for missionary activity and church planting, as several great roads intersected one another here.
Although Iconium was a capital for the Lycaonian district (cf. Acts 14:6, 11), inscriptions indicate that the Phrygian language was also in use there. John Stott tells us, “It was still a Greek city when Paul and Barnabas visited it” (Message of Acts, 228). In Scripture we see Paul’s pattern was to proclaim the gospel to large, influential cities in a region and then working outward from there.
Here’s a different map of the area:
Enduring Word has good commentary about this passage:
Unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren: Luke made it clear that it was not all the Jews of Iconium who did this, because many believed (Acts 14:1). Yet some not only rejected the message, but stirred up others to reject the message and the messengers (against the brethren).
Therefore they stayed a long time: They stayed as long as they could, despite the opposition, leaving only when it was absolutely necessary. They did this because they knew that these Christians in Iconium needed all the grounding they could get to stand strong in a city with much opposition.
“It took a long time, however, for the opposition to become serious, and the missionaries continued to preach the gospel freely and boldly.” (F.F. Bruce)
Speaking boldly in the Lord: Despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach boldly, bearing witness to the word of His grace and touching others with the power of Jesus.
Granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands: “For no apostle could work a miracle by himself; nor was any sign or wonder wrought even by the greatest apostle, but by a special grant or dispensation of God. This power was not resident in them at all times.” (Adam Clarke)
Bearing witness to the word of His grace: The miraculous works done confirmed this message they preached – the word of His grace. That is the only word by which both Jews and Gentiles could be saved on an equal basis.
“The gospel is here called the message of his grace because divine grace is its subject matter.” (F.F. Bruce)
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: When forced to, Paul and Barnabas left Iconium for Lystra (some twenty miles away) and Derbe. Their perseverance under the difficulty in Iconium didn’t mean that it was time for them to become martyrs.
Acts 14:4 is the first time Paul and Barnabas are called apostles in the Book of Acts. The only other time the title is used for them in Acts is at 14:14. Paul often used the title of himself in his letters.
Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia: William Ramsay demonstrated that Lystra and Derbe were indeed together in the Roman province of Lycaonia, but only between A.D. 37 and 72, the exact period these events in Acts took place. This kind of accuracy persuaded Ramsay that the Biblical account was true, especially in an age when they were all thought to be fables and made-up stories.
A couple of takeaways from this commentary:
I found it particularly interesting that the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and embittered them (or poisoned their minds in some translations) against the brethren who believed. It’s like they were injected with a neurotoxic venom (a good analogy I found in some commentary). The most feared and lethal venomous snakes in the world (e.g., Cobra, Black Mamba, Coral Snake) are those with neurotoxic venom that affects the victim’s nervous system because it acts very quickly.
Guzik talks about a person named William Ramsay who was convinced of the Biblical account because of this accuracy. A little research found that this was likely a Sir William Ramsay who was a British archaeologist and became a New Testament scholar based on seeing the accuracy of Luke’s writing reflected in his personal knowledge of the region.
So this first part of Acts 14 ends similarly to Acts 13. Paul and Barnabas flee Iconium and now head to Lystra and Derbe. My next devotional examines Acts 14:8-18, a miracle occurs and the missionaries are thought to be gods.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Thank you for the persistence of apostles like Paul and Barnabas and for guiding them through these difficult days of the early church. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Precept Austin was accessed on 11/5/2024 to review commentary and maps for Acts 14:1-7.
Enduring Word commentary by David Guzik is used with written permission.