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Lesson 20 : Paul’s First Missionary Journey (2): From Iconium Back to Antioch (14:1-28). I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study. Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in the city of Iconium in Galatia (14:1-7).
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Lesson 20:Paul’s First Missionary Journey (2):From Iconium Back to Antioch (14:1-28)
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in the city of Iconium in Galatia (14:1-7). • Iconium was 75 miles east of Antioch Pisidia and in southern Galatia. • They spent a long time in Iconium, preaching the powerful message of Jesus Christ.
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • The word “believed” in Acts is synonymous with the word “obeyed”! • In Acts 14:1-2, those who “believed” are contrasted with “the unbelieving.” • The word “unbelieving” (verse 2), apeitheo, is better translated “disobedient” (ASV). • Thus, to “believe” is to “obey” (cf. John 3:36), and “unbelievers” are “disobedient.” • Miracles in the Bible had a very specific purpose and did not stray from that purpose! • The apostles were granted the miraculous power of the Spirit of God (cf. Acts 2:1-4). • The purpose of the “signs and wonders” was to “bear witness to the word” (14:3). • The words were obviously from God when the wonders were obviously from God!
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in the city of Iconium in Galatia (14:1-7). • Iconium was 75 miles east of Antioch Pisidia and in southern Galatia. • They spent a long time in Iconium, preaching the powerful message of Jesus Christ. • The gospel divided the residents of Iconium (14:1-6). • Violent persecution arose, so Paul and Barnabas fled from Iconium (14:4-7). • The term “apostles” is used in this chapter in a generic sense.
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in Lystra (14:8-18). • Lystra, a Roman colony, was about 18 miles southwest of Iconium. • Paul healed a cripple who was lame from birth (14:8-10). • The idolatrous Lycaonian residents wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas (14:11-18).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul was stoned and left for dead in Lystra, but then preached in Derbe (14:19-21a). • Enraged Jews traveled 18 mi from Iconium & 90+ mi from Antioch to kill Paul (14:19). • They worked up the crowd against the gospel and Christianity. • With the common Jewish method of execution, they stoned Paul (14:19). • By the providence of God and the incompetence of the Jews, Paul was not dead.
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Disciples are made the same way today as they were in the New Testament! • When Paul went to a city, he “preached the gospel…and made disciples” (14:21). • This was exactly what the Lord instructed to do (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). • Disciples are made by “baptizing” penitent believers into the Godhead (Mt. 28:19).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul and Barnabas encouraged new Christians on their way back to Antioch (14:21b-25). • They returned to the same cities that had violently expelled them (14:21b), in order to: • Keep strengthening (lit. “propping up”) the souls of the disciples (14:22). • Keep exhorting them to keep on continuing in THE faith (14:22). • Appoint elders/shepherds/overseers in every congregation (14:23).
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Once a person is saved, he needs to continue to grow stronger, in order to stay saved! • The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” has no foundation in Scripture! • If “perseverance of the saints” is inevitable and no saved person can be lost (14:22): • Why spend time “strengthening” the Christians? • Why spend time “encouraging” the Christians? • Why urge Christians to keep on “continuing” indefinitely? • Why emphasize continuing “in THE faith” if actual doctrine does not matter? • The Lord requires endurance, faithfulness and a lifetime of service (cf. Matt. 25:23)!
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • The church is to be organized and is to operate according to the Lord’s pattern! • Elders were appointed and are to be appointed in the Lord’s church (14:23). • Every congregation was and is to be autonomous, self-governing (14:23).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to report about the Lord’s work (14:26-28). • They “had completed” (or fulfilled) the mission on which they had been sent (14:26). • They repeatedly were reporting all God had done and giving Him the glory (14:27).
III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • Disbelief & disobedience should not discourage us from continuing to teach the gospel! • When we put our reliance upon the Lord when teaching the gospel, there’s nothing to fear! • We need to learn that proclaiming the gospel is not about us or gaining personal attention! • We need to strengthen our souls in serving the Lord and determine to never give up! • We need to rejoice when we look back at what the Lord has done with us!