BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
14:1
And it came about that in Iconium
they entered the synagogue of the
Jews together, and spoke in such a
manner that a great multitude
believed, both of Jews and of
Greeks.
At Iconium Paul and Barnabas
went as usual into the Jewish
synagogue. There they spoke so
effectively that a great number of
Jews and Gentiles believed.
And 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.
TODAY IN THE WORD
Renowned 19th-century archaeologist Sir
William Ramsay was a skeptic about the
Bible. But on a trip to Asia Minor, Ramsay
made an amazing discovery about Acts
14:1-6, where Luke indicates that Iconium
and Lycaonia were in separate districts.
Ramsay believed Luke was wrong--but his
explorations
proved
otherwise.
The
archaeological evidence showed that
although the two areas were in the same
district one hundred years before Luke, they
were in separate districts in Luke’s time. The
accuracy of the author of Acts stunned
Ramsay, who eventually became a believer
in Christ.
Ramsay’s experience is a testimony to the
truthfulness of God’s Word. Luke’s accuracy
as a historian is vital to the account of the
church’s beginnings. Every word in Acts is
important, recorded for a reason.
Today’s text is filled with such details,
including several accounts of God’s
miraculous power displayed through the
ministry of Paul and Barnabas. Notice again
that the miracles performed by apostles or
their associates “confirmed the message” (v.
3) in an area where the name of Jesus had
not been heard.
The reaction to the missionaries’ preaching
in Iconium is typical of two responses to the
word of Christ: faith or religious opposition.
The city was divided over these newcomers
and their message (v. 4). There were both
believers and enemies, among them those
plotting to kill the messengers.
Paul’s miraculous healing of the crippled
man at Lystra, and the people’s frenzied
reaction, give us an idea of the misguided
beliefs held by the Gentiles to whom Paul
was sent. The only thing more amazing than
the people’s desire to worship Paul and
Barnabas was their willingness to stone Paul
a short time later. Did Paul die from this
stoning? We can’t be sure, but his full
recovery was still miraculous. He was able
to continue on his first missionary journey,
and after a fruitful time in Derbe he and
Barnabas retraced their steps.
They appointed elders in the new churches
they had established, and returned to
Antioch to tell the church there of God’s
blessing on their work among the Gentiles.
ICONIUM
Discussed. The ancient city.
Fact:
 Believers of Iconium knew and
thought well of Timothy.
 Had a large number of Greek and
Jewish believers.
 Persecuted Paul.
Preacher On Throne Not Pulpit
The "Prince of Preachers" Spurgeon made
clear his approach to preaching more than
100 years ago:
"I cannot help feeling that the man who
preaches the Word of God is standing, not
on a mere platform, but on a throne. We
cannot play at preaching. We preach for
eternity. Life, death, hell and worlds
unknown hang on the preaching and hearing
of a sermon."
14:2
But the Jews who disbelieved stirred
up the minds of the Gentiles, and
embittered them against the
brethren.
But the Jews who refused to
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
believe stirred up the Gentiles
and poisoned their minds against
the brothers.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up
the Gentiles, and made their minds
evil affected against the brethren.
A New Humanist Manifesto
One hundred and twenty religious leaders,
philosophers, scientists, writers, and social
scientists have signed a document criticizing
religious dogmatism and stressing that
humans alone must solve the problems that
threaten their existence on earth.
“No deity will save us; we must save
ourselves,” the statement declared.
Following are excerpts from Humanist
Manifesto II:





secularized schools, are inventing new
religions.
The newest is the New Age philosophy, the
so-called yuppies' religion. Common to
many of its adherents is a belief in
reincarnation, in astrology, in the miraculous
powers of quartz crystals, and in trance
channelers, individuals with the psychic
power to summon up voices from centuries
ago.
Thus, when belief in the Biblical God has
been extirpated, the beneficiaries of that
secular indoctrination soon set out to find
another God. And if the search fails, they
invent one.
This is the history of the human race.
14:3
We believe that traditional dogmatic
or authoritarian religions that place
revelation, God, ritual, or creed
above needs and experience do a
disservice to the human species.
Promises of immortal salvation or
fear of eternal damnation are both
illusory and harmful. They distract
humans from present concerns,
from self-actualization and from
rectifying social injustices.
We affirm that moral values derive
their source from human
experience. Ethics is autonomous
and situational, needing no
ideological sanction. Ethics stems
from human need and interest. To
deny this distorts the whole basis of
life.
We strive for the good life, here and
now.
Reason and intelligence are the
most effective instruments that
humankind possesses. There is no
substitute; neither faith nor passion
suffices in itself.
No Biblical God—Must Find Another
Some of the best and brightest of the young,
emerging from the moral wilderness of our
Therefore they spent a long time
there speaking boldly with reliance
upon the Lord, who was bearing
witness to the word of His grace,
granting that signs and wonders be
done by their hands.
So Paul and Barnabas spent
considerable time there, speaking
boldly for the Lord, who
confirmed the message of his
grace by enabling them to do
miraculous signs and wonders.
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.
Some Famous Users Of Time
Macaulay learned German on a sea voyage.
Dr. Abercrombie wrote many valuable books
with a lead-pencil while visiting his patients.
Dr. Good translated Lucretius while riding in
his carriage in the streets of London. Dr.
Darwin composed nearly all his works while
driving from house to house in the country.
Rev. Mr. Hale wrote his contemplations
while traveling on a circuit. Professor Burney
learned French and Italian while traveling on
horseback from one music pupil to another.
Madame de Genlis composed several of her
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
charming volumes while waiting for the
princess to whom she gave music lessons.
One of the great chancellors of France wrote
a book in the successive intervals of waiting
for dinner.
from morning till night. They were faithful to
their highest convictions and to the best
thought which God gave to them. In this
manner they changed time into life, and
made every moment bring forth fruit.
Mr. Fulton invented the steamboat and
Morse the telegraph, with fragments of time.
Sir William Hamilton read ten thousand
books, and made marginal notes upon them.
Hugh Miller wrote a library of science. St.
Paul in about thirty years preached the
gospel and planted churches over the whole
civilized world. Francis Xavier during his
lifetime baptized a hundred thousand
converts.
Opportunity:
 To speak
 To do good for others
 To correct misapprehension
 To prove the sufficiency of God’s
grace.
John Wesley in the course of his life
preached more than forty thousand
sermons, and traveled three hundred
thousand miles, or nearly fifteen times the
circumference of the globe. Wm. Gray. the
Boston merchant, who owned at one time
sixty large ships, stated that for fifty years he
arose at dawn.
Perhaps no man made better use of his time
than Benjamin Franklin. By the wise use of it
he plucked the lightning from the clouds and
the scepter from the hands of George the
Third. When he stood before English lords in
council, the object of abuse and ridicule;
when he stood in the midst of the glittering
court of France, the object of praise and
admiration; when he stood in the American
Congress, with his calm good sense
directing its counsel; and when he tried
experiments with his kite and his key—he
was redeeming the time and applying his
heart unto wisdom.
For many years Hale studied at the rate of
sixteen hours a day. He became a great
lawyer, a philosopher and mathematician.
Spurgeon placed a high value upon time. I
have in my library between thirty and forty
volumes from his pen.
These few examples of men who have
coined minutes into hours and hours into
days serve to show what can be done in a
brief space of time. They were industrious
R. C. Sproul
Having been expelled from Antioch, Paul
and Barnabas travel eastward about 80
miles to the city of Iconium, which will prove
to be their longest stop on this first
missionary journey. But though they are now
ministering in a new location, their
experience is strikingly similar to that of
Antioch.
The missionaries’ first step, just as in
Antioch, is to go to the Jewish synagogue.
Luke is sparse with details, but Paul and
Barnabas gain the opportunity to speak and
God grants that “a great multitude both of
the Jews and of the Greeks” believes their
message. But as in Antioch, certain Jews do
not accept the message and come out in
opposition to the missionaries. Interestingly,
Luke’s reference to “the unbelieving Jews”
literally reads “the Jews who disobeyed.” In
his commentary on Acts, Dr. Simon
Kistemaker notes, “the verb to disobey is the
substitute for the verb to express unbelief.
Faith demands obedience; otherwise it lacks
the characteristics of trust, confidence, and
dependence. Faith without obedience is
dead. The proclamation of the Good News
demands a positive response of joyful
compliance, but a negative response
demonstrates willful defiance.” These Jews
work among the Gentiles to step up
opposition to Paul, Barnabas, and remain in
Iconium “along time,” preaching boldly. And
God does miracles through them as a
testimony to the validity of their message.
The situation changes, however, when the
city grows increasingly polarized, some
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
siding with the Jews and some with Paul
and Barnabas, whom Luke here calls
“apostles,” or “sent ones”; he is using the
term in a loose sense in order to apply it to
both men, for Barnabas unlike Paul, does
not meet the full qualifications for the title
outlines in Acts 1:21-22. As in Antioch, the
antagonism toward Paul and Luke tells us
that “the Gentiles and Jews, with their
rulers,” set out to abuse and stone the two
men. It is unclear whether “rulers” refer to
the Gentile authorities, the Jewish
synagogue leaders, or both, though the
latter seems preferable. Learning of the plot,
Paul and Barnabas decide to depart and
move southward to the cities of Lystra and
Derbe, where they continue their preaching
ministry.
Authentication By Signs
True prophets in the Bible were given
temporary sign-gifts to authenticate their
ministries. Elijah and Elisha were examples.
However, this test is tempered by the facts
that (1) Satan’s emissaries could also work
signs and wonders, and (2) False prophets
sometimes “steal” words from true prophets
(cf. Jeremiah 23:30).
14:4
But the multitude of the city was
divided; and some sided with the
Jews, and some with the apostles.
The people of the city were
divided; some sided with the
Jews, others with the apostles.
But the multitude of the city was
divided: and part held with the Jews,
and part with the apostles.
