Sunday, December 26, 2021
Acts 14:1-7
“Poisoned Perceptions”
Service Overview: Just because God is clearly moving doesn’t mean people will just get up and tag along. In fact, many movements of God throughout history have had their antagonists. Jealousy clouds judgment, and in the case of the early church, the success of it was heavily scrutinized by the Jewish religious leaders to the point where they sought to persecute the early church.
Memory Verse for the Week: “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)
Background Information:
- Pressing on into the district of Lycaonia, Paul and Barnabas came to the city of Iconium. Filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, they repeated the pattern of Antioch, going first to the synagogue and making a forceful presentation of the Gospel, and then dealing with the strange mixture of tremendous acceptance and terrible rejection. They did not allow the latter to diminish their efforts to work tirelessly with the first. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 220).
- Acts 14 contains a repetition of what became each ministry’s pattern. We have already seen this pattern worked out at Antioch. Now we see it in each of these three cities of Galatia. First the apostles preached, then as a result there was division, persecution, and growth. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 251)
- Chased out of Antioch of Pisidia (13:50), Paul and Barnabas journeyed southeast to the region of Galatia, stopping first in the city of Iconium. Again the missionaries went straight to the synagogues, where they preached the gospel with great power and saw many believe in Christ. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 233)
- The reference to miraculous signs and wonders was further confirmation of God’s endorsement of this ministry (cf. 2:43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 8:6, 13; 15:12). Later Paul referred to these miracles to validate the reality of the gospel among the Galatians (Gal. 3:5). (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, 391)
- Lystra is also noteworthy as the home of Timothy. Although not mentioned here, he was likely converted, along with his mother, on this visit. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 155)
- What was proposed in Iconium was nothing other than a lynching. The further Paul and Barnabas went the further they moved from civilization. In the more civilized cities their lives at least were safe because Rome kept order; but out in the wilds Paul and Barnabas were ever under the threat of mob violence from the excitable Phrygian crowds stirred up by the Jews. These two were brave men; and it always takes courage to be a Christian. (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 108)
- Fortunately, the missionaries were not forced to leave the area immediately; they spent considerable time there (14:3). As at Antioch, this gave opportunity both for further evangelism and for discipleship among the new believers. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition, Location, 2841)
The question to be answered is…
Knowing what we do about the apostles, why in the world would we see them fleeing from trouble in Iconium?
Answer…
Their flight was not out of fear, but out of a greater sense of purpose and mission in gifting the world with the truth and hope of the gospel.
The word of the day is… Gift
What gifts can we unwrap from today’s text?
- The gift of effectively-declared truth.
(v.1 | John 1:14; 8:32; 16:13; 17:17; Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 3:18)
They preached “the word,” not their own ideas. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 155)
The gospel is not a bland or innocuous message. It affects hearts and minds like a ton of bricks falling from on high. It makes people sit up and take notice. Above all, it divides people into two camps: those who believe and those who reject Jesus. That’s what happened at the synagogue in Iconium. When Paul and Barnabas declared the gospel of Jesus Christ, some believed, and some became enraged. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 187)
- The gift of boldness.
(v. 3 | Prov. 28:1; Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 2 Cor. 3:12; Eph. 3:12; 6:19; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Heb. 13:6)
Notice that, in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas do not face the same open opposition they encounter in Pisidian Antioch. Here, they are attacked by a subtle whispering campaign. Lies are spread behind their backs, and it’s hard to defend against such lies. Even so, Luke tells us, “Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord.” Though their reputations were smeared, they were not driven out of the city. They were able to continue ministering in spite of the opposition they faced. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 188)
- The gift of miraculous validation.
(v. 3 | Acts 2:22, 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:5; Heb. 2:4)
In Acts, signs and wonders are key to revealing the work of salvation in Christ and to proclaiming the gospel. They authenticated the apostles’ authority and the authority of those associated with them (Barnabas in 14:2-3; Stephen in 6:8; Philip in 8:5-6). (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 234)
The preaching was attended by miraculous signs, of a kind which confirmed its truth in the minds of the people. (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 293)
Faith is not based on miracles (Luke 16:27–31; John 2:23–25), but faith can be bolstered by miracles. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 366)
- The gift of persecution.
(v. 5 | Mat. 5:10-12; Luke 6:22; John 15:18; 2 Cor. 12:10; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:14; 4:12-14)
The apostles became aware of the plot, however, and fled. This was not because they were afraid, but because the local assembly was well established and there were other places that needed their ministry. (Horton, Acts, Location 5679)
Conclusion…How can a text like this serve as a gift in growing our faith?
A. By developing boldness in us for Christ regardless of public perception.
(Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:9; 2 Cor. 3:12; Eph. 3:12; 2 Phil. 1:14; Timothy 1:6-7; Hebrews 13:6)
We may wish we could perform a miraculous act that would convince everyone once and for all that Jesus is the Lord. But we see here that even if we could perform miracles, it wouldn’t convince everyone. God gave Paul and Barnabas power to do great wonders to confirm that their message was true, but people were still divided. Don’t spend your time and energy wishing for miracles. Sow your seeds of Good News on the best ground you can find in the best way you can, and leave the convincing to the Holy Spirit. (Osborne, Acts, 235)
Whenever the devil sees the work of God beginning to to flourish, he will throw up a roadblock. It may be a stubborn, cantankerous, short-sighted board member who vetos all progressive activity which will honor Jesus Christ. It may be community opposition of some sort. It may be an unexpected delay of one sort or another. Anything to hold back the ongoing of the work of the Lord. That’s part of Satan’s master plan. How wonderful, however, to know that “greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). (Barnhouse, Acts, 126)
