From Paul's First Missionary Journey, A. D. 46, to the Close of New Testament, A. D. 95. The Church of the Gentiles Did Not Close at A. D. 95, but Continued Her Growth and Mission Until the Present Time and Will Not Cease Until the Scripture Is Fulfilled. The Acts of the Apostles Gives Us a History of the Early Church for About Thirty-four Years. So the Time From Paul's First Missionary Journey, A. D. 46, to the Close of the Book, A. D. 64, Was Eighteen Years.

1. THE GREAT MISSIONARY CHURCH.

Acts 13:1-3.

(1) Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (2) And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them' (3) Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

This chapter opens the third part of the Missionary book of the church. The second great center established for Christian work now comes to the front.

Saul and Barnabas, on their return from Jerusalem, no doubt continued their missionary efforts here for a considerable time, until the aggressive work reported in this chapter. God was no longer the God of the Jews. The church at Antioch was at this time privileged in having in her midst many consecrated servants of God, who besides their evangelistic labors gave much time in companionship with God and in prayer. It was while they were thus engaged that the Holy Spirit spoke through some consecrated heart and said, " Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them/' It was while these five were ministering in the church and fasting. It may be that in this very attitude before the Lord they were trying to learn the mind of Christ about this matter of a wider evangelization.

From the teaching here we infer that Saul and Barnabas had received a special revelation for this special work, previous to the message received by the church, in which their work was more definitely unfolded. A special time was set apart for fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands on these two missionaries, setting them apart for the special work for which they had been called.

QUESTIONS.

• How long had Saul and Barnabas labored together, before being sent as a committee to Jerusalem?

• What was the condition of the church at said period of labor?

  Filled with missionary spirit, other persons had been taught and had become inspired teachers as associates of Saul and Barnabas.

• Name the five important characters in this paragraph.

• Who were the three associates, and would the church be safe in their hands?

  Nothing more is known than is here stated, but this is enough to show that the future instruction of the congregation might be safely entrusted to their hands.

• To whom did the Holy Spirit speak and when?

  The Holy Spirit spoke to these Bible teachers when they were worshiping the Lord by prayer and fasting.

• Give the address of the Holy Spirit on this occasion.

• When was the call given?

  Saul had received his call when he was converted, when he was told to be a chosen vessel and an Apostle to the Gentiles. But here we are informed that Barnabas, as well as Saul, had received a previous call to labor among the Gentiles.

• When and why lay on hands?

  The imposition of hands, accompanied by prayer and fasting 1, was in this place, as in that of the seven deacons, merely their formal separation to the special work to which they had been called. It was, however, also to aid the church in more fully knowing her obligations to those sent forth to work for the salvation of souls.

• Give meaning of " sent them away."

• The church was willing to release them from their duties to a home congregation, so they could do service for them in foreign fields.

2. JOURNEY AND LABOR IN CYPRUS.

Acts 13:4-12.

(4) So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (5) And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant. (6) And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer (Gr. Magus: as in Matt. 2:1,7,16), a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus; (7) who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. (8) But Elymas the sorcerer (Gr. Magus:as in Matt. 2:1,7,16) (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. (9) But Saul, who is also called Paul, rilled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, (10) and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? (11) And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for (or, until) a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (12) Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Luke tells us that the missionaries were sent forth by the same Person, the Holy Spirit who had called them. Thus they were expected to look to Him for guidance and not to men. The two missionaries, accompanied by John, went forth from the church of Antioch and came to Seleucia, a seaport at the mouth of Orontes. Seleucia was a fortified city, about sixteen miles from Antioch, but we have no account that they did any evangelistic work here, from the fact that this could be done by the home church. This was a seaport from which they sailed to the Island of Cyprus. The Isle of Cyprus, the former home of Barnabas, was the place to which they were guided by the Spirit. The nearest port was Salamis, a harbor on the east side of the island. Here was a large Jewish population, and Barnabas and Saul preached the Word in the synagogue. Here we receive the information that John was with them as a helper.

