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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Acts Chapter 14 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Luke
Date Penned: (63-70 AD)
Overview: Paul's Ministry (c 13-28)
Theme: Paul's First Missionary Journey (c 13-14)
Message: Barnabus and Paul Continue on their Journey (v 1-28)

Acts 14 Commentary

(14:1-7) Pauls and Barnabas in Iconium - Chased out of Antioch of Pisidia (13:50), Paul and Barnabas journeyed southeast to the region of Galatia, stopping first in the city of Iconium. Again the missionaries went straight to the synagogues, where they preached the Good News with great power and saw many believe in Christ.

(14:8-20) Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe - At Lystra, the missionaries healed a man crippled from birth. The pagan Gentiles of the area saw this miracle and concluded that Paul and Barnabas must be Greek gods. Despite an immediate rejection of this foolish notion and loud explanations to the contrary, the apostles could barely convince them. Then the fickle mob turned murderous, prodded by some angry Jews from nearby Antioch and Iconium. Together they stoned Paul, dragged him out of Lystra, and left him for dead. Then, in one of most amazing moments of New Testament history, the bloody apostle got up and went back into the city. His joyful perseverance in the face of extreme persecution is testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.

(14:21-28) Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch of Syria - Following a successful evangelistic campaign in Derbe, the missionaries backtracked through all the cities visited on their missionary journey. The goal was to strengthen the believers and to appoint elders in the churches. Having done this, Paul and Barnabas returned to their home base in Antioch of Syria and reported to the church there. This brief passage not only demonstrates God’s grace and faithfulness, it also sets the stage for the coming controversy over the presence of newly converted Gentiles in a previously all-Jewish church.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Some Will Reject the Message


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Acts Chapter 14. In our text today we see Paul and Barnabas preach boldly at Iconium, Paul Heals a cripple in Lystra and is exalted as a hero one day to be stoned to be persecuted, stoned, and left for dead, in the days to follow. In making application we see that the message of Christ will not always be accepted with gladness, lives will be changed but some will reject both the message and the messenger. Paul shows us how to respond as he gets up and returns preach the Gospel. How about you? Have you been rejected for sharing the Gospel? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Paul to see that some will reject you because of the message you bring but we are to respond to rejection as Paul buy simply ignoring the rejextion and telling others of the Gospel.   

 

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Acts 14

Acts 14

 1And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

 3Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

 4But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

 5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

 6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

 7And there they preached the gospel.

 8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

 9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

 10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

 11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

 12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

 13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

 14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

 15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

 18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

 19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

 20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

 21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

 22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

 24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

 25And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

 26And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

 27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

 28And there they abode long time with the disciples.