Fight or flight
The way that people react to us sharing our faith will differ. Some will reject it strongly and even attack us, but that shouldn’t determine when we move on and when we persevere. A close reliance on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit will help us to see great wonders done to save people, just like Paul and Barnabus did in a place called Iconium.
Scripture
Acts 14:1-7 ESV 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, [7] and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Bible Study Questions
To the Jew first and also to the Gentile
We’ve looked repeatedly at the way the Gospel was always preached to the Jews in the synagogues first. We know this is evidence of God’s faithfulness to His promises to the Jews but that’s not all it shows us about God. The Gospel needs to be preached to people who know about God and may even know His Word but have not yet submitted to His One and Only plan of salvation. Who are the people who we can minister to, who may know much about God but haven’t received the Gospel?
Acts 14:1a ESV Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue
Romans 1:16 ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek
.1 John 2:23-26 ESV No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. [24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. [26] I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
Speaking in such a way
Did Paul speak to them with powerful eloquent words so that they believed? We don’t know, but we do know that He later wrote that this was not his way. The power of the Gospel to change lives comes from the working of the Holy Spirit and the Truth of the Gospel in our hearts. When the Holy Spirit sets us free in Christ we are really free.
Acts 14:1b ESV and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
United against the truth or for it
What unites and divides people is not always culture, ideology or nationality. Very different people can unite against the truth as we see all over the world at the very moment. Unity against God is common throughout history, the Jews and Romans united against Jesus and that will continue to happen, but unity for Christ also transcends all boundaries and will always do so too. How does Revelation 7:9 make you feel about the diversity of Christ’s Church?
Acts 14:2 ESV But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Acts 2:22-23 ESV “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— [23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Revelation 7:9-12 ESV After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Stay and fight for them
You would expect this united opposition to chase away the disciples, but it does the opposite. Because of the rejection they stayed a long time, spoke boldly and were witnesses of God’s power by the Holy Spirit working miracles through them. What does this tell us about perseverance and staying in the fight when it’s hard to share our faith?
Acts 14:3 ESV 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 hand.
Matthew 11:20-24 ESV Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
The inevitability of growing division
We are sometimes led to believe that being a Christian means being tolerant and accepting everyone’s beliefs and behaviours. What does Jesus tell us about the responses of people, even those who we’re close to, to the truth of the Gospel?
Acts 14:4 ESV But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 ESV For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Matthew 10:34-36 ESV “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
A time to flee
While the disciples stayed a long time fighting for the people to see, hear and believe the truth of the Gospel, the time came for them to heed Jesus words and flee so that they could survive an continue preaching the Gospel. When is it time to stop witnessing to people we know and move on, how can we know this?
Acts 14:5-6 ESV When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,
Matthew 10:23 ESV When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Continue to preach the Gospel
It’s difficult to know when to continue to share the Gospel with the same people or move on, one thin remains certain, we must keep preaching the Gospel wherever we go. There is an end, and it is coming, will we still be preaching the Gospel when it happens?
Acts 14:7 ESV and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Matthew 24:44-47 ESV Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [47] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.