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Acts 14 "Through Many Persecutions"
Once back on the mainland, Paul and Barnabas got off to a rocky start. They made quite a stir in Antioch of Pisidia, but then got themselves kicked out of town. As they moved on to Iconium, the same kind of reaction occurred. There were those who believed and there were those who opposed the gospel.
Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part sided with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. (Acts 14:1-7)
In Iconium there was opposition, but also much fruit. And so we see that even though the Jews were poisoning the minds of the Gentiles against them they stayed there a long time. Actually the word, "Therefore", tells us that it was because of this opposition that they stayed so long. Preaching and teaching so that the church would be strong. And God graced them with signs and wonders. But when the opposition grew violent, they were forced to continue on further into the interior.
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. Now when people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. (Acts 14:8-13)
Before Paul and Barnabas even have a chance to preach, the whole city is responding to the miracle that God has done through them. Except this is not the kind of response that they want. Imagine the apostles surprise at the excitement they had caused, and because the townspeople were speaking in their own dialect, they didn't know what was going on.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living god, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain them from sacrificing to them. (Acts 14: 14-18)
Perhaps, Paul and Barnabas, after being kicked out of one city, and escaping from another, were a little bit glad to receive such a warm welcome in Lystra. But this wasn't to last long, for the opposition was now following them. It reminds me of a story that my mother used to read to me about the Jonny Cake. The cake that one day hopped off the table and out the door with the baker chasing behind. And as it rolled down the road it was soon being chased by not just the baker, but also each person and animal that it met along the road. Until there was a long line chasing after the Jonny Cake. Paul was collecting opposition from each town that he stopped in.
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts 14: 19-28)
This first missionary journey is remarkable not only for
its successes; churches planted in each city, the door of faith opened
to Gentiles who had never before had a chance to believe in God. But
also for its tribulations. There was trouble everywhere Paul went. I
am convinced that compared with Paul we are a like a bunch of swimmers
in our bathing suits putting our toes in to check if the water is too
cold. We want to make sure that everything is going to go well, before
we will start. But Paul just jumped right in. The water was too cold,
but he still had a good swim. No, it was not safe, to preach the gospel
where it had never gone before, but it was necessary!
Paul took the long way home to Antioch by the way. Instead of heading
to the nearest port to sail back, he looped back through each city that
he had been to before. Encouraging each baby church and appointing elders.
How did he encourage them? By telling them "We must through many
tribulations enter the kingdom of God." Is that encouraging? How
is it encouraging to know that we are going to have troubles?
I think that this is one of the most important lessons for Christians
to learn. And it is repeated in the Bible many times. There are two
extremes of looking at tribulations. Each is a viewpoint that we should
avoid.
The first extreme is the one that many new Christians believe. They
believe that after you become a Christian, you no longer have any problems.
That because you are a Christian, now God is on your side and He is
just going to bless you and you are going to be happy all the time.
And at first it seems as if this is true. This is because before a person
comes to Jesus Christ they are controlled by sin. And the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:23) Before coming to Christ, many troubles are the result
of our own sin. We wonder why our relationships go bad, why our finances
are out of control, why our job or school or families are always getting
messed up. What we cannot see is that it is the natural result of our
own sin. We are reaping what we sow.
But after giving our hearts to Jesus, we are set free from the bondage
of sin. In many areas we gain victory and accordingly we experience
the results of these victories in our relationships, finances and personal
life. The difference is like night and day, and so we think that never
again will there be any troubles. But the Bible teaches us something
different. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom
of God."
The second extreme is held by many "mature" Christians. This
is the stoic view. It accepts troubles as the attack of the world. After
all Jesus said "A servant is not greater than his master. If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:19) And
demands that if we are really Christians we steadfastly continue despite
the persecutions that come. The idea is that by enduring tribulations
we are showing our faith in Christ.
The danger is that if we hold this view we become rigid. Inflexible.
Everything becomes a test of our faith. Or rather our determination.
Imagine with me if Paul had held this view. In Pisidia, when the rulers
of the city kicked him out, Paul would have had to sneak back in and
preach undercover. In Iconium, when they plotted to stone him, he would
have had to stay and face the crowd. But, instead Paul went on to the
next towns. This is not to say that he did not persevere despite opposition.
And, yes, when the time came for him to face death for the faith, he
did. But he did not become rigid. He did not allow the opposition to
control him. Instead he continually looked to God, to direct him through
each tribulation. This is the lesson that we need to learn. One time
God might tell us to flee. Like he told the disciples when they were
faced with temptation. Another time we will need to face the trouble
head on. In some situations God will rescue us from danger and pain,
but in other situations, we will need to go through the pain. But through
it with God.
Tribulations are a test of our faith. Not of our willpower. But faith
is faith in God. We believe that God will be with us in the tribulation.
God can rescue us from tribulations. God can guide us past tribulations.
God can strengthen us in the midst of tribulations. We must through
many tribulations enter the kingdom of God, because it is through many
tribulations that we will learn to walk with God.
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