We have no record of any results at Salamis, nor as they make their journey across the island to Paphos, a town on the western shore. The missionaries up to this point had met with no opposition, but here Satan put himself in their way—a false prophet, a sorcerer, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas, who was a servant of the devil, and a perverter of truth. Sergius Paulus, the deputy of the country, an honest man, a seeker for the truth, sent for the two preachers that he might hear them expound the Word of God. Saul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on the man whose mission there was for Satan, in keeping the people in darkness. After a severe rebuke in setting forth his real self and mission, the Lord sent judgment upon Bar-Jesus, and the deputy was rescued from this enemy of righteousness. " Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." The judgment passed upon him immediately. He was now physically the same as he was spiritually—blind, and was in need of some one to lead him by the hand. He was spiritually blind. In his blindness he claimed to be a leader when he needed to be led. The miracle had the effect of satisfying the deputy of the truth of Christianity and he became a convert. He did not become a convert because of the sudden judgment that fell upon Elymas, but because of the doctrine of the Lord. For God's grace in the salvation of a sinner is more wonderful than all the judgments pronounced upon the unrighteous.

QUESTIONS.

• Who called and sent forth the missionaries into this new field?

• Mention the places the missionaries stopped in this paragraph. Where is Salamis and what did they do there? Why go to Cyprus?

  Cyprus lies about ninety miles southwest of Seleucia. The island is about sixty miles from north to south, and one hundred and fifty from east to west. This was the native place of Barnabas, and through his friends and acquaintances they would expect to have success.

• Who is referred to as their assistant?

  John Mark, author of the Gospel according to Mark, cousin to Barnabas, and son of Mary of Jerusalem. 12:12,25.

• Where is Paphos?

  It is on the western extremity of the island, about a hundred miles from Salamis.

• Who asked to hear Barnabas and Saul?

• Who used his influence against Saul?

  He not only pretended to foretell and was unable, but was false in character and aims, misleading men and teaching false doctrines for the sake of his own prophet.

• Give meaning of names of Saul and Paul.

  Saul was his Hebrew name, and hitherto, by his association with the Jews, he has been called by this name. Paul was his Gentile, or Roman name, and as he is now entering upon his Gentile work in the great Roman world it is natural that his Roman name should be used.

• When Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, what did he say to Elymas?

• Why call him " Son of the devil "?

  He had been adopted by his own choice. How was he punished?

  He was endeavoring to lead others into blindness and was himself blinded; "for a season" shows that this blindness was temporary.

• What was the real effect of the missionary labors at Paphos?

3. JOURNEY FROM PAPHOS TO ANTIOCH.

Acts 13:13-15.

(13) Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. (14) But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. (15) And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Paul, as the Apostle to the Gentiles, had a new experience in his dealings with Elymas. He showed himself possessed of power which he had not shown before. He was the chosen vessel and entered the place God appointed him to fill, and his name was changed to Paul. From this time forth he stood as the prominent figure in widening the borders of the missionary field.

The missionaries departed from Paphos and sailed to the coast of Asia Minor. Their first stopping place was Perga, a town of Pamphylia. As soon as Perga was reached, John, who was to be their helper, for some reason not stated, went back to Jerusalem. Luke does not even hint at this point that whatever reason he gave for leaving was unsatisfactory, which Paul shows (in 15:37-39) when about to go on his second missionary journey and Mark perhaps desired to go with them again, which brought about the controversy between Paul and Barnabas.

We have no account of any missionary labors here at Perga, and they departed from Perga and went to Antioch. This Antioch was situated in Pisidia. In Antioch they found a synagogue, and according to the custom they joined in worship on the Sabbath day. These two strangers must have attracted some notice of the rulers of the synagogue. After the lessons of the day, portions of the Law and Prophets were read, then was the time for exhortations based upon what had been read. They were invited to speak to the people. This was in harmony with their mission; no doubt they had introduced themselves as expositors of the Word and desired to address the people.

QUESTIONS.

• Describe their journey from Paphos to Antioch in Pisidia.

  They sailed from Paphos in a northwesterly direction to Pamphylia, a province of Asia Minor, and then visited Perga. From here they went to Antioch, in Pisidia, a distance of about one hundred and fifteen miles.

• Why did John leave them and what is later said in Scripture about it? 15:37-39.

