Berean Study Bible Paul and Barnabas at IconiumPaul and Barnabas entered a prominent city of southern Galatia, near the region of Lycaonia, where Jewish, Greek, and Roman influences met. Its synagogue provided a natural setting for proclaiming the fulfillment of Israel’s Scriptures in Jesus the Messiah. 2Ti 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me… Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, They began with the Jewish community, honoring God’s covenant purposes and offering the gospel first to those who had received the Law and the Prophets. God-fearing Gentiles also commonly attended synagogues, making them an important bridge for the message of Christ to reach the nations. Act 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,… where they spoke so well The missionaries presented Christ with clarity, courage, and Scripture-grounded conviction. The Holy Spirit enabled their witness, confirming that the gospel’s power did not rest on human skill alone. Act 17:2-3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. Jews and Gentiles received the same Savior through faith, forming a new people united in Christ. Their faith demonstrated that God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham was being fulfilled through the preaching of the gospel. Act 17:4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas… But the unbelieving Jews In Iconium, many Jews and Gentiles believed the message preached in the synagogue, but other Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Their unbelief led them to oppose not merely Paul and Barnabas, but the gospel of God’s grace. Acts repeatedly records this division within Israel: some received the promised Christ, while others resisted the apostolic witness. Jhn 12:37-40 Although Jesus had performed so many signs… stirred up the Gentiles Jewish opponents actively enlisted Gentile resistance against the missionaries. Such hostility had already driven Paul and Barnabas from Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:50) and would continue throughout their ministry. The gospel was creating a new people united in Christ, and those who rejected it sought to preserve old divisions and local influence. Act 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women… and poisoned their minds False reports and hostile accusations turned Gentile hearts against the believers before many had fairly considered the gospel. Opposition to Christ often works through distortion, suspicion, and slander rather than open examination of the truth. Paul and Barnabas nevertheless remained in Iconium for a considerable time, speaking boldly and trusting the Lord to confirm His word (Acts 14:3). 2Co 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived… against the brothers. The brothers included Paul, Barnabas, and the growing body of believers in Iconium. Christians belonged to one family through faith in Christ, whether Jewish or Gentile, and attacks against one part of the church affected the whole. Their endurance amid hostility displayed the cost of faithful witness and the sustaining power of God. 1Th 2:14-15 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God… So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, Paul and Barnabas remained in Iconium despite growing resistance because new believers needed instruction, encouragement, and grounding in the faith. Their ministry established a community centered on the risen Christ rather than on the customs or religions of the surrounding culture. Act 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word… speaking boldly for the Lord, Their courage came from confidence in the Lord who had sent them and from the power of the Holy Spirit. Opposition did not silence their witness, for the gospel required a clear and faithful proclamation of Jesus as Savior and Lord. Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly… who affirmed the message of His grace God confirmed that salvation is His gift, received through faith in Christ rather than earned through works of the Law. The Lord’s approval of their preaching strengthened the church and testified that the message proclaimed by the apostles carried divine authority. Act 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me… by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The miracles displayed God’s power and bore witness to the truth of the gospel. As in the ministries of Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and the apostles, signs directed attention beyond human messengers to the God who saves through His Son. Rom 15:18-19 I will not presume to speak of anything except… The people of the city were divided. Iconium became divided as the gospel exposed opposing responses to Jesus Christ. The message of salvation challenged established religious loyalties and demanded a decision concerning the crucified and risen Messiah. Jesus warned that His coming would bring division even within households and communities, because allegiance to Him separates faith from unbelief (Matthew 10:34–36). Jhn 7:43 So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. Some sided with the Jews, Jewish opponents resisted Paul and Barnabas and sought to preserve their influence within the synagogue and the city. Their resistance continued a pattern seen throughout Acts, as some Jewish leaders opposed the proclamation that Jesus fulfilled God’s promises to Israel and that Gentiles could receive salvation through faith apart from becoming Jews. Act 