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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 14:1-20

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move, and we are following Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey together. We have already looked at their first stop at the island of Cyprus and their second stop at Pisidian Antioch. Today we will cover three additional stops at the cities of Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Each one of these cities offers us a different lesson to learn. (Read Acts 14:1-3 and pray.)

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When we last left Paul and Barnabas, they had just been kicked out of the city of Pisidian Antioch. They shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and proceeded to Iconium. Unfortunately, at Iconium, they encounter more of the same as they run into further opposition.

Many years later, Paul would write about this time in his life. He wrote to Timothy: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Tim. 3:10-11).

Paul would experience persecution for the gospel in many places over the years, but he likely highlights these three cities for two reasons. One, this was his first mission trip, and he would always remember these early experiences in sharing the gospel. And secondly, Timothy was from Lystra. It’s likely that Timothy and his family came to faith in Christ during this first mission trip and witnessed Paul’s persecutions firsthand.

This all took place in the area known as Galatia. This is the group of churches to which Paul would later write the letter of Galatians. But there weren’t any churches yet, because no one had shared the gospel with them yet. That’s what this first mission trip is all about. So, Paul and Barnabas, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, leave a difficult situation in Antioch only to walk into another difficult situation in Iconium.

I. Iconium – opposition and division (1-7)

Iconium is the first of the three cities we will be looking at this morning, and it serves as an example of opposition and division. This was not only going to be a difficult city for them in which to share the gospel. It was also a difficult journey just to get there.

Iconium is located on a plateau more than 3,000 feet above sea level in the heart of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas would have to walk 90 miles southeast from Antioch to reach the city. When was the last time you took a 90-mile walk? This wasn’t a walk on paved roads either. This was over rugged terrain.

   A. Opposition and boldness (1-3)

The first part of their visit to Iconium was marked by opposition and boldness. Look at verses 1-3 with me:

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. (Acts 14:1-3)

When they got there, they began preaching in the synagogue as usual. Even though Paul was primarily the apostle to the Gentiles, he never gave up on his own people. He never gave up on the Jews. He always went to the synagogues first. This became a platform from which to share the gospel with the Gentiles as well

Just as at Antioch, there was an initial positive reaction. Many Jews and Gentiles believed as a result of their message. However, just as at Antioch, there was also a backlash to the initial success. This opposition came first from the Jews who did not believe. These Jews stirred up the Gentiles. They poisoned their minds against Paul and his message. The word translated “poisoned” here comes from the Greek word for “evil.” It is a great evil to turn someone away from Christ and the gospel. There are many in our culture today who try to poison people’s minds against the gospel or those who preach it.

What do you do when someone opposes your message? Do you run into a corner and hide? No, you hunker down and keep sharing. You go big, and you go bold. For Paul and Barnabas, this opposition to the gospel was even more reason to spend time there, building up those who believed and winning new converts.

Notice Luke describes their message as a message of God’s grace. You would think people would be open to a message of grace, but it just goes to show how sinful our hearts are towards God until he changes us. God even confirmed their message through miraculous signs and wonders, but the people still didn’t believe.

   B. Division and danger (4-7)

Then, things got even worse. Opposition and boldness gave way to division and danger. Look at verses 4-7 next:

The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the good news. (Acts 14:4-7)

Jesus warned that the gospel would bring a sword (Matt. 10:34-36), and that’s exactly what happens here. The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews; others sided with Paul and Barnabas.

Notice Paul and Barnabas are both called apostles here. That’s interesting. This shows that others were called apostles beyond just the original twelve. The word “apostle” simply means “one who is sent.” There were only twelve original apostles of Jesus, but other “apostles” were sent out by the churches as missionaries. Barnabas is one of those.

This division in the city then led to danger. The Jews and the Gentiles who hardly ever got together on anything got together on this. They conspired together to mistreat Paul and Barnabas and even stone them. There’s a time to stay, and there’s a time to leave. When they just faced opposition to the message, they stayed and continued to minister. But now that the threat of physical danger arose, it was time to move on.

Paul and Barnabas escaped from Iconium and proceeded to the cities of Lystra and Derbe where they continued to preach the good news. Lystra was 20 miles south of Iconium. Derbe was another 60 miles southeast. You get persecuted in one city; you move on to the next. These two apostles were unstoppable.