• What did the missionaries do when they got to Antioch?

  They went into the synagogue and listened to the customary reading of a section of the Law and of the Prophets.

• Why invite the strangers to speak?

4. PAUL'S FIRST RECORDED SERMON.

Acts 13:16-41.

(1) Introduction.—Acts 13:16-22.

(Proof from History.)

(16) And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:(17) The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it. (13) And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness. (19) And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:(20) and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. (21) And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years. (22) And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, (1 Sam. 13:14; Psa. 89:20) I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who shall do all my will.

Paul, assuming his usual attitude, proceeded to deliver his address, in many points resembling that preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. His introduction showed clearly that he knew what he was about to say and felt confident of its importance—that the Jewish nation was developed from men who had been called by God, and now the people had been exalted by Himself while they were strangers in the land of Egypt and delivered by His own strong arm. He did not only choose them and deliver them, but after being with these people and by His long suffering watched over them for forty years in the wilderness, He gave them the land promised the fathers more than four centuries before. After this he gave them judges for a period of about four hundred and fifty years. The four hundred and fifty years can be counted not from the arrival in Canaan, but from the time of the destroying of the nations by Joshua, which was twenty-five years, and from that point would be four hundred and fifty years to the end of David's reign. During this entire period God was gradually giving them a fuller possession of land. It was after this partial breaking down of the seven national powers by Joshua, and at the close of Joshua's conquest he continued these conquests for a space of four hundred and fifty years. Then we have reference to the first king, who was appointed from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. When Saul was removed David was appointed king (1 Sam. 13:14). These words are not spoken concerning the whole life of David, because we know there were periods in David's life that were not after God's own heart.

QUESTIONS.

• Why beckon with his hands?

• To what class of people did he call special attention? Who was the Founder of the nation?

  God chose and exalted the people.

• What did He do for these people?

  (1) He delivered them from Egypt;

  (2) gave them a country;

  (3) provided judges;

  (4) at their request He gave them a king;

  (5) after removing Saul He raised up David, the man after His own heart.

• Give time of wandering; time of judges; time of Saul's reign.

(2) Jesus Preached as a Deliverer.—Acts 13:23-37.

(23) Of this man's seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Savior, Jesus; (24) when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (25) And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose. (26) Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth. (27) For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. (28) And though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain. (29) And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. (30) But God raised him from the dead:(31) and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people. (32) And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers, (33) that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, (Psa. 2:7) Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (34) And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, (Isa. 55:3) I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David. (35) Because he saith also in another psalm, (Psa. 16:10) Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption. (36) For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep (or, served his own generation by the counsel of God, fell asleep; or, served his own generation, fell asleep by the counsel of God), and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:(37) but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.

In accordance with the promises which He had so often made to David, God had as a crowning mercy of all raised up from David a Savior unto Israel, namely Jesus. This Jesus John preached, and asked Israel to repent that He might be their Savior. As John's ministry was drawing to a close, he especially emphasized the fact that he was not the Christ, that it was his mission to proclaim the One who was to come after him, and He was so exalted that as a forerunner he was not worthy to perform the menial service of untying His sandals. And if this was the case it could be no one but Christ Himself. The Apostles showed further to these Jews, who were descendants of Abraham, and dwelt at Jerusalem as rulers, that Jesus was the Christ whom they had rejected—the very Person who was foretold by prophecy. It was He whom they put to death. Even the Gentile Pilate would have released Him.

The Apostle now gave the crowning fact in an address to these Jews. The very Person whom they crucified God raised up, and made it possible that that fact could be stated by a number who were eye-witnesses of His being alive, and had seen Him since the resurrection. This same fact is further emphasized by Paul, by quoting Scripture, using the second and sixteenth Psalms, and conclusively shows that these passages could not apply to David, the writer of these Psalms.

QUESTIONS.

• When was this promise made? Vs. 23. Jesus was a Descendant from whom? What did John preach?

• Give meaning of " John fulfilled his course."

• What was the character of the Person to come after him?

• Paul's purpose in referring to Abraham and Scripture?

  He was speaking in a Jewish synagogue, to Jews and those who had joined with them, and conciliated them and warded off prejudice by referring to the early history of the Jews.

