[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 14
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:15)
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22)
IN ICONIUM (vs. 1-7)
Since Paul and Barnabas spoke effectively at the Jewish synagogue, many Jews and Gentiles believed. However, the people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, others with the apostle. Upon knowing that there was a plot among the Gentiles and Jews to stone them, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe to preach the good news there.
IN LYSTRA AND DERBE (vs. 8-20)
When the crowd saw Paul healed a crippled man, they believed that they were gods coming to earth. They called Barnabas “Jupiter” or “Zeus” (the chief of the gods) and Paul “Mercury” or “Hermes” (the messenger of the gods). They wanted to offer sacrifices to them but Paul and Barnabas stopped them. Instead, they preached the Word to the crowd.
Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium to stir the crowd against Paul and Barnabas. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city. The next day, they left for Derbe.
THE RETURN TO ANTIOCH IN SYRIA (vs. 21-28)
Paul and Barnabas went back to Antioch to strengthen the disciples by teaching them the Word of God. They established local churches and appointed elders. They trained them to carry on the ministry of evangelization. Their missionary journey include the following: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, Attalia, and back to Antioch.
SUMMARY:
Paul and Barnabas served as missionaries and suffered for Christ. They worked in key cities and carried the gospel message to the world. They established local churches, appointed elders and trained believers to carry on their ministry. They forbid people to worship them as god.
Today, established churches must send missionaries to spread the good news, plant local churches and train believers to become leaders of the church.[:]