Church Problems:
1st Century And Today
 Danger of losing first love
 Being afraid of suffering
 Doctrinal defection
 Moral departure
 Spiritual deadness
 Not holding fast
 Luke-warmness
Julian The Apostate's Final Admission
In the days of his prosperity Julian the
Apostate is said to have pointed his dagger
to heaven, defying the Son of God, whom he
commonly called the Galilean. But when he
was wounded in battle, he saw that all was
over with him, and he gathered up his
clotted blood, and threw it into the air,
exclaiming, "Thou hast conquered, O thou
Galilean!"
14:5
And when an attempt was made by
both the Gentiles and the Jews with
their rulers, to mistreat and to stone
them,
There was a plot afoot among the
Gentiles and Jews, together with
their leaders, to mistreat them
and stone them.
And 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,
Features Of Early Christians
In the third century a certain Cyprian, who
was later Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his
friend Donatus:
"It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad
world. But I have discovered in the midst of
it a quiet and holy people, who have learned
a great secret. They have found a joy which
is a thousands times better than any of the
pleasures of our sinful life. They are
despised and persecuted, but they care not.
They are masters of their souls. They have
overcome the world. These people,
Donatus, are Christians... and I am one of
them."
STONING

Capital punishment by.
Hitler And the Church
When Adolph Hitler began his conquest of
the world, he quickly recognized that there
was one formidable power which stood
between him and his goal of controlling the
government—the confessing church and the
men who were the spiritual descendants of
Martin Luther. To neutralize the criticism of
the church, Hitler spoke of himself as a
believer and sought to win the church's
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
support for a White Paper—a position paper
outlining the supremacy of the Arian or white
race, denouncing Jews as inferiors.
Few men, however, would compromise.
Hitler knew they had to be destroyed.
Thousands of German pastors were among
those sent to the concentration camps,
including an outspoken German minister by
the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In prison,
Bonhoeffer had time to reflect on the true
nature of the Gospel and what it costs to be
a Christian. Out of that experience came
Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship.
Instances of:
 Sabbath breaker.
 Achan.
 Naboth.
 Stephen.
 Paul.
Modern-Day Agony
Christians in modern-day Chad, Africa, were
being persecuted for refusing to participate
in old tribal initiation rites they say are
pagan. Reliable sources reported the
tortured deaths of pastors, evangelists, and
other church leaders who declined to
commit acts counter to their faith: drinking
chicken blood offered to idols, handling
fetishes, and the like. The accounts told of
persons buried alive with just part of a leg
left above ground or—for slower death—with
only the head exposed, a terrifying warning
to others who resist.
The persecution originated when President
Francois N'garta Tombalbaye launched a
cultural revolution assertedly to rid the
nation and its four million inhabitants of
unwanted foreign influences and to establish
an identity with the country's past. But
church leaders reportedly met and agreed to
oppose the rites, and some church groups
say they would not readmit members who
take part. The evangelical churches in Chad
number more than 1,500 congregations with
tens of thousands of members.
14:6
they became aware of it and fled to
the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and
Derbe, and the surrounding region;
But they found out about it and
fled to the Lycaonian cities of
Lystra and Derbe and to the
surrounding country,
They were ware of it, and fled unto
Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia,
and unto the region that lieth round
about:
The Underground Railroad
Until the Civil War ended slavery in America,
it was not uncommon in the south to see
crudely lettered signs nailed to trees
informing passersby of runaway slaves. One
such sign might read: "Runaway slave,
prime condition, 18 years or thereabouts.
Answer to name of Toby. Property of
Jeremiah Higgens."
But "runaway slaves" may use the
Underground Railroad, which was not really
a railroad and was not located under the
ground. It was a system used before the
Civil War to transport escaped slaves into
the 14 "free" states in the North or into
Canada.
Often elaborate disguises, including wigs,
mustaches and powder, were used to help
make the runaways appear white.
Of course, not all the slaves escaped. Some
were captured, despite the secrecy, and
taken back to their masters for flogging, and
sometimes death. But a surprising number
did reach the North, some estimates ranging
as high as 100,000 men, women and
children during the period from around 1780
to 1865.
In addition to the people it rescued from
slavery, the Underground Railroad also
helped to convince the South that the North
would never leave the issue of slavery
alone. Both of these factors played a part in
the bloody and tragic Civil War that began in
1861.
LYCAONIA (Lyc ay o’ nigh u) Roman
province in the interior of Asia Minor
including cities of Lystra, Iconium, and
Derbe. See Acts 14:1-23.
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
LYSTRA (Lys’ tru) A city in south central
Asia Minor and an important Lycaonian
center. According to Acts 16:1, it probably
was the home of young Timothy, one of
Paul’s companions in the ministry. Paul’s
healing of a crippled man at Lystra (Acts
14:8-10) caused the inhabitants to revere
him as a god. Many believed his preaching
but were turned against the missionary by
Judaizers from Antioch and Iconium. Paul
was dragged out of Lystra, stoned, and left
for dead. He revived and later went back to
the city to lend strength to the new
Christians.
Spurgeon Highlights Scriptures
In case a famine of books should be sore in
the land, there is one book which you all
must have, and that is the Bible. In the Bible
you have a perfect library, and he who
studies it thoroughly will be a better scholar
than if he had devoured the Alexandrine
Library entire.
DERBE (Der’ bih) Important city in region of
Lycaonia in province of Galatia in Asia
minor. It is apparently near modern Kerti
Huyuk. The residents of Derbe and Lystra
spoke a different language from the people
to the north in Iconium. Paul visited Derbe
on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6),
fleeing from Iconium. Persecution in Lystra
led to a successful preaching mission in
Derbe (Acts 14:20-21). On the second
journey, Paul returned to Derbe (Acts 16:1).
He apparently visited again on the third
journey (Acts 18:23). Paul’s fellow minister
Gaius was from Derbe Acts 4).
To Be Continued In Heaven
Rev. James Harris, 77, of Oreana, Illinois,
collapsed and died at the end of his sermon
in a county home for the aged. With his last
breath, he said: "I have just one more point
to make and then I'll close." He made that
"last point" in heaven.
14:7
and there they continued to preach
the gospel.
where they continued to preach
the good news.
And there they preached the gospel.
PREACHING IN THE BIBLE
Human
presentation through the Holy Spirit’s power
of God’s acts of salvation through Jesus
Christ. This proclamation of God’s revelation
functions as God’s chosen instrument for
bringing us to salvation by grace, although
its message of a crucified Messiah seems to
be foolishness to people of worldly wisdom
and a scandalous offense to Jews (1 Cor.
1:21-23). True Christian preaching interprets
the
meaning
of
God’s
acts
into
contemporary contexts. A sermon becomes
God’s word to us only as God’s servant
reconstitutes the past realities of the biblical
revelation into vital present experience.
The Bible is its own best illustrator. If you
want anecdote, simile, allegory or parable,
turn to the sacred page. Scriptural truth
never looks more lovely than when adorned
with jewels from her own treasury.
Open It
01.
What makes a person successful in
your line of work?
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02.
When do you feel best about your
work?
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03.
What are some issues that often
cause disagreement among people?
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Explore It
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
04.
At Iconium, where did Paul and
Barnabas go? (14:1)
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05.
Where did the apostles begin telling
others about Christ? (14:1)
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06.
Who became believers at Iconium?
Why? (14:1)
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07.
How did unbelievers oppose what
Paul and Barnabas were doing?
(14:2)
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08.
How did the apostles respond to the
opposition? (14:3)
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09.
What did the Lord enable Paul and
Barnabas to do? Why? (14:3)
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10. How was the city divided? (14:4)
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11.
What did certain people plot against
the apostles? (14:5)
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12.
When Paul and Barnabas discovered
the plot against them, what did they
do? (14:6)
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13.
Despite the setback Paul and
Barnabas suffered, what did they do
in Lystra and Derbe? (14:6-7)
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Get It
14.
When faced with conflict and
opposition, how did the apostles pull
together?
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
15.
Which pastoral task do you think your
minister enjoys most?
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16.
When does your pastor speak most
effectively?
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17.
What happens to the church when a
congregation divides its loyalties
among leaders?
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18.
How can you and others in your
church support your ministerial staff?
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19.
What should you do when people
oppose you for being a Christian?
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20.
When is it best to run from
persecution or leave a situation that
threatens your faith?
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21.
Why is important for us to pray daily
for the missionaries we support?
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Apply It
22.
When you face conflict this week, how
can you rely on the Lord for help?
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23.
How can you support those whom
God has called to lead your church?
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24.
For what missionary will you pray
every day this week?
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14:8
And at Lystra there was sitting a
certain man, without strength in his
feet, lame from his mother's womb,
who had never walked.
In Lystra there sat a man crippled
in his feet, who was lame from
birth and had never walked.
And there sat a certain man at
Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a
cripple from his mother's womb, who
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
never had walked:
LAME, LAMENESS A physical condition in
which walking is difficult or impossible. In the
Old Testament, lame animals were not
acceptable sacrifices (Deut. 15:21; Malachi
1:8; Malachi 1:13). The lame were prohibited
from serving as priests though they were
allowed to eat from the priests’ provisions
(Leviticus 21:18). The Jebusites boasted
that their stronghold of Jerusalem was so
impregnable that even the blind and lame
would be able to turn back David’s troops (2
Samuel 5:6 NRVS, NIV). A proverb
excluding the blind and lame from “the
house” (that is, the Temple) is traced to the
assault on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:8). In the
New Testament, the healing of the lame
forms an important part of Jesus’ messianic
work (Matthew 11:2-6; Matthew 15:29-31).
By healing the lame in the Temple, Jesus
restored these excluded ones to full
participation in the worshiping community
(Matthew 21:14). Acts tells of the early
church continuing Jesus’ healing ministry to
the lame: Peter and John (Acts 3:2); Philip
(Acts 8:7); Paul (Acts 14:8-10).
