"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Fourteen OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To continue tracing the route of Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey 2) To note the increasing persecution endured by the apostle Paul (cf. 2Ti 3:10-11) 3) To give special attention to their appointment of elders in every church SUMMARY Luke continues his narration of events during Paul's first missionary journey. Upon arriving in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas again visited the local synagogue. Response to their message was positive among both Jews and Greeks, but soon opposition again came from unbelieving Jews. Even so, Paul and Barnabas stayed "a long time" in Iconium, speaking boldly and performing signs and wonders. Eventually the opposition became violent, forcing Paul and Barnabas to flee to Lystra and Derbe (1-6). In Lystra, Paul healed a man crippled from birth (similar to Peter, cf. 3:1-10). The people assumed that Paul and Barnabas must be gods, and so named them Zeus (Barnabas) and Hermes (Paul). When the priest of Zeus prepared to offer sacrifices, the apostles tore their own clothes and barely restrained them by an impassioned speech. Not long after, Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the multitudes to stone Paul and drag him outside the city. Though assumed to be dead, Paul was able to return to the city and departed the next day with Barnabas to Derbe where they preached the gospel and made many disciples (7-21). From Derbe, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, strengthened the disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (Pisidia) and appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting. Passing through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia where they preached the gospel in Perga. From there they went down to Attalia and then sailed to Antioch (Syria) from which they began their journey, where they reported to the church all that God had done with them. There they stayed for "a long time" (21-28). OUTLINE I. PREACHING IN ICONIUM, LYSTRA, DERBE (1-21) A. MINSTRY AND PERSECUTION IN ICONIUM (1-6) 1. Speaking at the local synagogue leads many Jews and Gentiles to believe 2. Unbelieving Jews stir up and poison the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren 3. Paul and Barnabas stay a long time, speaking boldly and performing signs and wonders 4. The city becomes divided, and an attempt is made by Gentiles and Jews along with their rulers to abuse and stone them 5. Made aware of the planned violence, Paul and Barnabas flee to Lystra and Derbe B. MINISTRY AND PERSECUTION IN LYSTRA AND DERBE (7-21) 1. Paul and Barnabas preach there and in the surrounding region 2. In Lystra Paul heals a man crippled from birth 3. The people proclaim Paul and Barnabas to be gods, the priest of Zeus sought to offer sacrifices to them 4. Tearing their clothes, Barnabas and Paul proclaim themselves to be men who preach the one true living God and scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them 5. Jews arrive from Antioch and Iconium and persuade the multitude to stone Paul 6. Presumed dead, Paul is dragged outside the city where later as he is surrounded by disciples he revives and returns to the city 7. The next day Paul and Barnabas depart to Derbe where they preach the gospel and make many disciples before beginning their return trip through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch II. CONFIRMING DISCIPLES AND APPOINTING ELDERS (22-23) A. STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLES (22) 1. Paul and Barnabas exhort them to continue in the faith 2. They warn them: "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." B. APPOINTING ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH (23) 1. Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in every church with prayer and fasting 2. They commend them to the Lord in whom they believed III. RETURN TO ANTIOCH OF SYRIA (24-28) A. THE JOURNEY HOME (24-26) 1. Passing through Pisidia, they come to Pamphylia 2. After preaching in Perga, they go down to Attalia 3. From there they sail to Antioch of Syria, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work accomplished on their journey B. THEIR REPORT AND STAY AT ANTIOCH (27-28) 1. Paul and Barnabas report to the church all that God had done with them, and how He opened a door of faith to the Gentiles 2. They stay a long time in Antioch with the disciples REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - Preaching in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (1-21) - Confirming disciples and appointing elders (22-23) - Return to Antioch of Syria (24-28) 2) Upon their arrival in Iconium, what did Paul and Barnabas first do? (1) - They spoke at the Jewish synagogue, producing faith in many Jews and Greeks 3) What did the unbelieving Jews do in response? (2) - They stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against them 4) What did Paul and Barnabas do? Who was with them and how? (3) - Stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord - The Lord, who bore witness to His word by granting signs and wonders to be done by the apostles' hands 5) As the city became divided, what attempt was made against Paul and Barnabas? (4-5) - To stone them 6) How did they respond to such a threat? (6-7) - By fleeing to the cities of Lystra and Derbe, and preaching the gospel there 7) What miracle did Paul perform in Lystra? (8-10) - He healed a man crippled from birth 8) How did the people react? What names did they give to Paul and Barnabas? (11-12) - They thought that gods had come in the likeness of men - Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes 9) Who attempted to lead the city in offering sacrifices to them? (13) - The priest of Zeus, whose temple was in the front of the city 10) How did Barnabas and Paul restrain the crowd from offering the sacrifices? (14-18) - By tearing their clothes and crying out to the multitude - By professing themselves to be but men, and encouraging them to turn to the living God 11) How did the apostles describe the true God? (15-17) - As the Creator of all things who bore witness of Himself through His blessings to mankind 12) Who then came to the city and persuaded the people to stone Paul? (19) - Jews from Antioch (Pisidia) and Iconium 13) After Paul revived from his stoning, where did he and Barnabas go? (20) - First back to Lystra, and then on to Derbe 14) What happened in Derbe? When they left, where did they go? (21) - They preached the gospel and made many disciples - They retraced their steps, going back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch 15) What did they do as they made their way through such cities? (22-23) - Strengthened the brethren, exhorting them to continue despite persecutions - Appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting, commending them to God 16) Where they go after passing through Pisidia? What did they do there? (24-25) - To Perga in Pamphylia, where they preached the gospel 17) From where did they then sail? (25-26) - Attalia 18) What is significant about Antioch of Syria? (26) - It was where they started and ended their missionary journey 19) What did Paul and Barnabas do upon their arrival? (27) - Gathered the church together and reported what God had done with them to open a door of faith among the Gentiles 20) How long did Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch of Syria? (28) - A long time