Bold Witness Despite Opposition

Discover how Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaimed the gospel in Iconium despite fierce opposition. Despite danger and unbelief, God confirmed His message through signs, wonders, and the courage of faithful witnesses.

[Scripture]

[1] Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. [2] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3] So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. [4] But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. [5] When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, [6] they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, (Acts 14:1-6, ESV)

[7] and there they continued to preach the gospel. [8] Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. [9] He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, [10] said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. [11] And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” [12] Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. [13] And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. (Acts 14:7-13, ESV)

[14] But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, [15] “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, 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. [16] In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. [17] Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” [18] Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. (Acts 14:14-18, ESV)

[Daily Word]

After leaving Pisidian Antioch and arriving in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas once again entered the synagogue and proclaimed the gospel. Paul had previously declared his intention to turn to the Gentiles with the gospel (13:46)¹ Yet because Paul had not given up on reaching his own people, the Jews, this is why he continued to enter the synagogue. (1)

As a result of Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, it is recorded that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed from the Jewish synagogue. (1) However, verse 2 also tells us that there were Jews who refused to believe. They stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul. Yet Paul did not leave that place. Instead, he remained there even longer, relying all the more on the Lord and boldly proclaiming the message. (3) In response, God enabled Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders and further confirmed the word of His grace through their hands.

The more the Word of God prevails, the more the power of Satan also rises. (Hebrews 4:12-13) 12 [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12, ESV) 13 [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb 4:13, ESV) The sharper the Word of God, the more the thoughts and intentions of the human heart are laid bare.

As a result, the Gentile and Jewish leaders joined forces to brand Paul and Barnabas as blasphemers against God. It was the first time that Gentiles and Jews had united in opposing God. Without so much as a hearing, they attempted to execute Paul on the spot. (5) Faced with this urgent crisis, Paul and his companions fled. Yet even in this explosive situation, Paul continued to preach the gospel — going to Lystra to proclaim it. (6-7)

In particular, the places Paul chose for preaching the gospel were always locations where large crowds gathered. In one such place there was a man who had been unable to walk from birth. (8) When Paul saw him, he called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” And the man immediately jumped up and began to walk. (10)

Because of this healing miracle performed by Paul, the Gentiles of Lystra began to regard Paul and Barnabas as gods.

The people thought Barnabas was Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and Paul was Hermes, the spokesman of Zeus. The reason they identified Barnabas and Paul in this way was a legend circulating in that region — a story that Zeus and Hermes had once visited an elderly couple living in Phrygia, a region neighboring Lystra. ²

Because of this, the priest of the temple of Zeus and the people tried to offer sacrifices to the two men. So Paul and Barnabas restrained the crowd who had mistaken them for gods, and said: [15] “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, 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. [16] In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. [17] Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:15-17, ESV)

During the Roman Empire period, in the region of Asia Minor including Lycaonia (v.11), the temples of Zeus in each district offered sacrifices to the gods of weather and vegetation that the ancient Hittites had worshiped. Therefore, what Paul is seeking to convey here is that it is not Zeus but God who governs the weather, and that He alone rules over all things. ³

In other words, the one who performed this miracle was not Zeus — a god made by human hands — but the living God, the LORD. God’s will is that those who do not know Him would come to believe in Him and turn to Him. God brings about the work of salvation through those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, just as Paul and Barnabas did, may we all rely solely on God and experience His mighty work — this is my prayer for us all in the name of the Lord.

Bold witness, signs and wonders, salvation of souls, obedience and disobedience, the grace of God

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com