The Boy Crawled Forward
Dr. Marshall Craig, preaching in a southern
university, pleaded for young men and
women to place their all on God's altar. They
began to come—the president of the student
body, football players, beautiful girls,
campus leaders—sincerely, honestly giving
themselves to Christ. And then Dr. Craig
saw a strange thing. Far back toward the
rear of the auditorium, he saw a boy start
down the aisle toward the front. And that boy
was crawling on his hands and knees.
Dr. Craig turned to the president of the
university, who said, "It's all right, sir. That
boy is one of our students, but he is a
hopeless cripple, and the only way he can
get around is on his hands and knees." Dr.
Craig waited until the boy had made his way
to the front, then leaned down to greet him.
The young man looked at the great
preacher, and said to him, "Sir, you said
God had a place for a man. I know God has
a place for these athletes with their muscles
of steel; I know God has a place for these
campus leaders. But tell me, sir, does God
have a place for a wreck like me?" And Dr.
Craig told him through his tears, "Son, God
has just been waiting for a wreck like you."
14:9
This man was listening to Paul as
he spoke, who, when he had fixed
his gaze upon him, and had seen
that he had faith to be made well,
He listened to Paul as he was
speaking. Paul looked directly at
him, saw that he had faith to be
healed
The same heard Paul speak: who
stedfastly beholding him, and
perceiving that he had faith to be
healed,
How Roosevelt Tests Listeners
President Franklin D. Roosevelt got tired of
smiling that big smile and decided to find out
whether anybody was paying attention to
what he was saying. As each person came
up to him with extended hand, he flashed
that big smile and said, “I murdered my
grandmother this morning.” People would
automatically respond with comments such
as “How lovely!” or “Just continue with your
great work!” Nobody listened to what he was
saying, except one foreign diplomat. When
the president said, “I murdered my
grandmother this morning,” the diplomat
responded softly, “I’m sure she had it
coming to her.”
Faith And Doubt
Doubt sees the obstacles.
Faith sees the way!
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day!
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Doubt questions, "Who believes?"
Faith answers, "I!"
Some U.S. Pioneers Lose Vision
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers
landed on the northeast coast of America.
The first year they established a town site.
The next year they elected a town
government. The third year the town
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BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
government planned to build a road five
miles westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year the people tried to
impeach their town government because
they thought it was a waste of public funds
to build a road five miles westward into a
wilderness. Who needed to go there
anyway?
Here were people who had the vision to see
three thousand miles across an ocean and
overcome great hardships to get there. But
in just a few years they were not able to see
even five miles out of town. They had lost
their pioneering vision.
14:10
said with a loud voice, "Stand
upright on your feet." And he leaped
up and began to walk.
and called out, "Stand up on your
feet!" At that, the man jumped up
and began to walk.
Said with a loud voice, Stand upright
on thy feet. And he leaped and
walked.
Healing:
Christians are often confused about the
ministry of healing, but these biblical
teachings clearly appear:




The Bible clearly states that Jesus
believed in healing of the body.
Jesus spoke of doctors in a positive
way as He compared those in good
health who have no need of a
physician with those who do, God
has often healed by the way He has
led dedicated scientists into the
discovery of body function.
The methods of healing Jesus used
included prayer, laying on of hands,
anointing with oil, and assurance of
forgiveness of sins. The church
continued to use these methods.
Jesus did not use healing as a
means of gaining attention but tried
to keep the experience private.
“Bless the Lord . . . who healeth all
thy diseases”.
The Name Of Jesus
"Jesus" is a precious name to all believers
because it always reminds us that He is the
Savior. It was the name given to Him by God
when He came into this world. It teaches us
the purpose of His incarnation. It is His
human name reminding us that He who is
God also became man. Peter made much of
this name in the healing of the crippled
beggar, and declared that there is no other
name sufficient for our salvation.
Writer of "Footprints" Poem
Vancouver, British Columbia—Margaret
Powers is far from an expert in finances or
copyrights. But if she had been, she might
be a rich woman today.
Ms. Powers says she is the author of
Footprints, a poem that has been reprinted
more than a million times, usually above the
words "Author Unknown." It has appeared
on greeting cards and bookmarks, coffee
cups and posters, portraying God as an
invisible friend walking in the sand.
To some, her assertion that she wrote the
poem was about like saying she had
invented chocolate chip cookies. Oh, sure.
But Hallmark Cards found her claim
believable and now pays the modest
missionary an annual fee. HarperCollins
believed her too. The publishing company
has just released her book, Footprints: The
True Story Behind the Poem That Inspired
Millions.
In the book, the well-traveled co-director of
Little Peoples Ministry describes how boxes
of her poems, including "Footprints,"
vanished like footprints in the sand, stolen in
1980 from a moving truck taking her family's
belongings to the Vancouver area from
Toronto.
Ms. Powers was devastated then by the
loss. But later, her anguish became even
greater when she and her husband visited a
bookstore in Washington state and saw
"Footprints" etched on a plaque, credited to
another author.
10
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
Suddenly she began seeing the poem
everywhere. But long gone was her proof
that she had written it for her wedding in
1964—a sealed, postmarked envelope
containing the poem and mailed to herself, a
procedure sometimes used to establish
copyright.
money. And on balance, she considers
herself blessed. "After all," she said. "When
I'm dead and gone, will it really matter who
wrote 'Footprints'?"
14:11
She was angry and bitter and, as a devout
evangelical
who
considered
"selfish"
feelings to be wrong, at war with herself. So
she convinced herself that her own needs
were unimportant. "I just wanted people to
get the message of the poem," she said. But
for years she had no enthusiasm for writing.
In 1987, lawyer friends tried to persuade her
to take her case to court. But in consultation
with a friend from Vancouver, Geoff Still,
head of the conservative religious group
Focus on the Family, she decided against
trying to get copyright with a suit.
"A lawsuit would have lasted a lifetime," she
said. "A court case could have taken the
poem out of circulation. I would be the
winner monetarily, but would I be a real
winner?"
A year later, however, Hallmark was
persuaded and began paying an annual fee,
although other publishing companies
continued to use "Footprints," asserting the
author is unknown. HarperCollins learned
about Ms. Powers' ordeal through a friend,
according to Judy Brunsek, an official of the
publishing firm.
Ms. Powers said she doesn't know how
much her fee from Hallmark is, or how much
money she'll make off her book. She pays
little attention to such matters, she said with
a giggle.
But she does take note of some financial
principles related to her missionary life. She
is conscious, for example, of the wealth in
Canada compared with the poverty in
Mexico, where her work takes her. She
believes biblical warnings that rich people
will be expected to account for use of their
And when the multitudes 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."
When the crowd saw what Paul
had done, they shouted in the
Lycaonian language, "The gods
have come down to us in human
form!"
And 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.
Red-Faced Peter And Paul In Heaven
The painter Raphael replied to two
cardinals, friends of his, who criticized in his
presence a picture which he had painted of
St. Peter and St. Paul, saying that these two
figures were too red in the face.
Raphael immediately said: "My lords, do not
wonder, for I did this deliberately, since we
must believe that St. Peter and St. Paul are
still red-faced in heaven as you see them
here, for shame that their Church is
governed by men as you."
LYCAONIAN (Lyc ay o’ nigh an) Citizen of
or language of Lycaonia.
14:12
And they began calling Barnabas,
Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because
he was the chief speaker.
Barnabas they called Zeus, and
Paul they called Hermes because
he was the chief speaker.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter;
and Paul, Mercurius, because he
was the chief speaker.
BARNABAS
Barnabas was a Levite and
native of the island of Cyprus, named
Joseph (Joses), before the disciples called
him Barnabas. He sold his property and
11
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
gave the proceeds to the Jerusalem church
(Acts 4:36-37). He introduced Saul of Tarsus
to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:26-27). The
church chose Barnabas to go to Syrian
Antioch to investigate the unrestricted
preaching to the Gentiles there. He became
the leader to the work and secured Saul as
his assistant. They took famine relief to the
Jerusalem church (Acts 11:19-30). On
Paul’s “first missionary journey,” Barnabas
at first seems to have been the leader (Act
13-14). Paul and Barnabas were sent to
Jerusalem to try to settle the questions of
how Gentiles could be saved and how
Jewish Christians could have fellowship with
them (Act 15:1-21). They agreed to go on
another missionary journey but separated
over whether to take John Mark with them
again (Act 15:36-41).
ZEUS (Zeyoos) The Greek god of the sky
and chief of the pantheon; ruler over all the
gods. His devotees believed all the elements
of weather were under his control. The
worship of Zeus was very prevalent
throughout the Roman Empire during the
first century. Barnabas was mistaken for
Zeus (equivalent of the Roman god, Jupiter)
by the people of Lystra after Paul healed a
cripple (Acts 14:8-12).
The Legend Of Aurora
In Greek mythology is the legend of a
goddess called Aurora who fell in love with a
mortal youth called Tichonus. At the
wedding, Zeus the king of the gods offered
her any gift she chose for Tichonus.
Naturally, she chose that Tichonus might
live forever and be with her. But she forgot
to request that he be forever young. And so
Tichonus grew older and older, and could
never die. And the gift became a curse.
No! God promises that we shall not only not
have to die, we would first be changed when
Christ comes.
Legend Of Wheat
Once I chanced upon a sculptured panel of
stone in the Athens Archaeological Museum.
It depicted a woman presenting a grain
of wheat to a little boy. Grecian mythology
has it that Demeter the earth Mother had a
daughter Kore who had been carried off by
Pluto, god of the underworld, to be his bride,
and in desperate search for her daughter,
the legend said, Demeter was hospitably
received by the King of Eleusis.
Finally Zeus, the chief god, forced a
compromise by which Kore stayed in the
underworld for six months and returned to
earth to her mother for the remaining six
months of the year. Hence winter and
summer were the reflection of the Earth
Mother's grief and withdrawal, bounty and
joy.
