v1 In Iconium, the disciples spoke at the synagogue, and a great number of folks believed – Jews & Greeks.
v2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.
v3 The response? “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.”
1) They preached.
2) They were attacked by the spirit of unbelief from the religious.
3) They countered by hanging out for quite a while and not succumbing to fear.
4) They spoke boldly.
5) God supported them by doing miracles through them.
v4-6 This action divided the city. The result was violence. When this occurred and they became aware of it, they FLED to Lycaonia in the cities of Lystra and Derbe.
v7 And they were preaching the gospel there. They were not discouraged but kept on in the faith. They went back to where they began – preaching.
v8-10
The crippled man of Lystra is interesting. This guy was crippled from birth. There is significance in this. Hey had never walked – never went through the funny stages of learning to crawl and walk. There was no history for him in this area. This man heard Paul speaking. This is all that he did. He listened.
Paul, OBSERVING him intently and SEEING that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!”
Pauls looks at him and watches him closely, carefully. He studies the man’s spirit and sees a spirit of faith (Paul has discerning of spirits we see). This is all that Paul needs. The man has faith for healing, and Paul calls the word into the light. “Stand up straight on your feet!”.
v10 And he leaped and walked. There was no crawling, no stumbling. The guy LEAPS and then walks. Bless God.
v11-12 The response is that the crowd started calling Paul and Barnabas gods in the likeness of men. In fact, they named them Hermes and Zeus, respectively. They called Paul Hermes cause he was the chief speaker. Hermes means “herald of the gods”.
So, they missed it flat out. They see the miracles of God and attribute it to their false beliefs. We do that a lot even today.
Paul rebukes them.
v17 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.
My food is to do the will of my Father.
v18 And they could still scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
v19 Then the 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.
v20 HOWEVER, WHEN THE DISCIPLES GATHERED AROUND HIM, HE ROSE UP AND WENT INTO THE CITY.
Why is it that Paul comes to life after the disciples show up? Why not when the Jews stoned him?
v21 They preached the gospel back in Derbe and made many disciples and then returned tback to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch – the place of their threats.
Just because the opposition tries to kill you doesnt mean that you should run forever. You go back to face your accuser.
v22 “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”.
v23 They appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting. Then they commended them to the Lord. Key verse in developing church leadership and elders.
After this huge ordeal, they went back down to Antioch and hung out for a long time with the disciples. Mission accomplished.