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women… and others with the apostles. Paul and Barnabas were recognized as Christ’s authorized messengers, sent by the Holy Spirit through the church at Antioch (Acts 13:2–3). Jews and Gentiles who believed their message joined them in affirming the gospel. The divided city revealed both the advance of God’s promise to bring His light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6) and the persistent spiritual conflict stirred by the preaching of Christ. Act 2:41 Those who embraced his message were baptized… But when the Gentiles and Jews, In Iconium, opposition to the gospel crossed longstanding ethnic and religious boundaries. Those who differed deeply in culture and worship found common cause in resisting the message that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Lord of all. The division produced by the apostles’ preaching revealed that the gospel calls every people to the same repentance and faith. Act 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate… together with their rulers, Influential leaders joined the hostile movement, giving public force to the effort against Paul and Barnabas. The apostles faced more than private disagreement; local authority and popular pressure were being directed against them. Such resistance showed how threatening the reign of Christ appeared to those determined to preserve their own religious influence and social control. Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand… set out to mistreat and stone them, The opponents planned violence intended to shame, injure, and kill the missionaries. Stoning carried associations with punishment for blasphemy under Jewish law, indicating that the apostles’ proclamation of Jesus had been treated as a grave offense. Paul would later be stoned at Lystra, yet God continued to preserve and use His servants. The danger did not silence the gospel, but demonstrated the cost of faithful witness to Christ. Act 7:58-59 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.… they found out about it Paul and Barnabas learned of the coordinated attempt by both Gentiles and Jews, along with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them. God preserved His servants so that their witness could continue, as He had delivered Paul from a similar danger in Damascus (Acts 9:23–25). Act 23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot,… and fled to the Lycaonian cities Their departure was obedient wisdom rather than fear. Jesus taught His disciples to move on when persecution closed one field of ministry, continuing to proclaim the kingdom elsewhere (Matthew 10:23). Lycaonia lay in the interior of Asia Minor and retained a strongly local culture despite Roman rule. Mat 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.… of Lystra and Derbe Lystra and Derbe were cities within the Roman province of Galatia. At Lystra, Paul would heal a man lame from birth, and the crowd would wrongly identify Barnabas and Paul with pagan gods (Acts 14:8–18). Lystra later became the home of Timothy, whose faith had been shaped through the witness of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5). In Derbe, many disciples would be made before the missionaries began their return journey (Acts 14:20–21). Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found… and to the surrounding region, Paul and Barnabas carried the gospel beyond prominent urban centers into the wider countryside. Their ministry among villages and lesser-known communities demonstrated that the saving message of Christ was intended for every people and place. Mrk 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly… where they Paul and Barnabas entered Lycaonia after opposition in Iconium threatened their lives. Lystra and Derbe were Gentile cities, opening a wider field for the message of Christ. Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly… continued Flight from danger did not end their obedience. They withdrew from a planned attack, not from their calling, and persevered in the work entrusted to them. Act 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch,… to preach Public proclamation remained central to their ministry. Paul and Barnabas called people to turn from idols and believe in the living God who had revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ. 1Co 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach… the gospel. The good news announced forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and eternal life through the crucified and risen Lord. God’s salvation was advancing into Gentile lands, fulfilling His purpose to bring the light of Christ to the nations. Mrk 1:14-15 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee…