According to the legend, when Demeter left
the king's house, in return for the hospitality
she had received she gave to the little prince
Triptolemos a grain of wheat. This is how
corn came to man, and since Demeter was
also called Ceres, we perpetuate the old
story whenever we eat "cereals."
PAUL The outstanding missionary and
writer of the early church. Paul the apostle
and his theology are important in the New
Testament not only because thirteen
Epistles bear his name but also because of
the extended biographical information given
in the Book of Acts. From the information in
these two sources, we piece together a
reasonable picture of one of the major
personalities of early Christianity. The letters
of Paul as listed in the New Testament
include Romans through Philemon. (Dates
given below are approximate.)
HERMES (Her’mees) In Acts 14:12, the
Greek deity for whom the superstitious
people at Lystra took Paul. KJV uses the
god’s Latin name, Mercurius. Hermes was
known as a messenger of the gods and was
associated with eloquence. Paul’s role as
chief speaker made the Lystrans think of
Hermes.
Hermes' Statue Thrown In Free
Hermes wanted to find out how highly men
valued him, and taking the shape of a
human being he went to a sculptor's
workshop.
On seeing a statue of Zeus he inquired its
price. "A drachma," the man said. With a
12
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
laugh Hermes went on to ask the same
question about one representing Hera, and
was told that it was more expensive than the
other.
At length he noticed a statue of himself.
Thinking that his dual character as the
messenger of Zeus and the god of Gain
must cause him to be held in high esteem by
mankind, he asked: "And how much is the
Hermes?" "Oh," replied the sculptor, "if you
buy the other two, I'll throw him in for
nothing."
Selling His God For Ready Money
A man once made a wooden statue of
Hermes and took it to the market to sell. As
no buyer came forward, he tried to attract
one by shouting aloud that he was offering
for sale a god who would confer blessings
on a man and make him prosper.
"Oh, are you?" said a bystander. "If he is all
you say he is, why do you want to sell him?
You would show more sense if you kept him
and profited by his help"
"But it's present money I need," the man
replied. "It generally takes Hermes a long
time to put anything into one's pocket."
14:13
And 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.
The priest of Zeus, whose temple
was just outside the city, brought
bulls and wreaths to the city
gates because he and the crowd
wanted to offer sacrifices to
them.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which
was before their city, brought oxen
and garlands unto the gates, and
would have done sacrifice with the
people.
ZEUS (Zeyoos) The Greek god of the sky
and chief of the pantheon; ruler over all the
gods. His devotees believed all the elements
of weather were under his control. The
worship of Zeus was very prevalent
throughout the Roman Empire during the
first century. Barnabas was mistaken for
Zeus (equivalent of the Roman god, Jupiter)
by the people of Lystra after Paul healed a
cripple (Acts 14:8-12).
JUPITER (Jyoo’ pih ter) Latin name of
Zeus, king of Greek gods. KJV translates
Zeus as Jupiter (Acts 13:12-13). God
worked through Paul to heal a crippled man
at Lystra. The people responded by claiming
the gods had come to earth. They named
Barnabas, Zeus or Jupiter. The priest of
Jupiter tried to offer sacrifices to them. Paul
used the opportunity for evangelistic
preaching. KJV also inserts Jupiter in Acts
19:35, referring to the image of Artemis or
Diana, the goddess for whose worship
Ephesus was famous. The Greek says the
image fell from heaven (NRSV, NAS, REB,
NIV, TEV).
Roman Catholic Priests' Oath
This "Oath of Faith" is required of all Roman
Catholic priests:
"I acknowledge that during the Mass a truly
expiatory sacrifice takes place; effective for
the dead and those alive. In the holy
sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ with His soul
and whole Godhead is in truth present. I
believe in Purgatory and that the souls who
go there are helped by the prayers of
believers.
"I believe that the saints who rule with Christ
are to be honored and addressed in prayer;
that they offer prayers on our behalf to God
and that we should honor their relics.
"I affirm that we should keep, protect and
pay due honor to pictures of Christ, the
never-changing Virgin Mother of God and
the other saints.
"I also declare that Christ gave to the
Church the power to remit sin and that great
blessing comes to every Christian nation
which makes use of this.
13
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
"I acknowledge that the holy Roman
Catholic Church as being the mother and
teacher of all churches. I swear and promise
to obey the Roman Pope, the successor of
Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles and
representative of Christ on earth.
"Similarly, I condemn, reject and declare
accursed everything contrary to his,
including all false doctrines which The
Church has condemned, rejected or cursed.
I herewith confess openly the Catholic faith
without which no man can be saved. I
promise to keep this faith pure and
unadulterated until the day of my death."
14:14
But when the apostles, Barnabas
and Paul, heard of it, they tore their
robes and rushed out into the
crowd, crying out
But when the apostles Barnabas
and Paul heard of this, they tore
their clothes and rushed out into
the crowd, shouting:
Which when the apostles, Barnabas
and Paul, heard of, they rent their
clothes, and ran in among the
people, crying out,
"O God, Help!"—Spurgeon
God's strongest saints realize their
weaknesses, and appeal to Him for strength.
One Sunday morning, as Charles H.
Spurgeon passed through the door back of
the pulpit in the Tabernacle, and saw the
great crowd of people, he was overheard
saying, "O God, help!" Strong as he was, he
realized that he was insufficient for so great
a task as preaching the Gospel in power,
unless God should be his Helper.
Abraham's Object Of Worship
The Jews have a legend that when Abraham
started on his journeys he saw the stars in
the heavens and said, "I will worship the
stars." But before long the stars set. Then
Abraham saw the constellations—the
Pleiades and the rest of them—and he said,
"I will worship the constellations." But the
constellations also set. Then Abraham saw
the moon sailing high in the heavens and he
said, "I will worship the moon." But the moon
also vanished when her season was over.
Then Abraham saw the sun in all his
majesty, coming out of his chamber like a
bridegroom and rejoicing as a strong man to
run a race. But when the day was spent, he
saw the sun sink on the western horizon.
Stars, constellations, moon, and sun—all
were unworthy of his worship, for all had set
and all had disappeared. Then Abraham
said, "I will worship God, for he abides
forever."
IDOLS - IDOLATRY
Described as:
 Abominable.
 An empty, darkened mind.
 Covetousness.
 Dumb.
 Imperial worship of Caesar and the
state or government.
 Irrational, foolish.
 Mental image of God.
 Several things.
 Worship of angels.
 Worship of antichrist.
 Worship of man.
 Worship of Satan.
Canaan's Site Conducive To Idolatry
The Israelites, in adjusting to Canaan's
agrarian lifestyle, searched for surety that
their crops—especially grain, wine, and oil—
would prosper in the special climatic
conditions of the Land of Israel. Idol worship
soon spread among the people. The
temptation to try and worship other gods
was great.
Failing to change the nation's direction, the
prophets saw the solution in the destruction
of the existing agricultural base, together
with all the concomitant urban layers, and
the nation's return to a nomadic shepherding
life in the desert. There everything could
begin anew.
In the twenty-third psalm, David tried to
bring the nation to recognize the true
Shepherd, in whose power it is to direct His
14
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
flock and lead it to overcome all obstacles.
Cleansed of its sins, the nation of Israel
would return to the Promised Land.
Lofty People With Lowly Gods
The men who built the Pyramids worshipped
loathsome insects and animals. The
Phoenicians, who invented letters, chained
the images of their gods to their altars, that
they might not abandon them. The cultured
men of Rome made important plans by
auguris derived from the entrails of sheep or
the flight of birds. Plutarch thought that the
souls of men were made out of the moon,
and would return to it. Plato and Seneca
thought the stars required nourishment, and
were eager for pasture.
14:15
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 in order
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.
"Men, why are you doing this?
We too are only men, human like
you. We are bringing you good
news, telling you to turn from
these worthless things to the
living God, who made heaven and
earth and sea and everything in
them.
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 unto the living God, which
made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein:
R. C. Sproul
Lystra, about 20 miles southeast of Iconium,
was a much smaller city. It was not a Jewish
population center, and if there were any
Jews there at all, they apparently lacked a
synagogue, for Paul and Barnabas here
break their pattern of using the local
synagogue to inaugurate their ministry in a
new city. Indeed, it is possible that Paul and
Barnabas go to Lystra specifically to escape
Jewish synagogue officials.
Paul apparently begins preaching the
Gospel in Lystra in some public place. As he
speaks, a man lame “from his mother’s
womb” listens in. In a striking parallel to
Peter’s miracle in Acts 3, Paul looks intently
at him and detects by the Spirit that he has
put his faith in Christ while listening to the
Gospel message. Thus, Paul commands
him in a loud voice to stand, and he does so
joyfully. This miracle attests to the Gospel
and draws attention to its proclamation. But
the people of Lystra are thoroughly pagan,
lacking the biblical understanding possessed
by Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and they
focus on the miracle. According to their
worldview, the Greek gods Zeus (Barnabas)
and Hermes (Paul) have come among them.
A local legend held that this had happened
before, with disastrous results for those who
were inhospitable. Thus, the people are
eager to give obeisance to the missionaries
and prepare to offer sacrifices to them.
Paul and Barnabas at first do not
understand what the Lystrans are saying
(they preached to them in Greek). But when
they learn the people’s intent, they are
aghast, for they know that only God is to
worshiped. So they hasten to set the record
straight: they are not gods but mere men
who are messengers from the true God.
Furthermore, their message is meant to
deliver the people from such “useless
things.” But this pagan crowd knows nothing
about God and His works. So Paul and
Barnabas explain that this God they
proclaim is the Creator of all things.
Furthermore, He has been patient and
longsuffering, not calling unbelievers to
account but showering all with good things,
such as rain, food and even gladness,
blessings that revealed His existence and
some basic facts about His nature. For
these reason alone, the Lystrans should
worship and serve God through Christ. But
even these powerful words barely dissuade
the people from sacrificing to them.
