Acts 14:1-7

Acts 14:1-7

 

    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. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 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. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the good news.

 

The Jews had just driven Paul and Barnabas out of Pisidian Antioch for offering the good news of Jesus’ salvation to Gentiles. So what did Paul and Barnabas do when they arrived at Iconium? Did their proclamation that they were turning from the Jews to the Gentiles with the good news make them avoid the Jews? No! Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. A great number believed – both Jews and Gentiles.

 

When Paul and Barnabas proclaimed in Pisidian Antioch that they were turning from the Jews to the Gentiles, they were not saying that the gospel no longer applied to the Jews. They were saying that for those Jews in Pisidian Antioch, the rejection of the gospel meant that the gospel message did not apply to them, but only to the Gentiles who were hearing the good news joyfully. But the gospel was still for the Jews, too – in fact, for the Jews first. So as they went to Iconium, they again brought the gospel to the Jews by going to the synagogue first. We must always remember that the gospel is truly for all people. Jews are not excluded. Non-Jews are not excluded. Only people who do not believe the good news are excluded from the joy of knowing that their sins are forgiven.

 

Still, in Iconium there were Jews who refused to believe, stirring up and poisoning the Gentiles minds against Paul and Barnabas, with two results. One result was that Paul and Barnabas spent quite a lot of time there clearing up the confusion the Jews had created, strengthened by Jesus to keep preaching His words and having His divine testimony that they were telling the truth displayed through His signs and wonders. Another result was that the people of the city were divided. Although some listened to Paul and Barnabas, others listened to the Jews and opposed their message.

 

Eventually those who opposed Paul and Barnabas got to be too strong, and Paul and Barnabas had to get out of the city or face being stoned. So they fled to Lyconia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding country. But it is important to note that this did not keep them from proclaiming the good news. They just continued to tell people about Jesus wherever they were.

 

Father, thank You first of all that You did not reject the Jews entirely just because You accepted the Gentiles. Please make us Gentile believers passionate about seeing not only our non-Jewish friends but also our Jewish friends come to know You. Like Paul and Barnabas, may we stand as long as we can in the face of opposition, helping people to understand Your good news. And please, Lord, do Your own work of showing people that Your good news of grace is true. Confirm what we say about You so that people believe our words are really Yours and put their trust in You. Finally, even when we can no longer face our enemies but have to flee from them, keep us faithful. May we always keep telling people Your good news, wherever we end up. May I be faithful so that many other people – Jew or non-Jew – come to know You.