• What reason did Paul give for condemning Jesus?

• What was the testimony of the prophets? Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; 40:10-11; Jer. 23:5; 33:14-15; Ezek. 34:23; Mic. 5:2; Zech. 6:12; Mai. 3:1; 4:2.

• If they read scripture every Sabbath, why not understand them?

• What did they do when they had fulfilled all things? Who raised Him from the dead? For how many days was He seen and by whom? Paul sustains his position by quoting what Psalm?

  Second Psalm refers to the fact that God is the real Father of Jesus.

• Name three passages of Scripture, from the writings of the Prophets, to prove the resurrection.

  (1) Psa. 2:7 establishes the truth respecting the eternal generation of the Son and His office as the Savior of the world.

  (2) Isa. 55:3 declares that the promises of grace are inviolable and shall be fulfilled.

  (3) Psa. 16:10 distinctly sets forth that the Messiah shall not be subject to corruption.

(3) The Appeal.—Acts 13:38-41.

a. Encouragement.—Acts 13:38-39.

(38) Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins: (39) and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Paul, in his preaching, had not only stated the fact of the Messiahship of Jesus, but showed that it was the teaching in the Scriptures given during the age of Prophecy. All the great teachers pointed to Him as the Messiah, and through Him proclaimed the remission of sins. This was the teaching of John the Baptist. Jesus Himself made this the central theme, and Peter in all his preaching made the remission of sins depend on faith in the risen Savior. The Apostle makes a contrast between Moses and Christ and tells us that all who believe on Christ are justified, not from some things, but from all things. The law could not justify men. The use of the law was to make man know sin, and faith in Jesus Christ frees man from the power of sin.

QUESTIONS.

What was the great need of each human being? Who could receive the blessing referred to in vs. 38? How can a man be justified from all things? What does Paul say the Law could not do? What was the real mission of the Law?

b. Warning.—Acts 13:40-41.

(40) Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

(41) (Hab. 1:5) Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish (or, vanish away, Jas. 4:14); for I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

Many in the audience to which Paul preached no doubt showed signs of opposition, when he spoke disparagingly of the law and made his statement that every one who believed in Jesus was justified from all sin. The truth was contrary to their ideas and plans. Their traditional teaching was contrary to that which Paul preached. They looked for worldly splendor and power. They believed that God had meant salvation only for the Jews, and Paul offered it to any one who believed. The preacher warned the hearers against rejecting the good tidings which he had presented to them, and that if they did they would identify themselves with a class of people of whom the prophet Habakkuk speaks (1:5). By rejecting the truths presented, the judgment of God will visit you as well as it did your unbelieving fathers who were carried away by the heathen Chaldean nation. God sent prophets to your fathers as warnings, but they would not heed them, and now the same God speaks and no one can make you believe it any more than your fathers believed the prophets, or even as the truth was believed by the people to whom Noah preached. There is a judgment coming for all that believe not. The Gospel preacher, if true to his calling, gives the solemn warning that "he that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

QUESTIONS.

• Why did some of his hearers get angry?

• Why did he close with a warning, and what was it?

• Why do people not believe when the truth is fully presented?

• What judgment was visited upon unbelieving fathers? Hab. 1:5.

• Why do wise men not learn from the sad experience of others?

5. THE EFFECT OF THE SERMON.

Acts 13:42-43.

(42) And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath. (43) Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

The Apostle had made the offer of salvation to the Jews, and will they reject its gracious invitation? Paul's sermon had made a very good effect upon the congregation as a whole. The people who were interested spoke to the Apostles as they were going out, and gave the minister a pressing invitation to come again the next Sabbath. This was done just as the services closed. The people had pressed around the Apostles, which showed their deep interest in what had been preached. Many Jews and proselytes even followed Paul and Barnabas, keeping up an earnest conversation about the religious work in which they were engaged.

QUESTIONS.

• Who wanted them to return and why?

• What kind of a sermon did they want the next Sabbath?

• W T ho followed Paul and why?

• Give meaning of "continued in the grace of God."

6. THE SECOND SABBATH IN ANTIOCH.

Acts 13:44-52.