False gods:
Beelzebub.
15
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14


Ancient god of the Philistines.
Discussed.
Christ was charged with being
possessed by Beelzebub.
Diana.
 Ancient goddess of the Greeks.
Discussed.
 Worshippers of Diana attacked
Paul.
Hermes (Mercurius).
 Ancient god of the Romans.
Discussed.
Zeus (Jupiter).
 Ancient god of the Romans.
Discussed.
Christianity's Relics
Here are some of the "relics" considered
authentic in apostate Christianity:
 Hair of the Virgin in churches in
Naples and Rome.
 Her Wedding Ring in Cathedral
Perugia.
 Her Holy Girdle at church in Prato.
 Drops of the Virgin's Milk are kept in
the church of San Gaudioso Patrizio
at Naples and at St. Mary of the
People at Rome.
 The Holy Basin used at the Last
Supper is kept in the Cathedral of
St. Lorenzo at Genoa.
 The Lance which pierced Jesus'
side, Veronica's Veil with Christ's
features imprinted, and the Head of
St. Andrew are all kept in the four
massive piers which support St.
Peter's dome.
 Christ's burial sheet is in Turin's
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
 The rectangular marble stone with
Christ's footprints is kept in the
Church of St. Sebastian, Rome.
 Three shoulder blades, four legs,
five arms, 50 index fingers all
supposedly that of John the Baptist,
which pointed to the Lamb of God
plus 13 heads are claimed all over
the continent.
Over One Thousand "Christs"
There have been over 1,100 religious
leaders in different parts of Mark
the world
3:22 in the
last fifty years who have claimed to be Christ
and the Savior of the world.Matthew
Most of3:22
these
false christs have risen in Africa, in India or
in the Orient and have spread into the West.
Ephes.
14:16 "And in the generations gone by He
permitted all the nations
go their
Actsto19:21
own ways;
In the past, he let all nations go
their own way.
Acts 14:8-13
Who in times past suffered all
nations to walk in their own ways.
Acts 14:8-13
How Long Is One Generation?
A Bible generation is usually considered to
be 35 years. It is one-half of a life span of 70
years. (Psalm 90:10)
Some believe a Bible generation could be
40 years. They say this because all the
adults of the generation that left Egypt
(except Caleb and Joshua) died during the
40-year wandering in the wilderness.
We find a strong definition in Job 42:16 “Job
lived a hundred and forty years...even four
generations.” Divide 140 by 4, and the result
is 35. A Bible generation therefore is 35
years.
Survey Of Protestant Clergy
Ten years ago, McCall's magazine reported
on a survey of 3,000 Protestant clergymen.
The McCall article stated, "A considerable
number rejected altogether the idea of a
personal God. God, they said, was the
Ground of Being, the Force of Life, the
Principle of Love, Ultimate Reality and so
forth. A majority of the youngest group
cannot be said to believe in the Virgin Birth
or to regard Jesus as divine in the traditional
way in which most Protestants were brought
up."
Islam And Ecumenism
In The Cross and the Crescent Dr. Francis
Steel of the North Africa Mission predicts an
eventual
union
between
apostate
Protestantism, as represented by the World
16
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
Council of Churches, and Islam. We quote
his warning in full:
Two lines seem to be converging. One
represents the various "Christian" groups.
As these lose their Biblical distinctives and
evolve a sort of Unitarian universalism, they
veer to the left. The other line represents the
great ethnic religions; Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, etc. As these purge themselves
of their more objectionably carnal aspects
and emerge clothed in a philosophical
monism or universalism, they veer to the
right. Eventually the two will meet in a
glorified Baha'i.
The End-Time X-Generation
Billy Graham says responding
Generation":
The writer of Psalm 29 may have had in
mind an autumn storm as it moved from the
Mediterranean Sea across Lebanon (v.5),
down through the wilderness (v.8), and over
the temple in Jerusalem (v.9). He spoke of
the storm's elements as "the voice of the
Lord" (v.3), and the joyful response of the
worshipers in the temple as they shouted,
"Glory!" (v.9). The psalm closes with the
people of God enjoying the peace He alone
can give (v.11).
"Last
"Jesus said there would be a future
generation with certain characteristics to
indicate that the end is near. In other words,
there is an 'X generation' at some point in
history where all the signs will converge.
"Today it would seem that those signs are
indeed converging for the first time since
Christ ascended to heaven."
14:17
The long dry summer season in Lebanon
and Israel usually ends in October with
welcome rains that are often accompanied
by strong winds, lightning, and thunder.
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."
Yet he has not left himself
without testimony: He has shown
kindness by giving you rain from
heaven and crops in their
seasons; he provides you with
plenty of food and fills your
hearts with joy."
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.
The Voice Of The Lord
He did not leave Himself without witness, in
that He did good, gave us rain from heaven
and fruitful seasons. --Acts 14:17
Seeing and hearing a violent storm is an
awesome experience that quite naturally
turns one's thoughts to God. In Romans
1:20, Paul told his readers that God's eternal
power and Godhead are clearly seen in the
created world. He makes Himself known
through nature. I've heard His "voice" many
times—in the stillness of the woods after a
heavy snowfall, in a gentle breeze, or in the
singing of birds on a spring morning.
Yes, God speaks to us through His
marvelous creation. His power and majesty
are inescapable if we would just pause to
listen. Like the people of ancient Israel, let
us respond, "Glory!"
All creation sings God's praise.
Corn: 95% Nature, 5% Farmer
Some years ago, a study was done by an
agricultural school in Iowa. It reported that
production of a hundred bushels of corn
from one acre of land required 4,000,000
lbs. of water, 6,800 lbs. of oxygen, 5,200 lbs.
of carbon, 160 lbs. of nitrogen, 125 lbs. of
potassium, 75 lbs. of yellow sulphur, and
other elements too numerous to list.
In addition to these ingredients are required
rain and sunshine at the right times.
Although many hours of the farmer’s labor
are also needed, it was estimated that only 5
percent of the produce of a farm can be
17
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
attributed to the efforts of man.
Cruel “Bread” Of China
During the great famine of China, the people
made “bread” from a kind of edible earth.
But this ingredient was devoid of any
nutrients, so those who ate the loaves,
starved. Meyer also refers to the nardoo
plant which grows in Australia. The spores
of this clover fern can be made into bread
and porridge. But they contain no proteins,
carbohydrates, or vitamins—the essentials
for sustaining life. Those who depend upon
it for food will have their stomachs filled, but
they’ll eventually die.
.
First Thanksgiving Dinner
In November 1620, when the first New
England colonists landed near Plymouth,
Massachusetts, it was too late to plant any
crops. Thus, by the following spring, disease
and the long harsh New England winter had
killed nearly half of the original settlers.
It was after the first good harvest in 1621
that Governor Bradford called for a feast of
"thanksgiving". All the members of the
colony—some 40 men, women and
children—and about 90 Indians dressed in
animal skins and gaily colored turkey
feathers, joined in the celebration. The
Indians brought deer meat, called venison,
and wild turkeys. These were cooked on
spits turned over open fires. The colonial
women made johnnycakes, a cornmeal
bread, and the men supplied geese, ducks,
and fish.
Other foods included lobsters, oysters,
clams, roast corn, and maple syrup. Rum
and cider were favorite beverages. Long
tables were set up outdoors for eating
together, and the fires burned and the food
roasted for three days of celebration.
Colonists and Indians alike gave thanks for
the good harvest, which meant survival and
an easier winter ahead.
That was the first Thanksgiving dinner.
Today,
Americans
still
celebrate
Thanksgiving after harvest time. Since 1941,
it has been observed as a legal national
holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.
14:18
And even saying these things, they
with difficulty restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
Even with these words, they had
difficulty keeping the crowd from
sacrificing to them.
And with these sayings scarce
restrained they the people, that they
had not done sacrifice unto them.
Antiochus-Worship
The evidence is strong that Antiochus IV not
only encouraged the worship of Zeus, but he
encouraged the worship of himself also. On
many of the coins that survive from that day
can be seen the figure of Zeus whose
features closely resemble those of
Antiochus IV Epiphanes. One which has
been seen in the British Museum, a silver
tetradrachma, has the head of Antiochus IV
as if he were Zeus, crowned with laurel. Its
inscription reads: “Of King Antiochus, God
Manifest, Victory-bearer.”
Jesus' Enemies And His Body
Jesus' enemies' chief ambition was not to
remove the body, but keep it in the tomb,
hence their application to Pilate for the
guard to be set at the tomb. Had they
removed the body, they would have
produced it and confused the disciples as
soon as they preached Jesus' resurrection.
Yet the apostles were allowed to preach it
within a few yards of the empty tomb.
14:19
But Jews came from Antioch and
Iconium, and having won over the
multitudes, they stoned Paul and
dragged him out of the city,
supposing him to be dead.
Then some Jews came from
Antioch and Iconium and won the
crowd over. They stoned Paul
and dragged him outside the city,
thinking he was dead.
And there came thither certain Jews
from Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and, having
stoned Paul, drew him out of the
18
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
city, supposing he had been dead.
John Chrysostom
Paul’s enemies wounded him with stones;
there is a wounding with words even worse
than stones. What then must we do? The
same thing Paul did. He did not hate those
who cast stones at him; but after they had
dragged him out, he entered again into their
city to be a benefactor to those who had
done him such wrongs. If you also endure
anyone who harshly insults you and has
done you wrong, then you also have been
stoned. And what had Paul done that he
deserved to be stoned? He was bringing
men and women away from error, and
bringing them to God; benefits worthy of
crowns, not of stones. Has one insulted
you? Hold your peace, and bless if you can.
Then you also will have preached the Word,
and given a lesson of gentleness and
meekness.
