238. PERSECUTIONS IN GALATIA

". . . persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra."

The joy with which the Gentiles received the Truth in Antioch of Pisidia contrasted sharply with the anger and hatred that Paul and his new doctrine aroused amongst the Jews. They became angry at the numbers of people converted as proselytes to Judaism, who became attracted to the doctrine of "justification by faith " as taught by the apostle Paul. Their hatred became such that they stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas forcing them to leave Antioch and move on to Iconium, Lystra and Derbe to spread the Gospel there, before returning to Antioch.

Acts 14

OPPOSITION IN ICONIUM (verses 1-5).

Expelled from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas made their way in a southeast direction to Iconium at the western edge of the vast central plains of Asia Minor. They travelled some 130 km along one of the many good Roman highways until they reached a city called Iconium. Although Paul had said "Lo, we turn to the Gentiles" at Antioch, they still acted on the principle of "to the Jew first", and a visit to the synagogue was their first objective upon arrival. They spoke the truth at the synagogue with such effect that they met with immediate spectacular success: "a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed" (v.l).

The other Jews were horrified. These unbelieving Jews would not allow themselves to be persuaded by the logical and powerful arguments of Paul and Barnabas. They stirred up trouble just like the Antioch Jews had. They went to the civil authorities and influenced them to despise the brethren. But Paul did not let this hinder their work. They made good use of the publicity the Truth was receiving, and determined to make the most of it while they could. To their preaching of "the word of His grace" God added "signs and wonders done by their hands" (v.3). These signs and miracles confirmed the truth of their teaching.

For some months the issue between Paul and the Jews was hotly debated, until the whole city became divided into two camps. But when a riot threatened, and Paul and Barnabas could see that the Jews were planning to stone them to death, they could see that their work at Iconium had ended for the moment and so they hurriedly left for Lystra.

A LAME MAN HEALED IN LYSTRA (verses 6-10).

Paul and Barnabas left the main highway and travelled the 30 km in a south south-west direction to Lystra. In doing so they entered a much less civilised region known as Lycaonia (meaning wolf-land). Unlike Antioch and Iconium, Lystra and Derbe had only a few Jews and therefore they were without synagogues. So in this semi-barbarous Gentile setting, the Gospel was proclaimed and one man in particular listened very intently. He was a man "impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked" but who realised that Paul's teaching of salvation from a sin-prone state of mortality, of a future time when Christ will heal the world's sickness, disease and weakness: that teaching prompted a burning desire and faith filled his heart. Paul, perceiving this man's faith, called upon him to "stand upright on his feet". The cripple not only stood, but leaped and walked, so revealing the completeness of his cure.

THE PEOPLE WORSHIP THE APOSTLES (verses 11-18).

The effect of this miracle on the people was beyond the apostles' expectations. They were simple folk, and reasoned correctly that such a miracle was extraordinary and in their misunderstanding of the source of the power behind the miracle, they thought that the pagan gods had come down to their city. In their excitement they shouted out in their own language, "the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men" (v.11). Paul and Barnabas would not have understood their speech but they soon became alarmed at the excitement of the crowd as the people brought oxen and flower garlands, desiring to make a sacrifice unto the apostles. They named Paul, Mercurius — a god who they believed was young, small, fluent and active; and Barnabas, they named Jupiter — a god who was believed to be older, taller and more imposing. The people excitedly organised a festival to these "gods" who had honoured their city by visiting them in human form and performing such a sensational miracle.

Paul and Barnabas were dismayed to see that the miracle which was a sure sign of God's power working through them had been misunderstood as the work of pagan gods. Had the apostles been like most men they might have sat back and enjoyed the praise of the crowd. But they were men who sought the honour of the one true God. They rent their clothes to show their protest and sorrow. They quickly ran among the excited crowd trying to stop the festivities and shouting, "Sirs, why do ye these things" (vv. 15-17). Only with the greatest difficulty were Paul and Barnabas able to control the crowd. They appealed to the crowd to recognise the healing of the lame man as a sign of the power of the living God. That power was also evidenced in the cycle of the seasons throughout which the living God lovingly provided for all His creation. Finally the people turned away feeling rather embarassed and resentful against their two visitors.

TWO RESPONSES TO PAUL'S PREACHING (verses 19-20).