(44) And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. (45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed (or, railed). (46) And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles, (47) For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying:, (Isa. 49:6) I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth. (48) And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (49) And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region. (50) But the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders. (51) But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. (52) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The discourse had created great interest in Antioch. By the time for the second sermon the report of the new doctrine had spread throughout the whole city, and a great crowd gathered to hear the Gospel. This meeting must have been held in some open place about the synagogue, or the crowd could not have heard the message of the preacher. When the strangers, preachers, had such an influence over these people, the orthodox traditional Jews at once allowed Satan to take possession of them by pointing to these men as doing more than they could do, and that other men, even the Gentiles, were admitted unto the same high privileges as themselves. They denied and argued against the truth that Paul and Barnabas presented. They used abusive language and made false charges against the Apostles. This did not discourage Paul and Barnabas, but the Holy Spirit was present and gave them courage, and said that " it is really necessary that we should present the word of God first to you. Many in your nation have already rejected Jesus, and now we see that you also put Him away from you and pronounce judgment upon yourselves as being unworthy of eternal life. God did not shut them out of Heaven. They shut themselves out. They pronounced their own sentence. So every soul now, that does not receive Jesus Christ as his Savior, utters its own condemnation. Since you have refused, we turn to the Gentiles, ' for so hath the Lord commanded/ " They showed them what the Prophets of the Bible taught concerning this subject by quoting Isa. 49:6. The religion of the Jews was never intended for Jews alone, but for all the world. By refusing to give it to the Gentiles they lost it for a time themselves. This part of the sermon caused great joy among the Gentiles, many of whom believed, and the good news of salvation was preached throughout all that district. But this success of the revival among the Gentiles only deepened the hostilities of the Jews, who obtained some influence over the leading citizens, raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from the city. This persecution was not directed only against Paul and Barnabas, but against the whole body of believers. Paul and Barnabas, thus being expelled from the city, realized that in rejecting them and sending them forth with this stigma upon them, the Jews were in reality rejecting Him by whom they were sent. They remembered the command given by Christ as a solemn testimony against those who rejected Him (Matt. 10:14). They shook off the dust of their feet against them. These disciples were not full of anger, as one would suppose them to be, but were rilled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS.

• What effect had the first sermon in the synagogue at Antioch? Why were so many present on the second Sabbath? What was the part that caused the Jews to be jealous? Show the contrast between the feelings of the Jews and the Gentiles.

• Of what had the Jews judged themselves to be unworthy? What was the promise made in Isa. 49:6?

  That the mission of the Jewish nation was to accept Christ as their Savior and present Him as the Savior for the whole world.

• What was it that brought joy to the Gentiles?

• Where was the Word preached?

• Who were the devout and honorable women?

  Wives of the chief men of the city had come under the influence of the Jews by attending synagogue worship, and through these women they gained access to their unbelieving husbands, so as to induce them to expel Paul and Barnabas.

• Why shake off the dust? 51, cf. Matt. 10:14.

• How could the disciples be full of joy under such circumstances?

7. JOURNEYS AND LABORS IN ICONIUM.

Acts 14:1-7.

(1) And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. (2) But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. (3) Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (4) But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. (5) And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them, (6) they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:(7) and there they preached the gospel.

The Apostle Paul was well acquainted in Asia Minor, having spent his early years at his home in Tarsus. About three years after his conversion he made his headquarters in Cilicia, until he was invited by Barnabas to join him in the established work at Antioch. While we have no direct history concerning his work, yet we do not believe that a man like Paul could remain silent for those years and not tell the people in his community what he stood for. After they were expelled from Antioch, they made a journey of about seventy miles to Iconium, then the largest and most important city. They at once went to preaching the Gospel in the synagogue of the Jews. The preaching was attended with remarkable success, and the result of their revival effort was that many of the Greeks as well as the Jews accepted Christ. The Jews here, as well as in Antioch, could not stand the success which attended the Apostles' work, so the unbelieving Jews succeeded in prejudicing the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. Even after this strong opposition by the Jews and Gentiles, the Apostle was given power to speak boldly in the Lord, and this speaking boldly in the Lord, being testified to by the word of His grace, proved that the word preached was true, endorsed the preaching and mission of the Apostles. These signs were given as witness to the truth. It is absolute testimony that these Apostles were the messengers of God. The preaching of the Gospel had the same effect then as now. Those who accepted the truth became followers of Him whom Paul presented, and those who did not would be willing to join leaders who had no higher motive than the destruction of Truth, or Him who is Truth. The feeling became so bitter that it was their purpose to treat them shamefully or stone them. Before their resolutions could be carried out, the disciples became aware of it, and the Apostles hurriedly left the city and went to other towns—Lystra, Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel.