Christianized U.S. Becomes Pluralist
Japanese corporations routinely acquire
American companies, so that Americans can
now have Japanese bosses, often of a
different religion. High-school students find
that they have a Lebanese Muslim, an
Indian Hindu, or a Chinese Buddhist among
their classmates.
There are now more Muslims than
Methodists both in Britain and the U.S.; and
it is estimated that within three years there
will be more Muslims than Jews in the U.S.
The concept of "Christendom" has given
way to "The Pluralist Society." It is no longer
observable that we live in a Christian
country in which the Christian faith is the
only real option.
Early Christians Feared Nothing
Pliny, the Roman governor of Bithynia about
AD 120, was trying to root out the
Christians.
"I will banish thee," he said to one. The reply
came: "Thou canst not, for the whole world
is my father's house." "I will slay thee," said
the governor. The answer: "Thou canst not,
for my life is hid with Christ in God."
"I will take away thy treasures". Again, the
reply came: "Thou canst not, for my treasure
is in Heaven."
"I will drive thee away from men and thou
wilt have no friends left." But the Christian
still said: "Thou canst not, for I have a friend
from whom thou canst never separate me."
14:20
But while the disciples stood around
him, he arose and entered the city.
And the next day he went away with
Barnabas to Derbe.
But after the disciples had
gathered around him, he got up
and went back into the city. The
next day he and Barnabas left for
Derbe.
Howbeit, 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.
Five Names Of Christians
Scripture gives five names to Christians:
 Saints
(for their holiness in Christ)
 Believers
(for their faith)
 Witnesses
(for their testimony)
 Disciples
(for their knowledge)
 Brethren
(for their love for each other)
DERBE (Der’ bih) Important city in region of
Lycaonia in province of Galatia in Asia
minor. It is apparently near modern Kerti
Huyuk. The residents of Derbe and Lystra
spoke a different language from the people
to the north in Iconium. Paul visited Derbe
on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6),
fleeing from Iconium. Persecution in Lystra
led to a successful preaching mission in
Derbe (Acts 14:20-21). On the second
journey, Paul returned to Derbe (Acts 16:1).
He apparently visited again on the third
journey (Acts 18:23). Paul’s fellow minister
Gaius was from Derbe Acts 4).
19
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
Traveling Time Of Man
Twenty miles was about the farthest a
primitive man could hope to travel in a day,
using his feet. Later, a good day's journey
by horse might cover as much as 80 miles.
Still later the railroad lengthened the
distance a man could travel in eight hours to
about 150 miles. By 1925, the automobile
had doubled that distance.
By 1950, the distance that could be traveled
in eight hours skyrocketed to over 4,500
miles. Today, the entire world is within reach
of a day's journey.
Open It
01.
If you suddenly could have the ability
to do something you had never done
before, what skill would you like to
have?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
02.
What would you do if you received an
expensive gift that you didn’t think you
deserved?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
03.
When has someone unexpectedly
turned against you?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Explore It
04.
What did Paul do for the crippled man
in Lystra? (14:8-10)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
05.
How did the crowd respond to what
Paul had done? (14:11-13)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
06.
Why were the apostles horrified when
they discovered what was happening?
(14:14)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
07.
Why did Paul and Barnabas tear their
clothes? (14:14)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
What was the apostles’ message to
the crowd? (14:15-17)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
08.
09.
How did Paul tailor his message to the
audience? (14:15-17)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
10.
In spite of the apostles’ message, why
20
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
was it difficult to restrain the crowd?
(14:18)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
11.
Who came from Antioch and Iconium
to poison the minds of the people
against the missionaries? (14:19)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
12.
What did the crowd do to Paul?
(14:19)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
13. Who helped Paul? (14:20)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
14.
When did Paul return to Lystra?
(14:20)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
15.
After Paul and Barnabas left Lystra,
where did they go? (14:20)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Get It
16.
Paul knew when someone needed to
be healed and what people needed to
hear; why was he so perceptive?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
17.
How can you be sensitive to the
needs of others?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
18.
When have you received credit or
recognition you didn’t deserve?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
19.
Why is it important to give glory to
God?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
20.
The early missionaries had a
demanding schedule and dangerous
life-style; how might you have coped
with the pressures they faced?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
21
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
21.
When are you typically in the
company of people who are very
different from you?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
22.
In talking about Christ with nonChristians, what can you do to speak
their language?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
23.
Paul paid an enormous price for his
testimony; what risks are there for you
in living for Christ?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Apply It
24.
How can you challenge yourself to
serve the Lord completely each day?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
What can you do to direct people’s
attention to Christ and away from
you?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
25.
26.
Where can you go to witness to an
unbeliever this week?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
14:21
And after they had preached the
gospel to that city and had made
many disciples, they returned to
Lystra and to Iconium and to
Antioch,
They preached the good news in
that city and won a large number
of disciples. Then they returned
to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
And when they had preached the
gospel to that city, and had taught
many, they returned again to Lystra,
and to Iconium, and Antioch,
For Dr. Gordon—Preach Christ First
When interviewing Dr. A. J. Gordon as a
prospective pastor of a Boston church, the
pulpit committee asked: "If you are called to
the pastorate of our church will you preach
against the cards, the theater, and
dancing?" "I will," solemnly affirmed Dr.
Gordon. He was called.
Months passed and he didn't say a word
against the cards, the theater, and dancing.
The official board of the church said,
"Almost a year has gone by and you have
said nothing against cards, the theater, and
dancing. We wonder why."
Dr. Gordon replied essentially as follows:
"Gentlemen, it is true that I have said
nothing against these things, but I have
preached Christ who is the only Savior from
all evils. When He comes into one's heart all
evil things vanish from the life like the mist
before the hot breath of the noonday sun."
LYSTRA (Lys’ tru) A city in south central
Asia Minor and an important Lycaonian
center. According to Acts 16:1, it probably
was the home of young Timothy, one of
Paul’s companions in the ministry. Paul’s
healing of a crippled man at Lystra (Acts
14:8-10) caused the inhabitants to revere
22
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
him as a god. Many believed his preaching
but were turned against the missionary by
Judaizers from Antioch and Iconium. Paul
was dragged out of Lystra, stoned, and left
for dead. He revived and later went back to
the city to lend strength to the new
Christians.

Korean Church's Fast Growth Rate
The Korean Church has one of the fastest
growth rates in Christendom. Fifteen percent
of the population is Christian with more than
16,500 churches among 35 million people in
South Korea. In the capital city Seoul, the
cross is a familiar sight topping the 2000
Protestant churches. Among the five million
Christians, approximately two-thirds are
Protestant and one-third Roman Catholic.

ICONIUM (igh co’ nih um) City of Asia
Minor visited by Barnabas and Paul during
the first missionary journey (Acts 13:51).
Paul endured sufferings and persecution at
Iconium (2 Tim. 3:11). Its location is that of
the modern Turkish provincial capital Konya.
Iconium was mentioned for the first time in
the fourth century B.C. by the historian
Xenophon. In New Testament times it was
considered to be a part of the Roman
province of Galatia. Evidently it has had a
continuous existence since its founding.

Ten Questions For Prospective Pastors
A Maine correspondent poses these
questions which might be asked by a pulpit
committee of a prospective pastor:





Will you preach to us the Word of
God as a dying man to dying men?
Will you preach on social issues,
exposing the corruption, not of
Sodom, Paris or New York, but of
Potato Center, Maine?
Will you speak to us in our
language, not in the jargon of
hermeneutical and exegetical
magic?
Will you talk to us about Jesus,
Peter, Paul, and Luke, and not of
Freud, Adler, Barth, and Tillich?
Will you talk about next week's
election, next month's income tax
returns, next year's appearance—for


some of us—before God's judgment
seat, the Creation, the Flood, and
the building of Solomon's Temple?
Will you console us in our present
grief and sorrow with something that
will ease the ache or will you serve
us spiritual noctrums about positive
thinking?
Are you certain that you will never
vigorously assert something in a
sermon of which you yourself are
not sure?
When you reach the end of your
sermon will you stop talking?
Will you be just as dramatic, alert,
and gripping when you are alone as
you are when you see a reporter in
the pew?
If you preach in accordance with the
above nine points, what assurance
have we that you will not leave for a
better paying church?
ANTIOCH (ahn’tih·ahch) Names two New
Testament cities one of which was home to
many Diaspora Jews (Jews living outside of
Palestine and maintaining their religious
faith among the Gentiles) and the place
where believers, many of whom were
Gentiles, were first called Christians.
The largest city of the Roman empire after
Rome in Italy and Alexandria in Egypt.
Because so many ancient cities were called
by this name, it is often called Antioch on the
Orontes (River) or Antioch of Syria. Antioch
was founded around 300 B.C. by Seleucus
Nicator. From the beginning it was a bustling
maritime city with its own seaport. It lay
about
20
miles
inland
from
the
Mediterranean in ancient Syria on the
Orontes River nearly three hundred miles
north of Jerusalem. Many Jews of the
Diaspora lived in Antioch and engaged in
commerce, enjoying the rights of citizenship
in a free city. Many of Antioch’s Gentiles
were attracted to Judaism. As was the case
with many of the Roman cities of the east,
Antioch’s patron deity was the pagan
goddess Tyche or “Fortune.”
14:22
strengthening the souls of the
disciples, encouraging them to
23
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
continue in the faith, and saying,
"Through many tribulations we must
enter the kingdom of God."
strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true
to the faith. "We must go through
many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God," they said.
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.
Bible Characters Also Despaired
As we evaluate our emotions we must
recognize that doubts, fear, and times of
despondency are common to all. Even some
of the outstanding Bible characters
experienced emotional turmoil.
Jeremiah, one of the greatest of the Old
Testament prophets, often wept because of
the spiritual condition of the people to whom
he ministered, and once in a moment of
bitterness even cursed the day of his birth.
On another occasion he was so discouraged
that he vowed never to preach again.
