Acts, Chapter 14

1
Lesson 22

• Acts, Chapter 14

2
Time Frame (Acts 14)

• Pauls first missionary journey, covered in Acts
  131 Acts 1428, came after Herods death in
  A.D. 44 (121-25)
• First missionary journey covered about 3 years.
  A.D. 45-48.
• The Galatian churches were established during
  this time.
• At the close of this tour, Paul and Barnabas
  report back to the church in Antioch of Syria
  (1426-28).

3
Pauls First Missionary Journey(Acts 131
1428)45-48 A.D.
GALATIA
Antioch in Pisidia
Iconium
Lystra
Derbe
Perga
Attalia
Antioch
SYRIA
Seleucia
Salamis
Paphos
CYPRUS
4
At Iconium (1-7) 1

• Paul and Barnabas speak at the Synagogue (1-2)

5
Pauls First Missionary Journey(Acts 131
1428)45-48 A.D.
GALATIA
Iconium about 60 miles SW of Antioch in Pisidia.
In the region of Phrygia, near the border of
Phrygia and Lycaonia. Several Roman roads there,
so an important center for missionary activities.
Part of the Roman province of Galatia.
Antioch in Pisidia
Iconium
Lystra
Derbe
Perga
Attalia
Antioch
SYRIA
Seleucia
Salamis
Paphos
CYPRUS
6
At Iconium (1-7) 1

• Paul and Barnabas speak at the Synagogue (1-2)
• The message was successful, as a great multitude
  of both Jews and Gentiles believed. (1)
• But, the results were mixed, as the city was
  divided almost down the middle (2,4)
• Note Again, the results of the gospel dependent
  upon the heart of the hearer!

7
At Iconium (1-7) 2

• Paul and Barnabas remain at Iconium for a long
  time (3-5)
• God blessed their efforts by supplying
  accompanying signs (3)
• The city was divided in two (4) (cf. Mt.
  1034-36)
• A plot was hatched to stone them (5)
• Paul and Barnabas found out about the plot, and
  fled to Lystra (5-7)
• They began to preach there as well (7)

8
Matthew 1034-36

• Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.
  I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35
  For I have come to set a man against his father,
  a daughter against her mother, and a
  daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law 36
  and a man's enemies will be those of his own
  household.

9
At Iconium (1-7) 2

• Paul and Barnabas remain at Iconium for a long
  time (3-5)
• God blessed their efforts by supplying
  accompanying signs (3)
• The city was divided in two (4) (cf. Mt.
  1034-36)
• A plot was hatched to stone them (5)
• Paul and Barnabas found out about the plot, and
  fled to Lystra (5-7)
• They began to preach there as well (7)

10
Pauls First Missionary Journey(Acts 131
1428)45-48 A.D.
GALATIA
Lystra about 18 miles south of Iconium, and Derbe
about 20 miles SE of Lystra. A rather desolate
region of country. Lystra the larger and more
significant town. It seems there was no
synagogue at either place.
Antioch in Pisidia
Iconium
Lystra
Derbe
Perga
Attalia
Antioch
SYRIA
Seleucia
Salamis
Paphos
CYPRUS
11
Idolatry at Lystra (8-18) 1

• Paul heals a crippled man (8-12)
• The man was crippled from birth (8)
• Paul discerned the mans faith, and healed him
  without the man asking (9-10)
• Notice the unequivocal and instantaneous nature
  of the miracle
• The people attributed the miracle
  (superstitiously) to inherent power in Paul and
  Barnabas (i.e. they were gods) (11)
• Barnabas Zeus Paul Hermes (12)

12
Idolatry at Lystra (8-18) 2

• The people intend to worship Paul and Barnabas
  (13)
• Temple to Zeus in the city the Priest of that
  temple led the attempt to worship
• Paul and Barnabas reject the adoration of the
  multitude (14-18)
• Pauls address to the people (14-17)
• Attributed the healing to God
• The superstition of the people was strong (18)

13
Stoning, Escape to Derbe (19-20)

• Enemies in Antioch and Iconium not satisfied with
  their abuse of Paul in their own city
• Over 100 miles from Antioch to Lystra
• Were able to persuade the multitudes
• Paul stoned, and dragged outside the city
• Disciples gathered around Paul (20)
• Pauls preaching had success disciples
• Paul returned into Derbe
• Paul and his company departed to Derbe

14
Strengthening the Converts (21-28) 1

• Time spent in Derbe preaching resulted in many
  conversions (21)
• Paul and party retrace steps (21-23)
• It is significant that Paul did not back down,
  but returned to the places where he had been
  persecuted
• strengthening the souls of the disciples
• Elders appointed in each city (23)
• Note Plurality of men in each congregation,
  establishing a pattern

15
Strengthening the Converts (21-28) 2

• Paul and Barnabas retrace their route, passing
  through Pisidia, and to the province of Pamphylia
  (24)
• Preached in Perga (25)
• Travel to Attalia, where they find a ship to take
  them back to Antioch of Syria (26)
• This completes the first Missionary Journey
• They reported their success to the disciples, and
  stayed in Antioch for a long time (27-28)