B. By cultivating wisdom in us in facing conflict.
(Proverbs 14:33; 15:1; 24:3-7; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:15-17; James 1:19; James 3:17)
It is only a spurious gospel which does not so discriminate or disturb. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 156)
Christians, and especially Christian communicators, must eventually discover how to deal with the many kinds of rejection. Acts 14 provides a basis of looking into the different expressions on the face of the old enemy—discouragement, caused by people’s rejection. None of us escapes. People are complicated and their reactions are fickle. We should know—each of us is one of them! (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 220)
C. By inspiring persistence in serving Christ’s mission.
(1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9; 2 Thes. 3:13; Heb. 12:1-2; James 1:1-27; Revelation 2:10)
You and I may not have an apostle’s power to work signs and wonders, but nonbelievers should see God at work in our lives. They should say, “There’s something amazing about the way he endures mistreatment without seeking revenge,” or, “There’s something uncanny about the way she demonstrates such joy and peace in spite of everything she’s going through!” Our lives should exhibit the supernatural reality of God—a quality that can’t be explained in terms of our personality, temperament, or circumstances. When God is at work in our lives, people can detect His presence. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 188)
Gospel Application…
The greatest news of all is a gift for all to hear.
(Psalm 96:3; Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15; Luke 2:10; John 3:16; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16)
Good preaching is always evangelistic, which perhaps is why Paul went on to remind Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). Even though he was the pastor of an established church, Timothy still needed to reach the lost. Proclaiming the gospel was a necessary part of his ongoing work as a minister. A preacher is an evangelist who, in one way or another, is always saying to people, both in public and in private, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). (Phillip Graham Ryken, City on a Hill, 45)
It is not simply a question of how we survive the accusations of the Evil One. It is a question of how we fight the Evil One. We do so not by taking swords and becoming crusaders or by shooting the bad guys. We do so in the first instance by the proclamation of the gospel again and again and again. Thus, the kingdom of God advances by the power of the Spirit through the ministry of the Word. Not for a moment does that mitigate the importance of good deeds and understanding the social entailments of the gospel, but they are entailments of the gospel. It is the gospel that is preached. Thus, the only way that we can be defeated in this dimension is to be quiet. Our silence guarantees a measure of victory to Satan. (D. A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, 105-106)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What are some things we might learn from Paul and Barnabas about interacting with those who are hostile to the gospel?
- Have you ever felt backed into a corner because of your faith? What happened? What did you learn?
- Have you ever considered persecution to be a gift in disguise? How might it be or become one? What are some ways in which God uses persecution for our own growth and edification?
- In our text today we saw Paul and Barnabas coming to a point where it was best to move on in light of the mission at hand. Has there ever been a time at which you felt the best thing to do was to move on? What are some signs that the time is right to make such a move?
Quotes to note…
We must stay aware of the billions who have never heard the gospel even once. We can’t just focus on more creative ways to deliver the gospel to those who have already rejected it a dozen times. (Francis Chan, Letters to the Church, 123)
The gospel powerfully reorients our view of relational conflict. No offense against us will ever be as serious as our offenses against God. If God has forgiven our great sins, how can we not extend mercy to those who have sinned against us? (Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters, 134)
In the midst of bold preaching, divisions occurred, opposition arose, and hostility set in, and the Apostles were barely able on very many occasions to escape with their lives. This is what happens when people are faithful to the gospel. When people preach the gospel without compromise, inevitably it provokes division because the truth of God divides. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 216)
The gifts of the Spirit are at the sovereign disposal of the Lord. The gospel is committed to men. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 156)
Paul and Barnabas did not go to Lystra and Derbe simply to escape persecution; they also went to preach the gospel. The verbal construction they continued to preach the good news emphasizes continuity of action over a period of time. (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, 391)
One rejection can tip the scales weighted with hundreds of affirmations. Satan’s trick is to preoccupy us with a rejection so that we forget the positive responses. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 220)
When the gospel is proclaimed without compromise, it arouses opposition. Luke writes, “But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” In this synagogue there were Gentiles who wanted to learn the truth about God. The pagan beliefs of their culture offered them no hope, so they turned to the Jews and their monotheistic belief system for hope. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 187)
Whenever you do something for the Lord that is going to make an impact on the unregenerate world, you are invading the devil’s kingdom and challenging his power to keep people in a state of slumber. (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Acts, 126)
Sometimes people receive the Word, but for them it is like seed falling on rocky soil. It springs up. But as soon as life gets tough, as soon as some of the persecutions that accompany the Christian life or the hardships that accompany Christian living come, the one who has made the profession fades away and is no longer seen following after Christ. Sometimes there are thorns, which Jesus identified as the cares of this world. They choke out the new life. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 254)
The gospel is a sword that divides believers from unbelievers (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 188)
You need to follow the advice of James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to Cod. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Never reverse the procedure and try to resist the devil in your own strength, for he will not flee from you then. He’ll flee at you, riding over you and flattening you like with a steam roller. No, “Submit yourselves to God” first. Then you can “resist the devil and he will flee from you,” for he will not really be fleeing from you, but from the Lord Jesus Christ who stands beside you. He’s not afraid of you; he is mortally afraid of Christ. (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Acts, 126)