Day 45 - Acts 14

This won't be a pleasant day for Paul and Barnabas. Let's just say that Paul will end up with tattered and bloody clothes! Not to mention how bloody the ground could've been if they wouldn't have stopped the people of Lystra from slaughtering all those animals!


What am I talking about? Let's find out!

Acts 14 (Read it here)

Again, for your frame of reference, check out this map see where Paul and Barnabas are on their journey while we read through Acts 14. Today we're catching back up with them in Iconium (modern day central Turkey).

Luke wastes no time in noting that Paul and Barnabas experience the same treatment in Iconium as they did previously in Antioch of Pisidia. They preached in the local synagogue, many believed and then some Jews told lies about Paul and Barnabas. (vs. 1-2) This didn't stop them from preaching and performing miracles. (v. 3) The Jews who were slandering Paul and Barnabas became so convincing that the town was divided as to who to believe. (v. 4)

In verse 5, a group of Gentiles and Jews come with their leaders to stone Paul and Barnabas. Their leaders would sound like a human authority figure such as a mentor, priest, governor or king but the Greek word arkousin is actually describes a supernatural power or force. So, it could be accurate to say that these Gentiles and Jews came with their gods. Of course, if their "god" was present it was because that wood or stone-carved "god" was being carried. Also, arkousin could be describing that these people were led by an evil spirit! Both are plausible.

No matter who or what their leaders were, the Paul and Barnabas escaped first to Lystra (15 miles south of Iconium) and then they continued on to Derbe (70 miles southeast of Lystra) later. They continued preaching. (v. 6)

While they were preaching one time in Lystra, Paul healed a man with crippled feet. (v. 10) Most other times the crowds would be in awe or end up believing in Jesus because of this miracle but in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas were immediately worshiped by the locals. (v. 11) They thought Barnabas was Zeus (the Greek god who was the father of all gods).  I find this interesting because most of the time Paul is the one who is quoted or is said to have performed a healing. Apparently Barnabas did and said much more than we get from the book of Acts.

Yet, since Paul was the chief speaker, the locals thought he was Hermes (son of Zeus and a messenger from the gods to humanity). This brings up even more questions for me. Was Barnabas evidently older than Paul? Did Barnabas instruct Paul with what to say? Was Barnabas ultimately the one in charge?  To the people of Lystra, the answers to all three of these questions seemed to be, "yes."

The temple of Zeus was just outside of Lystra, which gives us another clue as to why the people thought of Barnabas and Paul as Greek gods first. The priest of the temple of Zeus and the crowds brought animals out to offer sacrifices to the apostles. (v. 13)


The apostles responded by tearing their clothes. (v. 14)

You might ask, "why?"  I'm glad you asked.

There are two main reasons why a Jew (Christian or not) would outwardly tear their clothes:

• It was a sign of deep sorrow and mourning over someone who had died
• When something terrible happened, an indescribable horror usually relating to apparent sin (of their own or someone else's). For example, the high priest tore his clothes in when he heard Jesus claim he was the Son of God in Matthew 26:64-65.

Barnabas and Paul (like Peter had to do with Cornelius earlier) told them that they were merely human beings! In fact, the gospel they were sharing about Jesus was supposed to inspire them to turn away from false gods altogether! Zeus is said to have created thunder and all gods but God created everything, even the people who created Zeus! (v. 15)

In verses 16 and 17, we get a glimpse of God in the Old Testament who focused most of His attention on Israel. Many times Israelites were commanded not to mingle with or marry anyone from another race so that their gods wouldn't lead them astray.  BUT NOW, God wants to have a relationship with those people who worship false gods. It is no longer about hating those who are different but reaching them!

The people really didn't want to listen, though. They wanted to offer sacrifices; its all they knew. (v. 18)

Bad news.

The same Jews from Antioch and Iconium who were starting trouble for Paul and Barnabas joined forces and arrived in Lystra to stone Paul. (v. 19) I don't know why Barnabas wasn't stoned, too. I suppose they wanted to kill Paul since he was the 'messenger.'

Do you remember how gruesome the process of stoning was? (If you don't remember, you can refresh yourself here)

Luke says that the believers gathered around Paul (I understand this as circling around and praying for him, but I could be wrong) and that he simply got up. But get this, he didn't escape! He went back into the town where he was just stoned!! (v. 20)
 

After successful preaching in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas decided to return to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (I don't know if I would've gone back there after Paul's near death, but they did) to encourage the new believers. Paul was a perfect reminder of how the believers were to suffer hardships for their faith. (vs. 21-22)

At each city (Lystra, Iconium and Antioch) they appointed elders, or pastors, for each new church. (v. 23)

They made their 1,400 mile journey back to Antioch of Syria, where they had begun. (v. 26) Paul and Barnabas retold all the stories and, especially, about how many Gentiles had received the gospel and became believers. There were now churches in those cities! (v. 27) Of course, Paul had some cool scars to show off after his stoning, too.


Questions

1.) King Herod had died of scabies for accepting worship previously in Acts 12. Paul and Barnabas had to reject and correct the misdirected worship in Lystra from the followers of Zeus.  Do you ever find yourself taking too much credit? Do you openly give credit to God for the things, abilities, etc that you have? What's the danger if you don't credit God for those things?

2.) You now know the two main reasons why Jews would tear their clothing (horror or mourning).  What is the American equivalent of this kind of reaction? And what situation(s) would make you react with such horror or sorrow?

3.) Paul is stoned but goes directly back to the same city in which it just happened? Do you revisit places where you have had negative experiences? Do you avoid people who have treated you harshly? What can we learn from Paul's example here? He goes back twice and even encourages the believers there!