Acts 14

Act 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake,

14:1-6-. Preaching.

-1. Result.
2. Opposition.
3. Preaching.
4. Result.
5,6-. Opposition.

that a great multitude both of the Jews

(I.e residents of Judea.)

and also of the Greeks believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews

(I.e. the Judean Kenites = sons of Cain. They are the same ones as those in Revelation 2:9. They are the men that claim to be of Judah, but do lie and are of the synagogue of Satan. In fact, they have no trace of Israel blood in them, and are the ones that Jesus said, sat in the seat of Moses. Those rascals are the Kenites and proselytes, the kindred to those that Paul met at Salamis, Cyprus in the last chapter. This religious bunch are even at work today in the church houses, continuing to stir up a mess, when ever the Gospel of Christ is preached as it should be taught. These agitators simply do not care about the welfare of others.)

stirred up the Gentiles,

(Gr. ethnos.)

and made their minds evil affected

(= embittered, or poisoned.)

against the brethren.

(The Gr. reads, "stirred up and made evil affected the minds of the nations.

It is with the mind of the Kenite that these men enter a conversation, then they try to twist the meanings of what was said, and work one side against the other. They are the busy bodies that spread false rumors to one side about another, then go to the other, and reverse their story until they have confusion and fighting going on. This is what was happening at Iconium, these Kenites are trying to stir trouble with the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.

When someone is weak in the word, he will believe those lies, because they are to lazy to check out the truth. Beware of who you listen to and give any credibility to, for Satan would use these Kenites even today to stir you into his camp, and do your interpreting for you.)

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord,

(Indicating the subject of their discourse.)

which gave testimony unto the word of His grace,

(Holy Spirit teaching Law of Grace.)

and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

(It was through their hands that the power of the Holy Spirit did His mighty wonders and works. It was through these signs and wonders that these Gentiles could see the presence of the Holy Spirit, and come to believe on the Living God. If you desire to discern the true man of God, from the fake, you also will be granted signs by God. God will open your eyes and give you the ability to tell the difference when you study His Word, and the Holy Spirit places within your mind that discernment.)

4 But the multitude of the city was divided:

(Gr. schizõ, to tear; hene schisma, division. Divide and conquer, one of Satan's roles. See John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19.)

and part held with the Jews,

(= the Kenites = the sons of Cain.)

and part with the apostles.

5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers,

(I.e. rulers of the Kenites.)

to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

(People will go to war over bad counsel and religion.)

6 They were ware of it,

-6-20-. Lystra.

-6,7. Preaching.
8-10. Miracle. Healing.
11-13. Deification.
14-18. Remonstrance.
e 19. Repudiation.
20-. Miracle. Resurrection.

and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia,

(= wolf-land. In the Gr. the order is "to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbr".)

and unto the region that lieth round about:

(Paul and Barnabas heard of the stir that was going on, and they desired not to have the new converts hurt in a physical struggle.)

7 And there they preached the gospel.

(Never changing. They were itinerating to evangelize the whole district. Timothy was one of the converts, as, on the return visit, he is called a disciple [16:1].)

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

(God uses selected miracles to convert unbelievers.)

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

(He [Paul] could tell being a gifted teacher that he was.)

10 Said with a loud voice,

(So all the people in the area could hear.)

"Stand upright on thy feet." And he leaped and walked.

(This documents that he [Paul] is a messenger that God touched this one [not Paul] and healed him.)

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done,

(One of Satan's little tricks. Paul didn't do it. Beware of persons that practice heathenism.)

they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."

(The Lycaonians were no doubt familiar with the legend of Jupiter and Mercury's visit in disguise to the aged couple, Philemon and Baucis, the scene of which was laid in the neighboring province of Phyrgia. See Ovid, Metam. VIII.)

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter;

(Gr. Zeus. The father of the gods.)

and Paul, Mercurius,

(Gr. Hermês. The messenger of the gods.)

because he was the chief speaker.

(Lit. the leader of the world, or message. Don't make man something that they are not.)

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which

(I.e. whose temple.)

was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes,

(Cp. Matt.25:65.)

and ran in among the people, crying out,

(They are not going to let this stand. God works through us.)