II. Lystra – preaching to pagans (8-18)

Next, we come to Lystra. Here we find an example of Paul preaching to pagans. This is interesting, because up to this time most of his preaching has taken place in the synagogues, where both Jews and Gentile converts gathered. But now Paul finds himself preaching directly to Gentile pagans who didn’t worship the Jewish God at all. That changes things up a bit.

   A. A miracle of healing (8-10)

This visit to Lystra begins with a miracle of healing. Look at verses 8-10:

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. (Acts 14:8-10)

When they arrive in Lystra, they meet this man who was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listens attentively as Paul shares the good news. Paul discerns that he has faith to be healed and commands him to stand up. The man jumps to his feet and begins to walk around. This is similar to Peter’s healing of the beggar in Jerusalem back in Acts 3. Both these men were lame from birth. Both jump to their feet and start walking around when they are healed.

   B. A misunderstanding (11-15)

This miraculous healing leads to a misunderstanding of mythic proportions. Look at verses 11-13:

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. (Acts 14:11-13)

The crowd mistakes Paul and Barnabas for gods. This was a very different response from the Jews in Jerusalem when Peter healed the beggar there. Lystra was a pagan city, and when the people saw this miracle, they believed the gods had come down to them in human form. Zeus was their main god, and Hermes was his spokesman. Paul had been doing most of the speaking, so they figured Barnabas must be Zeus and Paul must be Hermes.

There was an ancient legend that Zeus and Hermes once visited this area in human form. They sought hospitality from the people and were turned down. Finally, a poor couple took them in. They rewarded the poor couple and punished everyone else. The people of Lystra don’t want to make the same mistake, so the priest from the temple brings bulls and wreaths to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.

Now, this was all taking place in their own language. Paul and Barnabas didn’t speak Lycaonian, so they had no idea what was going on. But once they realize what is happening, they are horrified. Look at verses 14-15:

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.” (Acts 14:14-15)

Paul and Barnabas are rightly horrified. They tear their clothes as a protest against blasphemy. The high priest in Jerusalem did the same thing at Jesus’ trial when he thought Jesus had spoken blasphemy (Matt. 26:65). Unlike King Herod, who accepted the people’s praise of him as a god (Acts 12:23), Paul and Barnabas are careful to dispel any misunderstanding.

   C. An opportunity for the gospel (15-18)

Not only that, but Paul sees this as an opportunity for the gospel. That’s something we all need to do more frequently. We get so many opportunities to share the gospel, but a lot of them slip right by us, because we’re not looking for them. Paul was looking, and he realized this was on opportunity for the gospel. Look at verses 15-18 next:

We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. (Acts 14:15-18)

This is fascinating. This is the first recorded sermon we have to an all-pagan audience. You will notice it is very different from the sermons we have seen so far in Acts. In the synagogues, Paul usually begins with the Old Testament Scriptures and Israel’s history. But these pagans don’t know the Old Testament, and they probably don’t care about Israel’s history.

So, Paul begins with general revelation instead. He tells them, “We are bringing you good news!” and then proceeds to share the gospel with them in a way they can understand. He shares three main points with them.

      1) There is one true living God who made all things

First, there is one true living God who made all things. Paul encourages them to turn from their worthless worship of false gods to the living God who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. They had just tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul tells them there is one true living God who made all things.

      2) We are responsible for our knowledge about Christ

Secondly, we are responsible for our knowledge about Christ. In the past, God let the nations go their own way, but not anymore. Why not? What changed? Jesus came! God sent his Son into the world. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He is the only Savior for the world. Along with knowledge of the gospel comes the responsibility to receive it. We are responsible for our knowledge about Christ. You are responsible for your knowledge about Christ.

      3) God has revealed his loving character through his providential care

And then thirdly, God has revealed his loving character through his providential care. God has not left himself without a witness. Even before sending his Son, even before sending these very missionaries with the gospel, God has shown kindness by giving rain from heaven and crops in season. He provides food and good gifts that fill our hearts with joy.

Paul tailored the gospel to his pagan audience, who were more familiar with the rhythms of the seasons than the particulars of Israel’s history. He didn’t change the center of the gospel. We are still responsible for our knowledge about Christ. But Paul shared about Jesus in the context of the one true living God who made all things and provides all things for our good. Even then, it was all they could do to stop these pagan worshipers from offering sacrifices to them.

