The Book of Acts

Paul's First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)

Part Five

Sermon Twenty-six in the Series

Jim Bordwine, ThD

Introduction

In our study of the books of Acts, we are looking at the record of Paul's first missionary journey. In chapters 13 and 14, there are six major episodes chronicled by Luke. So far, we have examined four of these six incidents.

REVIEW

01. Paul's Confrontation with a False Prophet (13:4-12)

We looked at an incident which occurred shortly after Paul and Barnabas left Antioch. On the island of Cyprus Paul and Barnabas encountered a Jewish false prophet named “Bar-Jesus.” This man was an advisor to the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Bar-Jesus opposed the teaching of Paul and Barnabas, but Paul exposed him as a deceiver.

02. Paul's Sermon to Jews and God-fearing Gentiles (vv. 13:13-43)

Leaving the island of Cyprus, the missionaries traveled to Galatia. Here, in Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas followed their custom of attending the synagogue service at which Paul was invited to address the worshipers. In his sermon, Paul declared to them that God had fulfilled His promise to send a Savior. The missionaries announced to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in this city that God had provided for the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation in His Son, Jesus Christ.

03. Paul's Turning to the Gentiles (13:44-52)

Significant Jewish resistance developed against the missionaries, and the outcome was a judgment against the Jews and a tremendous blessing for the Gentiles. Luke wrote that the Jews were “filled with jealousy.” They were dominated by envy and this drove them to persecute of Paul and Barnabas. As a result of this opposition, Paul and Barnabas declared that the Jews were forfeiting their right to have the gospel preached to them. Paul charged the Jews with deliberately pushing the gospel away so as not to be exposed to it. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas announced, “We are turning to the Gentiles.”

04. Paul's Boldness for the Lord (14:1-7)

I asked you to recall Paul's experience up to this point. He left his home-base in Antioch intending to preach the gospel as the Lord granted him opportunity. Paul soon realized that hostility would be a regular occurrence on this journey with Barnabas. Therefore, if at the beginning of your voyage, you realize this, and if you realize that you still have some significant traveling to do, how do you react? You know more opposition is going to occur; you know that you are going to be maligned and persecuted when you simply are doing what you have been commanded to do. How do you prepare yourself for this kind of experience?

In this section, we learned how and why Paul remained steadfastly committed to preaching the gospel during this first demanding missionary tour. You'll remember that Luke wrote: “14:1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.”

I noted that the word translated “speaking boldly” (parrhesiazomai) means to “speak or preach freely while displaying assurance.” This is the same word used of Paul the very first time we hear someone testify about how he handled the gospel (cf. Acts 9:27). In this example of Paul's conduct, Luke tells us something about why and how he behaved as he did. What is the key to the kind of bravery we've seen demonstrated by Paul and Barnabas? What drove these men to stand face-to-face with vicious enemies, enemies who wanted them silenced, and continue to say the very things that have aroused such a hateful and dangerous response? The key to such bravery is the ground on which Paul and Barnabas stood. They preached “for the Lord” or “in the Lord.”

This short statement reveals much about the confidence shown by these missionaries in a most intimidating circumstance. The source of the confidence was not within Paul and Barnabas. The source of their boldness and their assurance was to be found in Christ-the resurrected Savior who had appointed them to this task. Paul was brave and certain of his mission because Christ called him to it. As I noted before, Paul didn't preach about a Savior who might have come and might have accomplished redemption and might have been raised from the dead. Paul spoke of God's Son who came and achieved atonement and who did, indeed, rise from the dead after He was crucified for the sins of His people.

END OF REVIEW

05. Paul's Rise and Fall in Lystra (14:8-20)

The last report on the missionaries had them leaving Iconium after learning of a plot to harm them (cf. 14:5, 6). Luke listed several of the places visited by the pair and noted that they “continued to preach the gospel.” In this next section, Luke chose to report on an incident which happened at Lystra. Here, we'll see the most ironic thing that happened to Paul and Barnabas on this first missionary trip.

8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

Comparatively speaking, Lystra was a young settlement, having been founded as a Roman colony in about 6 BC. One writer describes Lystra as being “in a wild district and among a rude population.” It was a thoroughly pagan city populated by incredibly superstitious people. Lystra was also much smaller than the other places recently visited by Paul and Barnabas. The initial incident which occurs in Lystra involves the healing of a lame man (v. 8). Luke records that this man “had no strength in his feet” having been disabled since birth. At some point, this man had the opportunity to hear Paul as the apostle, we assume, taught the gospel in the city (v. 9). There was probably no synagogue in this place, so Paul spoke out in the open and it was during such an event that his attention was directed toward this man in whom he recognized a pure faith.

