Day 1154: The word of God's grace - Acts 14 vs 1 - 7

1-2 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4-7 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel. Acts 14:1-7 English Standard Version

The last Chapter showed that a major turning point had been reached, and Paul and Barnabas were going to take the gospel to the gentiles. We saw too how this caused prominent religious women, and leading men of the city, to stir up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and run them out of town. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. But the disciples they left were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The Biblehub website says that “Iconium was an ancient city in the region of Lycaonia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. It served as a significant hub in the Roman province of Galatia. Being strategically positioned on the main trade route connecting Ephesus to the east, it was a vital centre for commerce and communication in the ancient world.”

So what happened with Paul and Barnabas when they got there? (vs 1-3)

We are told that they 'spoke in such a way that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.' God was working through them by means of the gospel to touch more gentile lives. But we see also that 'unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and poisoned their minds against the brothers.' How tragic it is to poison the mind of others! Paul would later say of them that “the Jews killed the Lord Jesus, and even their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men. They hinder us from telling Gentiles how they may be saved.” (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16)

But Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time in Iconium telling others about Christ. And we read that God bore witness to 'the word of His grace' with miraculous signs and wonders. The gospel is indeed the word of God's grace, for it tells how He sent His beloved Son to save those who deserved only condemnation. But by poisoning the gentiles against the apostles, the unbelieving Jews were heaping up their sins, and the wrath of God was now upon them.

We see too the conflict that developed in the city as some 'sided with the Jews', and some 'with the apostles'. But is that not what Jesus warned would happen. He had experienced strong opposition from the Jewish leaders, even to the point of being crucified, and told the disciples that they were to expect the same. So a plot was made by the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles to stone Paul and Barnabas, but they heard of the plot and fled to Lystra and Derbe. There are times when such flight is necessary.

But it didn't stop their ministry! We read that they 'continued to preach the gospel'. Is this not what we see in the world today? The gospel divides people into those who truly believe, and those who reject God's 'word of grace'. Sometimes it leads to similar hostility and persecution. There are people who try to poison the mind of others against the ones bringing good news. It happens in Schools and Universities, and it's happening in Churches who no longer see the Bible as God's inspired word. May it be said of us what was said of Christians in Thessalonica, that when we received the word the apostles preached, “we accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)