Acts 14

October 4, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Acts? Here’s today’s reading:

Acts 14 (NIV)

In Iconium
1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles...........Continue Reading

Next: Acts 15
—
Back: Acts 13

This Post Has 8 Comments

  4. Imagine half of a city wishing to stone you to death and the other half wanting to make sacrifices to you as a deity! And Paul amongst it all just gives glory to God and urges the people to believe. Both sides…believe on God who has done so much and continues to do so much and to the other side believe on God alone and not false gods and man made idols. He certainly had his hands full with this crowd.

    Reply

  5. How unique the message of Jesus was to these Jews and Gentiles and how compelling the argument must have been to its truth and the miracles to confirm the message, that so many believed. But success in God’s will always brings opposition and how quickly people can be convinced in the opposite direction. Certainly spiritual influences are here working for the good and the bad.

    And the next scene is fairly comical. Paul is bringing a message about God and healing a man, and the people shout out in a language that Paul probably doesn’t understand, that the gods have visited them. It is only when they are bringing animals to sacrifice to them that Paul gets the point and affirms that they are only men. But notice the message that Paul gives to these Gentiles. He speaks of creation and the provision the God of the heavens makes possible for them. Once again a message tailored to the audience receiving it. But then they go from gods to villains. How fickle a crowd can be, just ask Jesus. And how amazing is the courage of Paul, that he walks back into the city after being stoned, probably to show that God had spared him and they had not overcome him.

    And Paul was both faithful to preach the gospel wherever he went, but also to establish churches and make sure those churches had leaders to teach and guide. So much of what has been established in the world of Christendom that can be attributed to Paul’s dedication. We would do well to do half of what He did for the kingdom!

    Reply

  7. I sometimes wonder why we as Christians don’t perform miracles of healing nowadays, but maybe it isn’t so rare, we just don’t hear about it. Actually, we do hear about God performing miracles in our midst, but it doesn’t make the evening news! I suppose if God were performing miracles through us, then there would be the danger that Paul and Barnabas experience of being worshiped! That is how the Anti-Christ will gain a following, he will be able to perform miracles. God wants us to recognize the evidence that we already have and have faith in Him.

    “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

    Reply

  8. Paul and Barnabas had a lot of persecution when they preached, but they had strong faith in God so they could preach effectively and perform signs and wonders. The lame man also had faith, so Paul knew that he could heal him. God is always with us if we have the faith to believe that he will see us through. Even though Paul and Barnabas had some intense setbacks in some areas, in other cities they won a large number of disciples. We are following their example when we come up against persecution and adversity and we don’t give up because we know God is with us (even if we don’t feel his presence).

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top