< Acts 14 >

Moving on to Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel there to both Jews and Gentiles, and despite antagonism from the Jews, “long 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”.v.3Acts 14:3XWaiting for response Eventually, however, “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”,v.5Acts 14:5XWaiting for response therefore they fled to Lystra where again they preached the gospel.vs.6-7Acts 14:6-7XWaiting for response

In Lystra they healed a man lame from birth, convincing the citizens that their gods had come down to them, supposing that Paul and Barnabas were the Greek gods Mercury and Jupiter. Only with great difficulty did the apostles dissuade them from making sacrifices to them, by pressing upon them the truth concerning the living God. However, Jews following them from Iconium soon stirred up the citizens to stone them and, although they left Paul for dead, he rose up, and the next day moved on to the neighbouring city of Derbe.

After preaching the gospel in Derbe, they retraced their steps, visiting the same cities, despite the danger from alienated Jews, “confirming 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”.v.22Acts 14:22XWaiting for response In due course, they arrived back at Antioch, having fulfilled their mission v.26Acts 14:26XWaiting for response “and 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”.v.27Acts 14:27XWaiting for response

The first journey was completed, with many Gentiles believing the gospel, being baptized, and continuing in the apostles’ doctrine and practice in the hope of obtaining places in the kingdom of God at the return of his Son Jesus Christ.