October 14, 2025
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 1 Kings and 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,……Continue Reading
Amazing faithfulness from Paul and Barnabas. After being chased out of town, pursued and hunted down, and Paul then nearly stoned to death they return to the place where it all started. Most of us would never think to return to such a place but he trusted God so much and he was committed to his purpose to spread the good news of the gospel. Humbles me to think of times I avoided speaking up about my faith in an unwelcoming group or when I didn’t take advantage of an open door to share my faith out of fear, embarrasment, or maybe someone showing some opposition to my beliefs….:(
Also interesting to see the Lystra acting like many people still do today and needing to put a face to the god. Man struggles to worship something they cannot see and so they wanted desperately for Paul and Barnabas to be representatives of their greek gods. People consistently need to see and touch things to believe and it is why sad but true idolatry comes so easily to us.
Oh to be a fly on the wall to observe these events and hear Paul explain and defend the faith and see those who come to faith. But wherever there is progress in the gospel there are always detractors who are offended by the gospel because they want to live in their independence and sin. It is interesting to see that Paul heard about the plot in Iconium and leaves, and then has trouble in Lystra and gets beaten. I think what this means is Paul was not looking to anyone’s punching bag, but if it came upon him and he couldn’t avoid it, then he was willing to suffer for Jesus. It is not a bad model as to how we should handle these situations ourselves. And I am sure we have all been where Kelly has been and shrunk from opportunity to say something that people don’t want to hear. But notice Paul not only goes back into the city, but he also ministers in Derby and then doubles back to Lystra and other cities where he has had problems. It really shows Paul’s care for those who have come to believe and the fellowship of believers that he has established in the cities. He knew that they too would face the opposition and he wanted to build them up to stay strong in it. May we continue to build each other up to stand strong for the faith, even when it is hard.
Acts 14
Psalms 10; Isaiah 60; Acts 14
Vs 22b ~ we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Barnabas and Paul’s perseverance demonstrated their commitment to the gospel, despite all the opposition and persecution they had to experience.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are a few who find it”.
Paul and Barnabas continued to preach Jesus Christ and even through His power did signs and wonders. When they were paired together it was Barnabas that sought out Paul to join him. He was the chief speaker at first showing the other believers that they could trust Paul. But in this chapter we see Paul being the chief speaker. We hear Paul often before this being the chief speaker. I am sure that they figured out each other`s spiritual gifts and abilities by this time. Perhaps Barnabas was more of a thoughtful person and Paul just came out and said it. Whatever the case they were both leaders and filled with the Holy Spirit. And they worked well together until they later had a disagreement about John Mark. Paul even came close to death by stoning in this chapter. But they kept on preaching Jesus Christ and even went back to the cities that persecuted them. Bold as a lion. They rested in God`s interaction in their lives. And were confident that whatever happened to them was in God`s hands. May we ever be so bold to share Christ with others and not be quiet about Him.
Acts 14
Reading these chapters my jaw drops. Paul and Barnabas consider their lives and the pain and suffering that was brought upon themselves nothing compared to obedience to Jesus Christ. They nearly escape being stoned now paul does get stoned and left for dead, but Paul gets back up back into the city to preach the good news I guess I’m still finding out as Christians we no longer belong to ourselves, but to the Lord for whom we are called at times to suffer.
Paul heals a man, and the people idolize him for performing a miracle. Their belief is weak and convoluted, so they are easily swayed by Paul’s adversaries to the point of trying to kill him. There is a stark difference between them and the people in Derbe. They heard the gospel, without a miracle, and they believed the word – having a strong faith in it. They created a church and put their trust in God as their faith strengthened. It’s interesting how the reason for belief can affect our perseverance, committment and dedication to it. The action of a miracle can conjure up belief in something greater than ourselves, but over time that belief can lessen or we can be easily swayed to discount it. But when a strong faith in the message of Truth cuts to the heart, with the receipt of the Holy Spirit, that can create a strong, passionate desire to be devoted to the things of God.
Amen, Shelly!
”and saying, “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.”“
Acts 14:15-17 NKJV
It is interesting how the gospel is shared here. Paul points people to the Creator. He tells these people they are focused on useless things . Makes me think of a panel discussion I watched recently where they talked about the primacy of the gospel, but when we ignore secondary issues, (like here their useless things) and rather than understanding and teaching the truth of that “secondary” or tertiary issue, we table it or ignore it and lose the opportunity to share the gospel. Not to get political but this is what Charlie Kirk did, from the world’s perspective he was political and controversial but if you listen to his unclipped conversations, he always prioritized the gospel and the truth. Maybe that is why people were offended.
Here’s the panel video. https://youtu.be/G5w3KvSn9Ck?si=LQaAbyRGv1jCc2Bl
Acts 14