John the Baptist, a man of whom our Lord
said no greater had been born of woman,
began to have doubts while languishing in
prison, wondering if Jesus Christ was indeed
the Messiah.
The apostle Paul, Christ's most noble
follower, many years after his conversion
cried out, "Oh, wretched man that I am"
Doubts or fear may help you become
depressed. So do not allow feelings of guilt
or sadness to plunge you deeper into
despair. God knows your weakness, and He
understands.
Fearing His Scars
Adoniram Judson, the renowned missionary
to Burma, endured untold hardships trying to
reach the lost for Christ. For 7 heartbreaking
years he suffered hunger and privation.
During this time he was thrown into Ava
Prison, and for 17 months was subjected to
almost incredible mistreatment. As a result,
for the rest of his life he carried the ugly
marks made by the chains and iron shackles
which had cruelly bound him.
Undaunted, upon his release he asked for
permission to enter another province where
he might resume preaching the Gospel. The
godless ruler indignantly denied his request,
saying, "My people are not fools enough to
listen to anything a missionary might SAY,
but I fear they might be impressed by your
SCARS and turn to your religion!"
TRIBULATION Trouble or pressure of a
general sort; in some passages a particular
time of suffering associated with events of
the end time. In this sense it is described as
tribulation surpassing any trouble yet
experienced in human history (Matthew
24:21).
Degrees of Faith:
 Full faith
 Great faith
 Continued faith
 Established faith
 Joyful faith
 Work of faith
 Unfeigned faith
 Assured faith
 Prayer of faith
R. C. Sproul
Over time, Paul and Barnabas gain some
disciples in Lystra, some of whom will
become elders. Luke tell us nothing of any
organized opposition from the Lystrans
themselves. But the Jews in Iconium and
Antioch are still angry. Somehow they get
word of the work in Lystra and travel there to
find Paul and Barnabas, in the case of the
Antioch Jews, this means a journey of about
one hundred miles. Arriving in Lystra, they
apparently are able to sway the Gentile
crowds rather easily and therefore are able
to make good on tier earlier threats, they
stone Paul and, thinking him dead, drag him
outside of the city.
By God’s grace, Paul has merely been
knocked unconscious and he soon revives.
24
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
But this is a key event for Paul. He has been
the target of some dire threats since his
conversion to Christ, but now he has been
attacked and almost killed for his testimony.
As he will tell the Galatians, he now bears
on his body the marks of Jesus. “Now he
knows what it means to suffer for the sake of
the Gospel,” Dr. Simon Kistemaker writes.
Paul boldly goes back into the city for the
night, but he realizes he cannot stay in
Lystra. Thus, he and Barnabas move on
about 60 miles to Derbe, where they preach
the Gospel and make many disciples. Then,
for reasons Luke does not disclose, they
decide to end their missionary journey and
retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium,
and Antioch. This is a demonstration of
great boldness on their part, but it also
enables them to serve as examples for the
believes; they’re not giving up their work in
the face of persecution and neither should
the new Christians. Above all, however, they
are motivated by pastoral concerns. Thus,
they “strengthen the souls” of the believers
and exhort them to keep on keeping on. But
there is a new element to their preaching on
their return trip, for they tell the Christians,
“We must through many tribulations enter
the kingdom of God.” In his second letter to
Timothy, Paul makes reference to the
afflictions he suffers on this journey and
assert, “all who desire to live godly in Christ
Jesus will suffer persecution”. He is echoing
the teaching of Jesus, who promised His
followers opposition and trials. Paul has
learned firsthand that persecution is a fact of
the Christian life.
Setting The Sails
When
Hudson
Taylor,
the
famous
missionary, first went to China, it was in a
sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of
cannibal islands the ship was becalmed, and
it was slowly drifting shoreward unable to go
about and the savages were eagerly
anticipating a feast.
The captain came to Mr. Taylor and
besought him to pray for the help of God. "I
will," said Taylor, "provided you set your
sails to catch the breeze." The captain
declined to make himself a laughing stock
by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said, "I
will not undertake to pray for the vessel
unless you will prepare the sails." And it was
done.
While engaged in prayer, there was a knock
at the door of his stateroom. "Who is there?"
The captain's voice responded, "Are you still
praying for wind?" "Yes." "Well," said the
captain, "you'd better stop praying, for we
have more wind than we can manage."
Continue:
 Following the Lord
 In His Word
 In His love
 In the Grace of God
 In the faith
 In prayer
 In faith
 In charity
Reduced Into One Law
Rabbi Simlai in the third century noted that
Moses gave us 365 prohibitions and 248
positive commands. David in Psalm 15
reduced them to eleven: Isaiah—in Isaiah
33:14, 15—made them six: Micah 6:8 binds
them into three: and Habakkuk reduces
them all to one, namely—"The just shall live
by faith."
14:23
And 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.
Paul and Barnabas appointed
elders for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting,
committed them to the Lord, in
whom they had put their trust.
And when they had ordained them
elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord, on
whom they believed.
R. C. Sproul
Now Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps
through the cities they have visited on this
25
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
missionary journey. Luke tells us they take
this dangerous course out of a pastoral
concern to encourage and exhort the new
believers, as well as to teach them about the
reality of suffering in the Christian life, as
they themselves have learned.
much apparent success. They then sail back
to Antioch and, having gathered the church
there, hold the first mission conference,
reporting on all that God has done through
them and on the fact the God is calling many
Gentiles into His kingdom.
A major expression of the apostles’ care for
the new believers is the appointment of
elders in each church. This is in keeping
with the practice that ha developed in the
established churches. The English text
implies that Paul and Barnabas make these
appointments, but the Greek term actually
means “to approve by a show of hands in
the congregational meeting,” according to
Dr. Simon Kistemaker. Clearly the people
are involved in some way.
Confessing Church Elder Goes To Prison
British detective Grant Smith was sentenced
to a three-year prison term after confessing
to Scotland Yard he had planted drugs and
other evidence on four men in an effort to
brighten his promotion chances. All four had
been convicted. As a result of Smith’s
confession they were given pardons to clear
their names. Smith turned himself in shortly
after becoming an elder of an evangelical
congregation. “I want to be totally committed
to Christ,” he told authorities. “I feel I cannot
do that until I have come to terms with my
fellow men.”
What are elders? The Greek word translated
“elders” here is presbyteros, it was the term
used for the Jewish rulers of religious and
political life. A different Greek word,
episcopes, is sometimes translated as
“elder,” too, but it is more accurately
rendered as “bishop” or “overseer.” In his
writings, however, Paul uses both terms
interchangeably. So the missionaries are
seeing to the appointment of leaders for the
churches, men who will watch over these
fledgling congregations, and continue the
preaching and teaching of the Gospel.
Having prayed with fasting, Paul and
Barnabas then “commend” the new elders
and their flocks to the Lord, just as the
Antioch
church
commended
the
missionaries to divine grace when it sent
them forth. This doesn’t mean Paul turns
these new believers over to the Lord and
promptly forgets them as he moves on. We
know that he carries a heavy burden for
them and desires to return to them. And he
already has done much to support and
protect them by giving them godly elders to
carry on the work and keep watch over their
souls. Nevertheless, he knows well that only
God can keep them safe from the enemies
of the faith.
Paul and Barnabas then journey on to
Perga, where they minister briefly without
First Known Gay Ordination
William R. Johnson, 25, became the first
openly self-avowed homosexual to be
obtained by a major denomination: the
United Church of Christ. He was ordained in
a suburban San Francisco church by the
UCC's
Golden
Gate
Association.
Meanwhile, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in the Netherlands accepted a report
which holds that homosexuality should not
be a barrier to a person's becoming a
pastor.
Doctor Of Divinity, Anyone?
In Evanston, Illinois, are the "Missionaries of
the New Truth" who also advertise under the
heading: "We want you to join our faith as
an ORDAINED MINISTER with the rank of
DOCTOR OF DIVINITY."
They state: "We are a fast-growing faith,
actively seeking new members who believe
as we do that all men should seek the truth
in their own way, by any means they deem
right. As a minister of the faith you can: Set
up your own church and apply for exemption
from property and other taxes; perform
marriages
and
exercise
all
other
ecclesiastical powers; seek draft exemption
as one of our working missionaries. We can
26
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
tell you how. Get sizable cash grants for
doing missionary work for us; some
transportation companies, hotels, theaters,
etc., give ministers reduced rates. GET THE
WHOLE PACKAGE FOR $100.00." This
"ordination" is declared to be legal and valid
anywhere in this country.
14:24
And they passed through Pisidia
and came into Pamphylia.
After going through Pisidia, they
came into Pamphylia,
And after they had passed
throughout Pisidia, they came to
Pamphylia.
Most Traveled Man
The man who has visited more countries
than anyone is J. Hart Rosdail of Elmhurst,
Illinois. Since 1934 he has visited 154
sovereign countries and 67 non-sovereign
territories of the world, making a total of 221.
He estimates his mileage as 1,482,729
miles by July 1975. The only sovereign
countries which he has not visited are
China, Cuba, North Korea, North Vietnam
and the French Territories.
The most countries visited by a disabled
person is 119 by Lester Nixon of Sarasota,
Florida, who is confined to a wheelchair.
The Methodist preacher, Francis Asbury of
Birmingham, England, traveled 264,000
miles by horseback in North America from
1771 to 1815, preaching 16,000 sermons.
PISIDIA (Pih sih digh’ u) Small area in the
province of Galatia in southern Asia Minor
bounded by Pamphylia, Phrygia, and
Lyconia. The territory lay within the Taurus
Mountain range and therefore resisted
invasion by ancient peoples. Only in 25 B.C.
did the Romans gain control over the region
through economic diplomacy. Antioch was
made the capital, although some historians
contend that the city was not actually in
Pisidia. Paul and Barnabas came through
Antioch (Acts 13:14) after John Mark left
them in Perga (Acts 13:13). The New
Testament does not record any missionary
activity in Pisidia itself, probably because
there were few Jews there with which to
start a congregation.