III. Derbe – example of perseverance (19-20)

We have looked at Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas experienced opposition and division. We have looked at Lystra, where Paul preached the gospel to pagans. Now we come to Derbe, which is an example of perseverance. Look at verses 19-20:

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20)

Paul and Barnabas were on a mission. The Jews from Antioch and Iconium were on a mission too. They were on a mission to stop Paul and Barnabas on their mission. Their hatred of Paul and the gospel was so strong that they traveled over 100 miles to chase Paul down.

   A. Left for dead (19)

Some time must have elapsed, because Paul and Barnabas had time to disciple the believers at Lystra before this happened. As we mentioned earlier, this may have included Timothy and his family. But once these Jews got there, they won the crowd over. Instead of believing in the one, true, kind and living God who sent Jesus for our salvation, they persecuted the apostles instead. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, leaving him for dead.

There was no trial, no jury, no evidence brought forth and considered. This was simply mob violence gone crazy. Look at how fickle the people were. They went from worshiping Paul and Barnabas as gods to stoning Paul and leaving him for dead. It reminds me of the crowds who hailed Jesus as king on Palm Sunday and then crucified him on Good Friday.

   B. Moving on (20)

But God spared Paul’s life. The disciples gather around him—it’s safe to assume they were praying. Paul gets up and goes back into the city. Paul is fearless, but it’s time to move on, so the next day they leave for Derbe.

This is an amazing example of perseverance where Paul just kept moving from city to city. Paul let nothing deter him from sharing the gospel with others who needed to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

It’s not easy to get back up again when you’ve been knocked down, especially when you’ve been knocked down with actual stones. But it’s essential to persevere if we are to be a church on the move with the gospel.

APPLICATIONS: Let me close with three applications for us from our passage today.

1) Boldness in sharing the gospel

First of all, we should be bold in sharing the gospel. Will you face opposition in sharing the gospel? Absolutely. That’s why you need to be bold. If there were no opposition, there would be no need for boldness.

Notice boldness doesn’t mean foolishness. When opposition turned to physical danger, Paul and Barnabas moved on. You are not called to subject yourself to physical violence for the gospel, although understand that many believers (including Paul) have experienced physical violence as a result of sharing the gospel. That’s our first application this morning. Be bold. A church on the move is bold in sharing the gospel.

2) Flexibility in sharing the gospel

Secondly, be flexible in sharing the gospel. Don’t vary the message, but do vary the presentation. You will share differently with children than you do with adults. You will share differently with friends than you do with strangers.

Paul adapted his approach to his audience. He shared differently with the pagans of Lystra than he did with the Jews in the synagogue. We need to do the same. Try to find the right point of contact with each person, so you can share the gospel in a way they can hear and understand.

Let me give you an example. When I share the gospel with someone, I often ask them the question, “If you were to die today, do you know for sure if you would go to be with God in heaven?” It’s a hypothetical question, but it helps the person to focus on whether they know God and if they have the assurance of eternal life.

But sometimes you have to vary the question. I was visiting with one of our members in the hospital, and as I was leaving, the woman in the bed next to them asked me if I would pray for her too. I said, “Sure,” and asked her what her situation was. She said, “The doctor just told me I have one week to live.”

I told her, “I am so sorry to hear that, and I will be glad to pray for you. But would you mind if I asked you a question first—a spiritual question?” She said yes, so I told her, “I sincerely hope you will not die this week, but if you do die, do you know if you will go to be with God in heaven?” It was no longer a hypothetical question, but very real to this dear woman. She said no, she didn’t know. I asked her if she would like to know, and she said yes. I shared the gospel with her, and she prayed to receive Christ.

In this case, it wouldn’t have made sense to ask her as a hypothetical question, so it was important to vary the approach. That’s our second application. Be flexible. A church on the move is flexible in sharing the gospel.

3) Perseverance in sharing the gospel

And then thirdly, persevere in sharing the gospel. Despite the opposition, despite the persecution, Paul kept moving from city to city sharing the gospel. Paul persevered, and we need to persevere too. We should continue sharing the gospel even in difficult situations. Even though many will oppose the message and some troublemakers may even poison people’s minds against you, others will believe.

People need Jesus. We have been commanded to go to them with the gospel. You may be the only person who ever shares the gospel with someone. That’s why we need to persevere. A church on the move perseveres in sharing the gospel.

I encourage you to take these three application points and turn them to prayer. Ask God for boldness to share the gospel even in the face of opposition. Ask God for wisdom to share the gospel in a way that people can understand. Ask God for the strength to persevere in sharing the gospel with those who so desperately need Jesus as their Savior.

© Ray Fowler

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