1. Rejection: Certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium soon arrived at Lystra and quickly took advantage of the people's resentment towards the apostles. These hostile Jews stirred up the men of Lycaonia to carry out a shocking act of violence in direct contrast to their former acts of praise. These fickle-minded and emotional Lycaonians stoned Paul and dragged his bruised and battered body through the city and dumped him outside. So terribly was he treated that they all thought he was dead.

A sorrowful group of disciples gathered around the body of Paul, shocked by the awful treatment he had received by the crazed crowd, when suddenly he stirred to life, stood upon his feet and with a tremendous show of courage, went right back into the city of his persecutors! What amazing courage Paul had!

2. Acceptance:

Amongst the small Jewish community in Lystra was a son of a mixed marriage (Acts 16:1). He was Timotheus (or Timothy, meaning "valued of God"), the son of a Jewess who had married a Gentile. Whilst he had not been circumcised, he had been taught the Old Testament scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14-15). The word of God had made a deep impression upon him. This, together with the powerful preaching of the apostle Paul, convinced Timothy of the need to become a disciple of Christ. And when he saw the courage of Paul he decided to dedicate his life to Christ and the building up of the little ecclesia recently formed by Paul's preaching. He had witnessed Paul's sufferings at Lystra for the sake of the gospel (2 Tim. 3:10-11) and largely as a result of that example, Timothy later became a faithful and courageous fellow-labourer with Paul (see 1 Cor. 4:17, Phil. 2:19-22).

THE VISIT TO DERBE (verses 20-21).

Once more, the crisis with the townspeople forced the brethren to move on to Derbe, some 70 km east of Lystra. Their Jewish persecutors probably thought that they had silenced Paul. The apostles were therefore unhindered in their preaching activity at Derbe, where a successful campaign was conducted (v.21 marg.). Here another notable disciple, Gaius, was converted. He later became one of Paul's travelling companions (Acts 20:4).

STRENGTHENING THE ECCLESIAS ON THE RETURN JOURNEY (verses 22-28).

With the work at Derbe completed, the apostles recognised an urgent need to encourage the ecclesias established during the course of their journey. Thus Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, undaunted by the opposition and persecution they had experienced at most of the cities during their forward journey (cp. 2 Tim. 3:11). The apostles recognised the basic need of all believers upon baptism, to be established in the Faith by being given further instruction in the things of God. It was this aspect of the work that they concentrated upon on their return journey. Paul's own experiences illustrated his exhortation that they must continue in the faith whatever the opposition, and that it is "through much tribulation" that we must "enter into the Kingdom of God".

They came again to the port of Attalia (near Perga from whence John Mark had left) and sailed back to Antioch in Syria. It had been approximately two years since they left and there was much to tell. The brethren and sisters rejoiced to hear how the Lord had worked so wondrously in the lives of Paul and Barnabas on this the first preaching campaign. They had endured great sufferings but they were able to rejoice with the ecclesia in the knowledge that "God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (v.27).

LESSONS FOR US:

God was with Paul to bring the light of Gospel truth to the Gentiles dwelling in the darkness of superstition and ignorance. But in so doing God was showing his chosen vessel how great things he must suffer "for my name's sake" (Acts 9:15, 16). Yet Paul rejoiced, counting it a privilege that he could serve Christ, who had given his life that others, like Paul, might live. We, too, should think seriously about the privileges and demands of the Truth's service, and in making our decision, be encouraged by Paul's faithful and courageous example.

Our own sufferings may not take the same form as that of the apostles, but "tribulation" signifies pressures upon us. These may take many forms, some more subtle than the opposition the apostles received (cp. 2 Tim. 3:1). These "pressures" can only be resisted and overcome by a confidence in the power of the Word of God.

Another good example for us is that of Timothy, a young man who loved the scriptures and overcame his shyness by a faithful and unselfish dedication to the service of the Truth — to Paul and to the ecclesia. We can all be Timothys!

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Vol. 13, pp. 110-120

"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton)—pp. 53-62

"The Letter to the Galatians" (John Carter)—pp. 11, 17, 49, 61-62

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS.

1. Why were Paul and Barnabas forced to leave Iconium?

2. Why was Paul stoned at Lystra?

3. What lessons can we learn from the example of Timothy of Lystra?

4. Despite earlier persecutions, Paul and Barnabas Retraced their steps through Galatia — why?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. What were the results of Paul healing a lame man at Lystra?

2. Contrast the two responses to Paul's preaching at Lystra.

3. "We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

4. Explain how Paul and Barnabas' journey to the Galatian cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra andDerbe illustrates this principle.