|
|
Paul Is Stoned
For Preaching
– Acts Fourteen
This missionary journey took Paul and Barnabas to Iconium where
they attended a synagogue service. There they were also again given the
opportunity to speak and a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. (Acts
14:1) As had previously been the case the unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble.
(Acts 14:2)
The preaching of these brethren was marked by (1) boldness, and
(2) the working of miracles. They fearlessly proclaimed the word of God's
grace. In this text Barnabas is called an apostle. In Acts
Jesus said that the preaching of the gospel would bring division.
"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on
earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." (Luke 12:51) As these men
preached "the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the
Jews, and part with the apostles." (Acts 14:4) Some even tried to stone
the preachers but they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia. There they
preached the gospel.
A certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet was healed by the
apostles. The man was healed by simply being
told to "Stand upright
on thy feet."
The miracle resulted in the people saying, "The gods are come down to us
in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius,
because he was the chief speaker." The apostles "rent their clothes,
and ran in among the people, crying out, 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." (Acts 14:14-15) One must recognize the true God before he can
find the true Savior.
The unbelieving Jews from
The brethren revisited the churches they had established to (1) Confirm the souls of the disciples, (2) exhort them to continue in the faith, and (3) ordain elders in every church. Continuing in the faith refers to following the complete body of revealed truth. At the end of their journey the brethren gathered the church together and rehearsed all that God had done through them.
Paul
and Barnabas in Iconium – Acts 14:1-7: The missionary journey carried
the brethren to Iconium. There they spoke of the grace of God and His gospel.
They taught the people with power, boldness and courage. The result was that a
great multitude of the Jews and Gentiles believed. The part of the Jews that
continued in unbelief stirred the minds of the people in an evil way against
the apostles.
The missionaries stayed a long time at Iconiun. They did not even
seem discouraged at the treatment that they had received. The
preaching of the gospel cause division. Some agreed with the apostles doctrine and others condemned their doctrine as
false. The unbelievers attempted to stone the apostles as blasphemers. This
caused these brethren to flee to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia. Even in
difficult times they never lost the focus of their purpose. "And there
they preached the gospel." (Acts 14:7)
Paul
and Barnabas in Lystra – Acts 14:8-17: At Lystra the apostles healed a
lame man. He had never walked. This miracle was very much like the one in Acts
3. The man listened to the preaching. As Paul looked at him he observed his
faith. With a loud voice Paul told the man to stand on his feet. He sprung up
directly from his seat, leaped for joy, and walked as well as any man could.
Instead of giving honor to God for the miracle the people said,
"the gods are come down to us in the likeness of
men." Their concept of God was very wrong. They believed that there were
more gods than one. They also believed that the gods sometimes descended to
earth in human form. They gave Barnabas the name Jupiter. Paul was called
Mercurius because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Jupiter brought oxen
and garlands with the people to do sacrifice to the apostles.
This caused Paul and Barnabas to (1) rent their clothes, (2) cry
"why do ye these things?" (3) remind them that they were just men, and (4) challenge them
to turn from the vanities of false gods to the living God. The living God gives
"us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,
filling our hearts with food and gladness." The other "gods" did
nothing and can do nothing.
Paul is stoned for preaching Christ – Acts 14:18-20: The things
they said concerning themselves, and concerning the living God, His creation of
all things, His goodness toward men barely kept the people from worshipping
them. Certain Jews came down from
The same people that had just before wanted to sacrifice to Paul
as a god now stone him as a deceiver. This shows the fickleness of humanity.
The Jews did the same with Jesus. One day they cried "Hosanna." The
next they were crying "Crucify him, Crucify
him." They stoned Paul and threw him out of the city and left him without
a burial. Paul rose up and went right back to the city to preach. The next day
he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Paul and Barnabas Return to
The apostles (1) ordained elders in every church, (2) prayed, (3)
fasted, and (4) commended the brethren to the Lord. (Acts
Now is the time to serve God faithfully. To
become a Christian hear the gospel (Romans
- - -
- Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer
List: In Need Of Prayers: Brett Barr (pneumonia), Nikki Bennett, Gene
Buck, Emily Cain, Gladys Cassidy, Gene Davis, Emma Fell, Ethel Gafford, Roy
Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Evan Hartsell, Jimmy Hobbie, Frank Johnson,
Mary Lawrence, Evelyn Lewis, Joyce Massey, Janice Mullins, Clay Newton, Mary
Powell, Lori Roberts (niece of Neomia Collins & Jerri Davis), Doris Taylor
and Corrine Till. Crowne Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue,
Bertha Phelps, Floyd Smith, and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Baptized
Into Christ: (a) Kyle Sexton was baptized into Christ at Backwoods Christian
Camp. His address is
3. Please Pray For: (a) Alan Jackson as he serves in Iraq. Address: SPC Nathan A. Jackson, B-BTRY 1/117th FA, APO AE09378, 3rd PLT – e-mail: armydad_2006@yahoo.com. (b) Jason Godwin will go to Iraq soon.