We can only speculate regarding the reason for Paul's interest in the lame man. I would imagine that the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to take notice and, as he did, Paul probably saw a pitiful figure looking at him with hopeful eyes. Earlier in our study of Acts, we covered incidents where the lame were healed and I emphasized at that time the awful circumstances under which such people had to live. Their circumstances made the gospel all the more glorious as they were healed by the ambassadors of the risen Christ who has such power in Himself.

This man was one of those feeble figures whose life was a constant trial. This man had spent his entire life in a state of unbelievable misery. We are not capable, of course, of fully understanding the burden which was his in such a time and culture. I'm sure it had never occurred to him that he might actually be healed someday-he wasn't even able accurately to imagine what it was like to stand up and walk or run. His experience in this regard consisted merely of watching other people stand and walk and run. Therefore, being carried from place to place, having to beg for money and food, and having to endure insults and embarrassment were routine for this man. Imagine what life was like for this man. Try to at least begin to appreciate what his healing meant to him. Try to grasp what a wonderful and powerful thing Christ did for this man through Paul.

Every day prior to this day, this man had known suffering and hardship. On this day, however, he hears a stranger talking about a new God and about what this God had done for those who were poor and needy. Perhaps Paul even used some of those words from God's prophets which describe freedom coming for the captive and restoration coming for the lame; or he may have talked about the healings performed by Jesus. Whatever Paul was saying was of interest to this man, so much so that he had faith, Luke says, to be made well.

“Stand upright on your feet,” Paul commanded the lame man (v. 10). Immediately, he jumped up and walked. In a moment, this man's life-his outlook, his expectations, his status-changed. Through His servant, Christ restored this man and the healing was instantaneous and complete. One minute, it looked as if life would continue as usual for this poor man, but the next minute he finds himself made whole and able to do what he had never done before. Wouldn't you like to know what he said and wouldn't you like to know how he must have felt after this miracle? We can only imagine because that's the end of his involvement in this story. As incredible as this healing was, Luke uses it only as background for what happened to Paul and Barnabas in Lystra.

The focus of this story now centers on the reaction to the healing of the lame man. Paul and Barnabas are proclaimed deity by those who witnessed this miracle: “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” (v. 11) This alone shows the depth of spiritual ignorance which characterized Lystra. Luke states that the people called Barnabas, “Zeus,” and referred to Paul as “Hermes.” (v. 12) According to a widely-held myth, Zeus and Hermes (also known as Jupiter and Mercury) had taken human form and visited a nearby region. So the people are assuming that they, too, are now being visited by the gods.

Notice Luke indicates that this was a spontaneous outburst with which everyone in the immediate area apparently agreed. The people simply assumed that if this man had been healed, Paul and Barnabas must be divine beings. Paul was, indeed, preaching about a God who had come to the earth in the flesh, but he wasn't speaking about himself or Barnabas. What is interesting is the fact that there is no record of the people caring a bit about what Paul had been teaching, as opposed to the lame man who had faith to be made well, as Luke wrote. He rightly connected Paul's words to the Savior, but the people were not thinkers, they were reactionaries. They didn't meditate on Paul's words like the lame man. They jumped to an erroneous conclusion and acted on it promptly.

As it turns out, there was a temple dedicated to Zeus in Lystra. The priest of that temple was either present at the healing or was attracted by the declarations of the crowd. He showed up with oxen and garlands intending to offer a sacrifice in response to the visitation of Zeus and Hermes (v. 12). This was a common activity, by the way, so this is standard practice in this city.

The exact chronology of all this activity is hard to piece together. We don't know exactly how much time passed between the healing of the lame man and the appearance of the pagan priest with his items for sacrifice. What matters most, of course, is Paul's reaction to this spectacle:

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16 “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

By now, we know what kind of men Paul and Barnabas are; we know about their dedication to the gospel and their loyalty to the risen Christ. Therefore, we can easily understand their reaction to being acclaimed as gods. Luke says the missionaries “tore their robes and rushed into the crowd” to put a stop to this activity (v. 14). The tearing of their robes indicated the most intense kind of anguish; it indicated their belief that some great sacrilege was about to be committed. The word translated “rushed” (eispedao) means “to spring in” or “leap forth.” This term describes action resulting from panic or dread. Paul and Barnabas reacted immediately and they reacted with extreme alarm when they heard what was being said and planned.

