“"'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.'"”
Acts 14:15
Summary
In Acts chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. In Iconium, they enter the Jewish synagogue, speaking so powerfully that a great number of Jews and Greeks believe. However, the division arises as some reject their teaching, leading to a plot against them; they flee to Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra, Paul heals a crippled man, causing the crowds to mistake them for gods, calling Barnabas 'Zeus' and Paul 'Hermes.' They fervently refute the worship and point them to the living God. The atmosphere shifts dramatically when Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive, convincing the crowd to stone Paul. Miraculously, he survives and continues his mission in Derbe before returning to strengthen the believers in the cities they visited earlier, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith. They appoint elders in each church and emphasize the importance of enduring trials. Paul and Barnabas eventually return to Antioch, sharing the work that God has accomplished through them and how the door of faith has opened to the Gentiles.