PAMPHYLIA (Pahm phyl’ ih u) One of the
provinces of Asia Minor. Located in what is
now southern Turkey, Pamphylia was a
small district on the coast. It measured
about eighty miles long and twenty miles
wide. One of the chief cities was Perga,
where John Mark left Paul and Barnabas
during the first missionary journey (Acts
13:13). Other important cities were the ports
of Side and Attalia. The New Testament
records no other significant events for the
early church in Pamphylia, perhaps because
of the concentration of non-Hellenized
peoples in the region. This would make the
spread of the gospel slower and harder to
achieve.
Murphy's Law For Travelers
Murphy's law is the well-established
principle that if anything can go wrong, it will.
A seasoned traveler offers his versions of
this rule:





14:25
Whenever you want something, it is
always in the other suitcase.
Whatever you drop, it is inevitably
the suntan oil that spills.
All banks shut just before you get
there, and don't open again until just
after you've left.
It is wise to travel in pairs so there is
always someone to blame for
leaving the insect repellent at home.
Announcements in railway stations,
boat terminals and airports
invariably begin with the words
"Attention, please" and end with
"Thank you for your attention." You
can never understand anything that
goes between.
And when they had spoken the word
in Perga, they went down to Attalia;
and when they had preached the
word in Perga, they went down to
Attalia.
And when they had preached the
word in Perga, they went down into
Attalia:
27
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
Bunyan's Resolve
When liberty was offered to John Bunyan,
then in prison, on condition of abstaining
from preaching, he consistently replied, "If
you let me out to-day I shall preach again tomorrow."
PERGA (Per’ gu) An ancient city in the
province of Pamphylia, about eight miles
from the Mediterranean Sea. Settlement at
Perga dates to prehistory. Alexander the
Great passed through the town during his
campaigns and used guides from there. A
temple to Artemis was one of the prominent
buildings. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark
came to Perga from Paphos (Acts 13:13).
There young John left the team to return
home.
ATTALIA (aht·tuh·ligh’u) Seaport city on
northern Mediterranean cost in Asia Minor
where Paul stopped briefly on first
missionary journey (Acts 14:25). Modern
Antalya continues as a small seaport with
some ancient ruins.
Christ At His Elbow
Robert Hume, the Scottish philosopher and
skeptic, would walk many miles on the
Lord's Day to hear John Brown of
Haddington preach. Asked why he did it,
Hume said: "I go to hear him because he
always preaches as though Jesus Christ is
at his elbow."
14:26
and from there they sailed to
Antioch, from which they had been
commended to the grace of God for
the work that they had
accomplished.
From Attalia they sailed back to
Antioch, where they had been
committed to the grace of God for
the work they had now
completed.
And thence sailed to Antioch, from
whence they had been
recommended to the grace of God
for the work which they fulfilled.
"Christ Before Pilate" Touches Man
When Munkacsy's picture "Christ before
Pilate," was on exhibition in the lower part of
Canada, a rough-looking man came to the
door of the tent and said, "Is Jesus Christ
here?"
When informed that the picture was there,
he asked the price of admission. Throwing
down a piece of silver, he passed in and
stood in the presence of the masterpiece.
He kept his hat on, sat down on the chair
before the painting and brushed off the
catalog.
The one having the picture in charge had a
desire to see how such a picture would
move such a man. The man sat for a
moment, and then reverently removed his
hat, stooped and picked up the catalog, and
looked first at it and then at that marvelous
face, while tears rolled down his cheeks.
He sat there for an hour, and when he left,
he said: "I am a rough sailor from the lakes,
but I promised my mother before I went on
this last cruise that I would go and see
Jesus Christ. I never believed in such things
before, but a man who could paint a picture
like that must believe in the man, and he
makes me believe in him too."
Church at Antioch:
 Became the center of world-wide
missions.
 Great church. Reasons. Twofold.
 Leadership of. Five leaders.
 Where believers were first called
Christians.
 False teachers arose in Antioch.
 First great Gentile church.
 Home of one of the first deacons—
Nicolas.
 Launched the first great missionary
thrust into the world.
 Paul and Barnabas were ministers
of Antioch.
 Paul was commissioned by Antioch.
 Sent out the very first missionaries.
Christ Has No Hand—But Ours
During the Second World War, a church in
Strasburg, Germany, was totally destroyed;
but a statue of Christ which stood by the
28
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
altar was almost unharmed. Only the hands
of the statue were missing.
When the church was rebuilt, a famous
sculptor offered to make new hands but,
after considering the matter, the members
decided to let it stand as it was—without
hands.
"For," they said, "Christ has no hands but
our hands to do His work on earth. If we
don't feed the hungry, give drink to the
thirsty, entertain the stranger, visit the
imprisoned, and clothe the naked, who will?"
14:27
And 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.
On arriving there, they gathered
the church together and reported
all that God had done through
them and how he had opened the
door of faith to the Gentiles.
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.
Geldman in the National Review, there were
exhibits that were “simply unquotable.” The
police closed down the show; it was so
rotten.
On another occasion the pews were
removed to make room for dancing and the
people sat in circles of folding chairs. The
pulpit had been removed for a presentation
of “Winnie the Pooh” and had not been
replaced. The place where the choir used to
be is vacant. On Sunday a nude couple
danced there during the service. This
“church” is so deep in the apostasy that it
would have to reach up to touch bottom.
"A Christian Without Church?"
An old question: "Can I be a Christian
without joining the church or attending
worship?"
Answer: "Yes, it is possible. But it is
something like being:







A student who will not go to school;
A soldier who will not join the army;
A citizen who does not pay taxes or
vote;
A salesman with no customers;
An explorer with no base camp;
A seaman in a ship without a crew;
A businessman on a deserted
island;
An author without readers;
A football player without a team;
A politician who is a hermit;
A scientist who does not share his
findings;
A bee without a hive."
Gathered Together:
 Center of attraction
 Object of Calvary
 Power of prayer
 Privilege of service
 Joy of believers
 Purpose of gathering
 Church in discipline
14:28
Apostasy Of Judson Memorial Church
In New York City there is a church built in
honor of the great missionary to Burma,
Adoniram Judson, but apostasy has closed
in on this church, and from what goes on
there it has no right to be called a church.
They put on a show on Flag Day—a show
“dedicated to the stars and stripes.”
Divisions Of Weekly Time
Divisions of time in our lives have thus been
sketched by Dr. C.C. Albertson:
There were depraved and obscene exhibits,
defiling the flag, and according to Max
"It might be wise for us to take a little
inventory of our resources as to time and





And they spent a long time with the
disciples.
And they stayed there a long time
with the disciples.
And there they abode long time with
the disciples.
29
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
review our habits of using it. There are 168
hours in each week. Fifty-six of these we
spend in sleep. Of the remaining 112 hours,
we devote 48 to labor. This leaves sixty-four
hours, of which let us assign twelve hours
for our daily meals. (This allows thirty
minutes for each meal, and one-and-onehalf hours extra to promote good digestion.)
We have left fifty-two hours, net, of
conscious active life to devote to any
purpose to which we are inclined.
Is it too much to say that God requires a
tithe of this free time? One tenth of fifty-two
hours is 5.2 hours. How much of this tithe of
time do we devote to strictly religious uses?
If we attend church twice on Sunday, that
will take an hour. If we attend prayer
meeting, another hour. We have two-tenths
of an hour left, our little margin—shall we not
stay for the Morning Watch? But when we
review our lives, how few of us attend
religious worship thus regularly!"
Five Names Of Christians
Scripture gives five names to Christians:





Saints
(for their holiness in Christ)
Believers
(for their faith)
Witnesses
(for their testimony)
Disciples
(for their knowledge)
Brethren
(for their love for each other)
Empty Tomb's Message
The Empty Tomb had a message for the
disciples as it has for us. It says to science
and philosophy, "Explain this event." It says
to history, "Repeat this event." It says to
time, "Blot out this event." It says to faith,
"Believe this event."
Open It
01.
What kind of vacation most appeals to
you (trips to other cities, backwoods
hiking, visits to the beach, etc.)?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
02. How busy is your daily schedule?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
03.
What do you do to relax?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Explore It
04.
What did Paul and Barnabas do in
Derbe? (14:21)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
What was the result of the apostles’
evangelism? (14:21)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
05.
06.
Why did Paul and Barnabas retrace
their steps to Antioch? (14:22)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
07.
What
kind
of
warnings
did
the
30
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
missionaries give the young converts?
(14:22)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
08.
How did the apostles establish
leadership in the young churches?
(14:23)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
09.
What encouragement and help did the
apostles give the new Christians?
(14:22-23)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
10.
Where did the return journey to
Antioch take the apostles? (14:24-26)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
11.
On their way to Antioch, where did the
apostles preach? (14:25)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
12.
When they returned to Antioch, what
did Paul and Barnabas do? (14:27)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
13.
Why was it important that Paul and
Barnabas report on their activity to the
church at Antioch? (14:26)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
14.
How long did the apostles remain in
Antioch? (14:28)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Get It
15.
Why would you return to a church or
community that had made you feel
unwelcome before?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
What does the apostles’ ability to
withstand rejection say about their
faith and leadership?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
16.
17.
What would your pastor do if faced
with persecution?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
31
BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 14
___________________________________
18.
How does your church disciple new
Christians?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
19.
In your church, how does a person
become a leader?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
20.
How
should
missionaries
be
accountable to the church?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
24.
What younger Christian can you
encourage this week? How?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
25.
What can you do this week to become
a stronger Christian?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
21.
How has your church been blessed by
the work of missionaries?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
22.
How can you help younger Christians
get established in the faith?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Apply It
23.
In what ways can you benefit from the
teaching of your church elders this
week?
32