Paul spoke emphatically to the crowd assuring them that he and Barnabas were merely men-just like those who were proclaiming them as gods and preparing to worship them (v. 15). Paul knows that this situation is a direct result of the pagan ignorance of these people. This is a shocking example of just how perverse their thinking had become and, therefore, just how desperately they needed to hear the gospel. Paul tells them that he had come to preach this gospel so that they could “turn from these vain things to a living God.” He's telling them, in essence, that their religious convictions center on gods who have no more substance than what the human mind can imagine. They are not real gods; they are false images created in minds deluded by sin. As opposed to these dead gods who are no gods at all, Paul speaks of “a living God,” the God “who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” Making use of Psa. 146, Paul announces that this God, the God of the missionaries, is the Creator and Ruler of this universe. Paul does not present Him as one more option among many or as one more god to be added to the collection held in the minds of these citizens of Lystra. Instead, Paul speaks of the true God, the God who has given witness to His existence and goodness throughout man's history (cf. v. 17).

Rain falls upon us all, Paul declares. We enjoy the harvest after the season of growing, he adds. Our hearts are satisfied with food and gladness as we live out our days here on the earth, the apostles concludes. What we take as routine, he teaches these people, is testimony to the existence and kindness of the Creator.

Though Paul spoke persuasively, the text records that “with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.” (v. 18) This statement indicates that much more must have been said. The people were determined to celebrate the arrival of their gods in the flesh. This was a reception Paul and Barnabas had not experienced on this first missionary journey. They are being honored as deity when their aim is to announce the good news which alone is able to deliver people from such incredible spiritual bondage.

Things were not going well for the missionaries and they are about to get worse. Luke writes that Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and stirred up trouble (v. 19). They “won over the crowds,” he reports and the result was particularly dangerous for Paul. The people who recently greeted him as a god turned on him and stoned him. Presuming him dead, they dragged him out of the city. Miraculously, however, Luke states that while the disciples-supposedly some converts who were accompanying the missionaries-were standing around Paul, “he got up and entered the city.” (v. 20)

Lystra, as we have seen, was a strange place. This was the most unusual experience thus far on this expedition. With rampant pagan superstition controlling the people, this was also a very explosive climate. That's the least you can say about a place where you are lauded as deity one minute, but stoned and left for dead the next! But, once again, God has delivered His servants and they continue their mission as they depart and travel to Derbe, approximately forty miles southeast of Lystra.

06. Paul's Return to Antioch (14:21-28)

21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Luke reports that as they made their way home, they visited several of the cities in which they had preached the gospel. While Luke mentions nothing of opposition meeting the missionaries as they returned to these places, he does tell us something about the purpose for such visits (cf. v. 22). Paul and Barnabas wanted to encourage the new believers and exhort them to “continue in the faith.” The missionaries also warned them of many tribulations which they would face. The experience of the missionaries themselves was proof of the validity of such counsel.

We also see Paul's concern for the organization of these new pockets of believers. Elders were appointed in every church, the text says (v. 23). The use of the word “appointed” may sound like a description of a method of selecting elders different than what we follow today. But the Greek term used (cheirotoneo), means “to appoint by vote, to vote by stretching out the hand, to elect.” It appears that Paul and Barnabas oversaw the selection of certain men to lead these congregations. I would also assume that these men were ordained by the missionaries. Here, then, we see the Church taking shape as a government is erected. Among other benefits, this would help ensure fidelity to the gospel as men were charged with maintaining doctrinal integrity according to the teachings of Christ. These visits were concluded with prayer and fasting during which the new believers were commended to the Lord's care.

After mentioning a few more stops, Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas arrived at Antioch, the place from which they had departed (v. 26). This must have been a marvelous time of giving thanks and praise as the people in Antioch heard all the stories told by Paul and Barnabas. Above all, they would have rejoiced at the news of so many Gentiles coming to believe the gospel as the risen Savior established His Church in city after city.