QUESTIONS.

• How far was Iconium from Antioch?

• When they arrived at Iconium where did they preach?

• What was the success of their first missionary efforts?

• Who was it that stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and why?

• What was Paul's success even during the time of this strong opposition?

• Why did Paul and Barnabas leave this missionary point so suddenly?

• Give full history of their work at Iconium.

• Where is Lystra?

  About twenty-five miles southwest from Iconium.

8. PREACHING AND HEALING IN LYSTRA.

Acts 14:8-18.

(1) A Miracle of Healing.—Acts 14:8-14.

(8) And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. (9) The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, (10) said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. (11) And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. (12) And they called Barnabas, Jupiter (Gr. Zeus); and Paul, Mercury (Gr. Hermes), because he was the chief speaker. (13) And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. (14) But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out.

Paul and Barnabas, having- been driven from Iconium by persecution, had come to Lystra and were preaching the Gospel when the miracle noted in this paragraph occurred. We have no particular account of the success that attended the labors of the Apostles in these two towns, in the making of many converts. That flourishing churches were founded here is evident from later history. The influence of preaching did not call attention to the Apostles as in the other cities, but here God draws men to Himself by giving His servants the power to heal.

This man was crippled from the time of his birth. Hearing Paul speak, and realizing the power of the message, he fastened his eyes upon him, and at once proved his faith in Him of whom Paul was speaking. Paul said, in a loud voice so that all could hear, " Stand upright on thy feet." The healing was instant, and the lame man leaped and walked about. The people, struck with what they considered to be Divine Power, manifested by the Apostles in the healing of this man, concluded that those who exercised such power must be themselves divine, and they said, " The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men." They at once gave names to the Apostles corresponding to their belief as to their relative position. Barnabas they gave the name of Jupiter, probably from his royal bearing, and probably he was an older man than Paul. Paul they called Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. This was the name given to the chief messenger and the god of eloquence. Not satisfied in giving them these high-sounding titles, during this excitement some had gone away to bring offerings which were in readiness for a sacrifice to Jupiter, accompanied with garlands of flowers with which to decorate the animals or to crown the Apostles, or to decorate their house. The Apostles made a very earnest protest; when the real purpose of these people was known to the Apostles they rushed from the house and rent their clothes in token of grief, and ran in among the people, turning them away from their idolatrous purpose.

QUESTIONS.

• What were the Apostles doing when the lame man presented himself to be healed?

• Who had healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate?

• Describe the two healings and show difference in faith in the healing of the two men.

• What effect had the miracle upon the people?

• Why think the Apostles gods?

• Meaning of names given them?

• What effect had this upon the Apostles?

(2) Paul's Sermon on God's Goodness.—Acts 14:15-18.

(15) And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions (or, nature) with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:(16) who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations (or, Gentiles; see ch. 4:25) to walk in their own ways. (17) And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness. (18) And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

The address of Paul here was admirably adapted to the people and the circumstances. After affirming that they themselves were not divine beings, the missionaries stated their object. It was their purpose to turn people's minds away from these vanities, dead idols, to the living God, the Great Creator of all things. While He was the Creator of all things, He had by His long-suffering allowed the nations for centuries to walk in their own way, yet, during all these centuries, He was constantly training one nation, while the others were left to experiment with the light given them from the law of nature, until His trained nation should bring them the Light intended for all nations. But God's goodness is shown to these nations in sending rains and fruitful seasons. The preachers' efforts to divert the minds of the people from themselves to the living God, with considerable difficulty succeeded in preventing them from proceeding with the sacrifice.