15 And 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

(See 1 Cor.3:20; 15:7. Tit.3:9. Jas. 1:26. 1 Pet.1:18. 1 Kings 16:13,26. Jer. 8:19. Jonah 2:9, &c.)

unto the living God,

(Or Yahaveh. Elohim = God as the Creator, Yahaveh = God in covenant relationship. Gr. Theos. This notable expression occ. 15 times in the O.T [#15 = Rest], and 16 times in the N.T. [#16 = Love]. It is noteworthy that it is used twice by Peter, once by Caiaphas, once in the Revelation, and the remaining 12 times by Paul [#12 = Governmental perfection]. The Lord uses the words "the living Father" in John 6:57. It is of course in contrast with idols. Cp. Deut.32:40.

Paul pleaded to them to worship God the creator of all things. Paul is bringing forth the good news of the Gospel, not the practices of idolatry to heathen gods.)

which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

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

17 Nevertheless 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."

(It rains on the just and unjust.

Paul is reminding them, that God had cared for animals that man had never laid eyes on. This is in reference to Job 38, where God watered and fed the animals, where there were no men. God created the creatures, and beasts of the field, and He provided also for their needs. We can see the greatness of our heavenly Father in His creation itself.)

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

(He wouldn't put up with it.)

19 And there came thither certain Jews

(= the Kenites = the sons of Cain.)

from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul,

(Cp. 2 Cor.11:25.)

drew him out of the city, supposing

(This word, which occ. 15 ties, always means to conclude from custom, law, or evidence, never to imagine. See Luke 3:27.)

he had been dead.

(Dead enough to have near-death experience.See 2 Cor.12:2-5.)

20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up,

(I.e. by Divine power.)

and came into the city: and the next day

(Cp. Matt.10:23.)

he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

(Imagine now what has taken place here, Paul had just been stoned to death, and drug out of town, and all the believers and followers came out and circled the two bodies, and as they looked down, Paul stood up and went back into the city, and the next day he and Barnabas departed for Derbe. Paul had been stoned to death, yet when God raised him back up, Paul went right back into the city to spend the night. Paul did this because he was on a divine mission.

Remember back in Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Paul and Barnabas were called by the Holy Spirit to minister to the Gentiles, and when there was a little trouble, that never stopped Paul from his mission, whether killing Christians, or suffering the punishment that came while ministering for the Lord. When you think you are following the Holy Spirit's voice, make sure that it is His voice before you charge out in that ministry. As long as you are in the Holy Spirit you have nothing to fear.)

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

(They returned to these places to shore them up and go to a new level of understanding in God's Word.)

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

(See 7:10.)

enter into the kingdom of God.

(Once a disciple has learned, there is no substitute for the Truth. You can see both sides. God convicts you with truth.)

23 And when they had ordained them elders

(Cp. Tit.1:5.)

in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

(Faith organized it and turned it over to the LORD.)

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

(Gathering place of every trade.)

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga,

(= earthly.)

they went down into Attalia:

(A town on the coast of Pamphylia.)

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

(It was here at Antioch that Paul and Barnabas received that divine order from the Holy Spirit to go to those cities. They preach to the Gentiles, and set up and establish churches in those cities, as well as ordain leaders in each. Now they have turned the work that they had done over to God, and their work is complete.

These travels of Paul and Barnabas is an example to us as to what can happen when we witness to others, and follow through with helping others. Many times the word is not well received, but we are to witness where and when the Spirit of God gives us an opening. God always looks favorable on those that do His word. Even though we plant the seed, it is He, the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the growth, and matures the person that has received the Word.)

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them,

(Not what man had done. Without God you are nothing.)

and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

(About 2 1/2 years.

While Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch a long time after this missionary journey, and they continued to review what had happened because it was the first time that it had happened that Gentiles could actually be saved, and receive salvation like the Israelites. It matters not which race, or nation you are from, when you believe on Jesus name and repent to the Father, these is salvation for you, and the blood of Jesus Christ will wash away your sins, and blot them out forever from the records that your soul will be judged by our Heavenly Father.)

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