“Acts 14:19-28”

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’ When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples.”

---End of Scripture verses---

Verse 19 – “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.” Isn’t it amazing how fickle people can be sometimes? One moment they were calling Paul a god and trying to offer sacrifices to him (verse 18); the Next they were hurling stones at him, dragging him out of their city and leaving him for dead. Obviously this is an example of two extremes, but bad things happen when we place our focus on human beings rather than on God. First, the people of Lystra were blown away by the things that Paul and Barnabas did. Then they were easily turned in the opposite direction and worked into a violent fury by a bunch of ungodly instigators. It is always better to follow the will of God than the will of the people. God will never lead you in the wrong direction or incite you to do harm to other people.

Verses 21-22 – “After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’” How many of us would willingly go back to a city in which an angry mob had recently tried in earnest to kill us? Well that’s exactly what Paul did when he returned to the city of Lystra. But the Apostle Paul had more concern for the wellbeing of the new converts there than he did for his own safety. There was a multitude of reasons to stay away from that place, but there were also many good reasons to return. There were young Christians there who needed their souls strengthened and their faith encouraged; and Paul and Barnabas were not about to turn their backs on them and leave them to fend for themselves in the hour of their greatest need. It is not always easy to do the right things. It is not always easy to be a faithful Christian. Sometimes we must endure “many tribulations” in order to serve God steadfastly. It is always more than worth it.

Verse 23 – “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” These cities where new churches had recently been planted also needed appropriate leadership for spiritual guidance, service and protection. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each of the congregations that they had recently help to establish. It is God’s will, and a part of His perfect plan for His people, to have qualified men serving as elders at each local church of Jesus Christ. We read about the qualifications of these men in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Always a plurality (more than one) in each congregation. Always men. Always married. Always having children of their own. In God’s perfect plan, apostles were not always going to be a living part of the leadership of His church. God ordained that godly men should serve as elders/shepherds/bishops, leading His people steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).

Please read Acts 15:1-12 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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