4. Special Need For Prayer: Brenda & Willie Herring are expecting triplets. Brenda is facing several weeks of bed rest. Please pray for her and the babies.
5. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July 25th Tricia Lett, and July 27th Dustin Harrell and Doris Taylor.
6. Congratulations: Recently Jamey Thomas was selected as “camper of the week” at Wiregrass. Rebekah Stallings was selected as “most spiritual girl” among all campers at Backwoods Christian Camp.
7. Wonderful “Vacation Bible School”: Thank you to everyone that worked so hard to make our Vacation Bible School such a great success a great success. A special “Thank You” to those that provided refreshments and to Neomia Collins and Jimmy Walker for their work in connection with the refreshments. Our teachers did a great job! Many of you help decorate the building, brought visitors, drove vans, and did other necessary task. God bless you all.
8. Young Men Great Job: Several of our young men led prayers during Vacation Bible School. Thank you for being willing to step up and take a part in God’s work.
9. Area Events: (a) July 23-28 – Gospel Meeting – Grady Church of Christ – James Watkins – Bible Class 9:00 a.m., Worship 10:00 a.m., Singing 2:30 p.m. and Worship each evening 7:30. (b) July 23-27 – Gospel Meeting – Salem Church of Christ – Sam Long – Bible Class 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m., Singing 2:30 p.m., and weeknights 7:30. (c) July 28th – Area Singing – Elba Church of Christ – 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. (d) August 13-16 – Gospel Meeting – Georgia Road Church of Christ – Sam Long – Bible Class 9:00 a.m., Worship 10:00 a.m., Singing 1:00 p.m., Worship 2:00 p.m., and weeknights 7:30. (e) September 25-27 – Spiritual Enrichment Forum at Embassy Suites Hotel – Southern Christian University
10. Dishes In The All-Purpose Room: Many dishes have been left in the all-purpose room. Please claim yours now!
11. Many Commit To Evangelism: Many families in the Walnut Street Church of Christ have committed to view the 6 lesson video “Searching for Truth” and share it with someone else. This will do us good and it will also provide an opportunity for others to know the Lord.
12. Show Your Love: Find some way to show your love to others today. “God is Love.”
What Does God
Desire?
The Lord told Saul, “Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have” (I Samuel 15:3). So Saul went to Amalek and attacked it, but he spared Agag the king, as well as the best of all that the Amalekites had. It is easy to look at this passage and see the blatant rebellion against, and disregard for God’s command. As well, it is easy to harshly judge Saul’s actions, thus leaving this record behind. Truly this condemnation is deserved, but let us not leave it before thoroughly examining our own lives in its light. Is it possible that you are blinded, as was David when it was necessary for Nathan to declare, “Thou art the man.”? (II Samuel 12:7).
Many souls, possibly with good intentions,
may be just as guilty of rebellious sin as was Saul. Let’s look further into
this account of his actions. Saul first asserted that he had performed the
commandment of the Lord. Then Samuel asked him why he had returned with spoils
of war. To which Saul replied, “They have brought them…to sacrifice to the Lord
your God” (I Samuel
There are many things that men may see fit to
offer to God. Some men see fit to offer a sinner’s prayer in exchange for
salvation, but I Peter 3:21 tells us that more than a
prayer is required. Some men say that worship in song is best when accompanied
by a mechanical instrument, but God simply said to sing (Ephesians
Man will always possess his own ideas as to what God desires, but shouldn’t it be God who commands what we will and will not do? He desires your obedience. Learn His will and obey it today.
- - - - Darrell Powell
Men and women must be brought face to face with the risen Christ.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)