ACTS LESSON 30


    We will begin this lesson in Acts 14:1 "And it came to pass in
Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews,
and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the
Greeks believed."

    We see here the synagogue being opened to the Greeks, as well as
the Jews.  It seemed that Paul was under great anointing of God at
this time and many were brought into the numbers of the Christians.
Paul is preaching the Word.  Many who are receiving this Word are
saved.  Remember, these disciples had been filled again with the
Spirit and with joy about the time they came to Iconium.  In Romans
10:14 we read, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed?  And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?"  It is necessary
to have a preacher.  By the foolishness of preaching, men are won to
God.

    Acts 14:2 "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and
made their minds evil affected against the brethren."

    These Jews were jealous, because the body of believers in Christ
was growing far more rapidly than the synagogue.  These Jews put a
question into the minds of the Gentiles who were not familiar with the
Scriptures.  This is still going on today.  Satan never changes.  He
planted a question in Eve's mind, and that has been his plan from the
beginning.  Faith and doubt are opposites.  If you have doubt, you do
not have faith.  You can see how it would be easy to sway the thinking
of a new convert, and that is just what this is saying above.

    Acts 14:3 "Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the
Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted
signs and wonders to be done by their hands."

    Paul did not quickly leave this area, but stayed and kept
proclaiming the pure word of God.  God allowed them to do wonderful
miracles.  The signs and wonders should have convinced the people who
was right.  Many times people are blinded so by unbelief that they
ignore the miracles.

    Acts 14:4 "But the multitude of the city was divided: and part
held with the Jews, and part with the apostles."

    Not everyone will receive the Truth of God, and Iconium is no
different.  Some believed, and some did not believe.  It seemed that
those who did not believe, used every pressure available to them to
try to keep the others from believing.  Many times even homes are
divided into two armed camps, because some of the members believe in
Jesus Christ as Saviour, and some do not.  This is what happened here.
Their differences in belief separated the people.

    Acts 14:5 "And when there was an assault made both of the
Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use [them]
despitefully, and to stone them," Acts 14:6 "They were ware of [it],
and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the
region that lieth round about:"

    It appears here that Paul, Barnabas, and the other disciples had
to run for their lives to keep from being killed.  There is a time to
stand as they had done (long time they abode here and preached), but
there is also a time to use good judgement and leave, and they did
that as well.  When they realized they could do no more good at this
time, they left.  Not many ministers will stand against great
opposition and bring the gospel, but sometimes that is what God
requires.  Lycaonia was a small Roman province of Asia Minor.

    Acts 14:7 "And there they preached the gospel."

    The whole reason they are making this trip is to preach the gospel
unto all the world.  Matthew 28:19 gives Jesus' great commission to
all who would be His ministers, "Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father , and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost."  Paul, Barnabas, and the other disciples were
carrying out this great commission.  It is not our job to win them to
Christ.  We preach the Word, God gives the increase.

    Acts 14:8  "And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his
feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:"

    We see a man in a very destitute condition.  He came into the
world a cripple and has been one ever since.  This is just the type of
thing God can show His power through.

    Acts 14:9 "The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding
him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,"  Acts 14:10 "Said
with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and
walked."

    In Romans 10:17 "So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God."  This man heard Paul preach and that preaching built
up his faith enough that he might receive his healing.  This man's
faith paid off.  He leaped and walked.  Over and over, Jesus said to
those he was healing, (your faith has made you whole).

    Acts 14:11 "And when the people saw what Paul had done, they
lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are
come down to us in the likeness of men."

    These Lycaonians worshipped false gods, and they associated these
miracles as being done by these false gods.  They knew the miracle was
real, and they knew that a miracle such as this was beyond what a
natural man could do.  They assumed that this miracle originated with
Paul.  They did not realize that he was just carrying out a miracle
from God.

    Acts 14:12 "And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul,
Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker."

    This false god Mercurius had to do with eloquent speaking.  This
is why they assumed Paul was Mercurius.  Jupiter and Mercury in Greek
is the same as Zeus and Hermes.

    Acts 14:13 "Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their
city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done
sacrifice with the people."

    This priest was bringing these sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
They believed that Paul and Barnabas were these false gods they
worshipped, and they always sacrificed to these false gods, so they
wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.

    Acts 14:14 "[Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard
[of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying
out," Acts 14:15 "And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also
are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should
turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:"  Acts 14:16 "Who
in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways."

    This frightened Paul and Barnabas, who knew the dangers of
allowing anyone to deify them.  God alone is to be worshipped.  This
is a lesson many today need to look at carefully.  The men and women
of God, who God uses to heal someone, are not to be thought of too
highly (exalted and lifted up).  The power to heal is not their own.
The power is God's.  We are just His message carriers.  The created
should never be worshipped, whether it is people or sun, moon, or
stars, or whether it is things like cars, homes, etc.  We should
worship only the Creator.  God has made mankind a free-will agent.  He
will allow us to choose to worship anything we desire.  The only catch
is, if we worship anyone or anything other than the one True God, we
will not inherit eternal life.  Paul and Barnabas are not like Lucifer
who wanted to be God.  They quickly straighten these people out and
tell them they are not gods.  They also add that the Creator of this
whole universe is the one to worship.  Until Jesus came, most everyone
walked in his own ways.   Jesus brought a better way.















                           Acts 30 Questions


1.  In Iconium, where and to whom did Paul and Barnabas speak?
2.  What could we say about Paul caused so many to be saved?
3.  Who did the unbelieving Jews stir up?
4.  What was the problem with these Jews?
5.  If you have doubt, you do not have ______.
6.  What gave testimony of His grace?
7.  What happened that helped the unbelievers to believe?
8.  How was the city divided?
9.  In verse 5, what did the townspeople do to Paul?
10. Where did Paul and Barnabas go?
11. What did Paul and Barnabas do when they got to a new city?
12. Where can we find the great commission Jesus gave His followers?
13. What was the commission?
14. It is not the job of the minister to save the people, what is our
    job?
15. How long had the man at Lystra been crippled?
16. What had Paul perceived in this man?
17. What did Paul say to the man?
18. What happened?
19. How does faith come?
20. What did Jesus say many times when He healed someone?
21. What did the people of Lycaonia say, when they saw that Paul and
    Barnabas healed the lame man?
22. Who did they think Paul and Barnabas were?
23. What did Mercury have to do with?
24. What names are the same as Jupiter and Mercury in another
    language?
25. What did the priest of Jupiter do?
26. When Paul and Barnabas heard what the priest did, what did they
    do?
27. Who did Paul and Barnabas tell the people they were?
28. How did Paul and Barnabas describe the true God?
29. In verse 16, what tells us that God gave us a free will?

                                 Notes