Paul and Barnabas scarcely gained their end with all their efforts in drawing the heathen people's minds away from having them look to Paul and Barnabas as objects of worship instead of God, the Creator.

QUESTIONS.

• Why did the missionaries not accept the praise?

  They were not sent out to get people to worship themselves, and so they showed to their visitors that they were only men like themselves and their purpose was to point them to Jesus as their Savior.

• What did the Apostles say about God as Creator?

• What did the people insist upon doing for the Apostles?

9. THE STONING OP PAUL.

Acts 14:19-20.

(19) But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (20) But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.

While Paul was making an effort to draw the people's minds to Jesus, in whose power the miracle was performed, the Jews were plotting against Paul, because they believed he was undermining their religion. The Jews are uniting their efforts, as we have Jews coming from Antioch and Iconium, who were made bitter against Paul, and show how Paul was driven out by them from Antioch and by persecution driven out of Iconium, and after they present their case to these idolaters they unite with the Jews against the man who had just preached against their idols.

Surely, Israel judged itself unworthy of eternal life. Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city, and believed to be dead. After the mob had dispersed, the disciples stood round about Paul and were surely glad to see their great teacher gain consciousness and rise to his feet. While Paul suffered, yet his life was spared from the fury of the mob. He returned to the city, showed himself alive to the disciples, and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe, a distance of about twenty miles.

QUESTIONS.

• Who caused this trouble?

  The Jews in Antioch and Iconium stirred up the people by urging that Paul was an impostor and that all the honorable women and the chief men of Antioch and Iconium had united in driving him away from these cities.

• Who stoned Paul?

  The mode of punishment, as in the case of Stephen, showed that it was planned and executed by Jews.

• Why say "drew him out of the city"?

  In this heathen city there was no scruple that prevented stoning in the city as in Palestine.

• Why return to the city?

  It was necessary to show the discouraged heathen converts that Paul was still alive.

10. MISSIONARIES RETURN HOME.

Acts 14:21-28.

(1) Revisiting the Churches.—Acts 14:21-25.

(21) And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, (22) confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. (23) And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. (24) And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. (25) And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

We are now at the last city in which the Apostles did missionary work on the first missionary journey. At this place the historian gives us no account of any opposition, and they established a church here by preaching the Gospel before leaving. They were about to leave and visit the churches on their way home. Before leaving this church, they wisely left the work in the hands of persons who would look after the welfare of the church. From every one of the cities that they were to visit they had departed suddenly, and before the churches could really be established in the faith satisfactorily to the persons who had planted them. It required no little courage to return to the places where they had been stoned and driven out.

They considered that their business was not complete when souls were converted. These souls were to be trained by teaching the Word, thus establishing them by proper training. Elders were elected and solemnly set apart, by prayer and fasting, to their sacred office. On their return, the Apostles did some preaching at Perga, but we have no information as to results.

QUESTIONS.

• Locate Derbe, and what did the Apostles at this place?

• What was the purpose of visiting the churches?

• What is the tribulation referred to in v. 22?

  Great persecution and martyrdom had to pass before the triumph of Christianity.

• Why ordain elders?

  The Apostles realized that teachers were needed, even among believers, and therefore furnished their new congregation with elders.

• Give the location of the two Antiochs in which Paul preached.

(2) Journey to Antioch.—Acts 14:26-28.

(26) And thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. (27) And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. (28) And they tarried no little time with the disciples.

After preaching at Perga, the Apostles went down to Attalia and took ship and sailed for home. On their arrival home, having been absent from the church about four years, they gave a full account to the church that sent them forth on this missionary labor, of all that God had done with them—that through Him the door of Faith was Divinely opened to the Gentiles. Luke does not give us any statement as to how the church received this report, as this does not concern him, because a church, sending forth in the Spirit as this one did, could not help but receive with great joy the report of the consecrated workers who had been sent forth by them under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS.

• What report does Luke make of the work on the first and second visits to Perga?

• From what place did they sail?

• What report did they make to the home church?

• Were they glad to include their suffering in their report?

• In their report to the church what part of the work do they assign to God?

• What about opening the door to the Gentiles?