Rise up
The attempted murder of Paul shows us that evil is present, determined and relentless. Christians who want to serve Jesus will suffer. God’s Spirit in us is more powerful than all the enemy put together. We will be knocked down, but God can pick us up and keep us going. In order to be strengthened in our work for Him we need to understand that we’re not alone, that He has a purpose for us and that He will fulfil His promises to us. This will help us to rise up when we are knocked down and keep us going through the challenges of living out our faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture
Acts 14:19-23 ESV But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Bible Study Questions
The relentless wickedness of the world
Are we human beings basically good? We were certainly made made that way, God looked on His creation including human beings and said it was very good, but then we chose our own desire above His and sinned. Sin has completely corrupted us to the point where we can’t even comprehend the extent of it. People travelled more than 160km on foot to oppose the work of God through Paul, why did they work so hard in their evil pursuits?
Acts 14:19a ESV But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium,
Acts 13:50 ESV But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
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, [6] they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Genesis 6:5 ESV The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Psalms 14:2-3 ESV The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. [3] They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Popularity is fickle and fleeting
The same crowds that praised Jesus one day, crucified him the next. The same crowds that wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul one day stoned him the next. Seeking popularity is not just a waste of time but is a dangerous distraction. Why does the world hate people who love Jesus?
Acts 14:19b ESV and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Galatians 1:10 ESV For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Matthew 5:11-12 ESV “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
John 15:18-19 ESV “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
The power of people
Apart from physical pain, what emotional pain do you think discouraged Paul through this terrible experience? Believing (like Elijah did in 1 Kings 19) that we are alone in our suffering is debilitating and destructive. This is why Paul was not sent out alone by the Holy Spirit. He had disciples around him to strengthen and encourage him. We must be part of the Church to do the same for each other.
Acts 14:20 ESV But when the disciples gathered about him,
1 Kings 19:10 ESV He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
The power of promise
God strengthens us with the love of believers around us, but also by the supernatural power of His Spirit, just like He has promised to. Trusting in His great promises and praying for Him to fulfil them gives us wonderful power to persevere. What kind of power did it take for Paul to get up from an attempted execution and go back into the same city, and carry on?
Acts 14:20b ESV he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
1 Peter 5:8-10 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The power of purpose
Together with God’s promised supernatural help and the encouragement of fellow believers, Paul was given power through focussing on his purpose. He didn’t just carry on, but even returned to the same places where his persecutors came from to continue his work of establishing Churches. Paul claimed to have met the risen Jesus Christ, and claimed to have been sent out by Him. Why is his extraordinary commitment also evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Acts 14:21 ESV When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Galatians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
The value of suffering
The news of Paul’s attempted murder must have spread quickly throughout the region. The news would have discouraged many new Christians, and so God sent Paul to encourage them to keep their faith. Instead of hiding the suffering that he experienced, Paul taught that this kind of suffering was not just to be expected, but was actually necessary and helpful. How is suffering helpful to us as Christians?
Acts 14:22 ESV strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 4:1-2 ESV Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, [2] so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
God’s model for ministry through the Church
In keeping with the theme of Acts we see how Jesus, through Paul and the disciples, continues to build the Church. Two things were done: Elders were appointed, and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ through prayer and fasting. Why did the Churches need elders, and why was such care taken to appoint and commit the with prayer and fasting?
Acts 14:23a ESV And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Hebrews 13:17 ESV Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, [13] and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.