Application

For our application, I'll list a three quick observations based on this last portion of chapter 14. First, let me say a word about the healing of the lame man. There are several reasons why such stories are in the Bible. They illustrate, for example, the power of God to restore His creatures. Above all, however, in these restorations, there is a picture and the picture is of what God does for sinners in redemption. The restoration of the physical is meant to point to the restoration of the soul. That's why, in the Old Testament, the coming of redemption is often pictured as healing for lame or sight for the blind. That why, as well, there are so many stories of such miracles in the Gospels which report on the ministry of Christ. Each healing was testimony to His power to restore fallen men. And so it is in the book of Acts as those who now represent the risen Christ go from place to place preaching about Him.

With that said, the responsibility which rests with us as we read about these healing episodes is to realize that this is a picture of what Christ does for us when we come to believe the gospel. The man we read of today had no hope-there was nothing he could do about his condition and there was no one on earth, as far as he knew, who could change his circumstances. His was a life of misery from which there was no escape, as I noted before. But then this man heard Paul preaching about a Savior, a Savior who walked this earth as God in the flesh. And it was then that this poor lame man experienced genuine hope for the first time in his life. So it is with all those who live in this world. We are alienated from our Creator because of our sin. We have no hope because there is nothing we can do to restore our fellowship with Him and there is no one on this earth to whom we can turn for help. Our help must come from heaven. And so, when the Spirit of God opens our ears and we hear the gospel in which we are told of God's grace toward sinners like us, we rejoice and we embrace the Savior. Every record of healing that we cover in the book of Acts, therefore, should cause us to pause and give thanks for our salvation.

Second, we shouldn't miss Paul's point when he spoke to the citizens of Lystra about the true God. Did you notice how he chose to explain the existence of God? What was God's witness to His presence, according to Paul? It was the routine cycle of life. Paul said that God testified to His own existence by sending rain and allowing harvest and satisfying hearts with food and gladness. The testimony of God's existence, according to the apostle, is the daily routine life-rain falls, crops grow, harvest comes and men enjoy the bounty of their labors. Why does this happen? Why is life predictable? Why do seeds thrown in the dirt produce food that keeps us alive? It's because God has so ordered His creation and the fact that this happens day after day, lifetime after lifetime, is proof that He is there and we are His creatures and we are, therefore, accountable to Him. Paul's point is that God's presence is declared to the people of earth constantly and without interruption.

This is something for all of us to keep in mind as we go through each day. If you understand what Paul is saying, you realize that he is teaching us that every day is filled with testimony regarding the existence and goodness of God. We cannot drink or eat without being reminded of God's existence and goodness. We cannot see rain fall from the sky or see our grass grow or pick up produce at the grocery store without being confronted by the existence and goodness of the Creator. His witness is everywhere. That's Paul's point.

Third, we should think for a moment on the significance of Paul's return to the churches in order to encourage them and help them begin to organize themselves. What is worth noting here is the simple fact that Paul and Barnabas would do such a thing in spite of the opposition they faced. They must have believed that these believers would persevere and prosper; they must have believed that the gospel which had come to these many cities of the Gentiles was there to stay. We have, in other words, the apostolic perspective on the nature and future of the Church demonstrated in the visits the missionaries made on their way back home. They knew the Church, once planted, would grow, which indeed it did. They had such an expectation because they rightly understood what Christ was doing through the gospel and they rightly understood why He came to earth in the first place. The turning of Gentiles to faith was the expected result of the work of Christ; it was what God had promised centuries before. So, Paul and Barnabas were confident that the newly formed churches would survive and expand.

To have this kind of expectation when they faced the opposition we've studied means that Paul and Barnabas had confidence not in the people who were converted, but in the One who converted them. They had confidence in the risen Christ who was applying His atonement as they preached and taught. He was calling and saving, and He would cause His disciples to persevere. There is comfort in this truth for us and there is a challenge in it, as well. The comfort is the certainty of our redemption. It is all of Christ, all of grace. And the challenge to that we, too, have the kind of confidence in the gospel demonstrated by Paul and Barnabas. After all, look at what it has done in this world since the days of the missionaries!

Conclusion

The work begun by Paul and Barnabas continues even today. We are proof that the gospel is still spreading and still reconciling sinners to the Creator. We can celebrate these truths as we come to the Lord's Table. The message Paul preached in city after city is here pictured for us-Christ came and gave Himself for us; He shed His blood for our sins. This is the message which was proclaimed in all those places mentioned by Luke and it's the same message we have heard and believed.