The Visit to Lystra and DerbeLystra was a Roman colony in the region of Lycaonia within the province of Galatia, located in present-day south-central Turkey. Its largely Gentile population helps explain why Paul’s ministry began in a public setting rather than in a synagogue. The gospel was advancing beyond Jewish communities to people who had little knowledge of Israel’s Scriptures, demonstrating that salvation in Christ was intended for every nation. Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found… there sat a man crippled in his feet, The man’s disability left him dependent on others and unable to participate fully in ordinary work and community life. His need was visible to the whole city, providing public evidence of God’s power when healing came through Paul’s ministry. 2Sa 4:4 And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame… who was lame from birth His condition was neither recent nor uncertain; he had lived with it from the beginning of his life. Like the man born blind whom Jesus healed in Jerusalem, his restoration would rule out any natural explanation and direct attention to the power of God. Act 3:2 And a man who was lame from birth was being carried… and had never walked. The complete inability to walk magnified the miracle that followed. Isaiah foretold a day when “the lame man shall leap like a deer” (Isaiah 35:6), and the healing in Lystra testified that the saving power of the promised Messiah was at work through the proclamation of the gospel. Act 3:8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went… This man was listening to the words of Paul, The man, crippled from birth, gave careful attention to Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. In pagan Lystra, where Paul and Barnabas were bringing Christ’s name beyond Jewish communities, the Word of God reached a man whose condition had never yielded to human remedy. Faith ordinarily comes through hearing the message of Christ (Romans 10:17). Act 16:14 Among those listening was a woman named Lydia,… who looked intently at him Paul’s fixed gaze reflected more than notice of the man’s disability. The apostle recognized a readiness to trust the God whom he preached. The Lord enabled His apostles to discern and to act in ways that confirmed the truth of their message, as Peter had done when he met the lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:4–6). Act 3:4 Peter looked directly at him, as did John.… and saw that he had faith to be healed. The man’s attentive response revealed confidence that God could restore him through the authority of Jesus Christ. His healing would not arise from human strength or merit, but from God’s power displayed through His servant. The miracle that followed confirmed the gospel in Lystra, though the crowds would initially misunderstand the sign and attempt to honor Paul and Barnabas as pagan gods. Mrk 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,… In a loud voice Paul called out, Paul addressed the man publicly so that the gathered people would witness God’s power. Having seen that the man had faith to be healed, Paul spoke with the authority of Christ, not with power originating in himself. Jhn 11:43 After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice… “Stand up on your feet!” The command called for an immediate response of faith. Like Jesus’ commands to the sick and disabled, Paul’s words brought restoration that human ability could not produce. The man who had never walked was summoned into strength, wholeness, and a new way of life. Jhn 5:8 Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” And the man jumped up Instantaneous leaping showed that the healing was complete. The response recalls the lame man healed at the temple gate, who walked and leaped in praise of God. No gradual recovery or human explanation could account for such strength. Act 3:8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went… and began to walk. The man’s ability to walk confirmed the reality of the miracle before the people of Lystra. His restored body bore witness that the risen Jesus continued His work through His servants and that the gospel brings God’s saving power into broken human lives. Mrk 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat… When the crowds saw what Paul had done, This phrase refers to the miraculous healing of a man who had been lame from birth. The crowd’s reaction highlights the impact of witnessing a miracle, which often led to amazement and misunderstanding. Miracles in the early church served as signs to authenticate the message of the apostles, similar to the miracles performed by Jesus (John 14:11). The crowd’s response also reflects a common human tendency to focus on the miraculous rather than the message. Act 3:10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging… they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: The use of the Lycaonian language indicates the local cultural context of Lystra, a city in the Roman province of Galatia. This detail underscores the diversity of languages and cultures in the ancient world, which the apostles encountered in their missionary journeys. The fact that the crowd spoke in their native tongue suggests that Paul and Barnabas may not have immediately understood their reaction, leading to a temporary misunderstanding. Act 2:6 And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together… “The gods have come down to us in human form!” This exclamation reveals the pagan beliefs prevalent in Lystra, where the people were influenced by Greco-Roman mythology. The idea of gods taking human form was common in ancient myths, such as the stories of Zeus and Hermes. This belief contrasts with the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, where God became man in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). The crowd’s declaration also echoes the misunderstanding of Jesus’ identity during His ministry, where people often failed to recognize His divine nature (John 10:33). Act 28:6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up… Barnabas they called Zeus, The Lystrans interpreted the healing of the man lame from birth through the religious beliefs of their city. Zeus stood as the chief god in the Greek pantheon, and Barnabas apparently appeared to them as the more imposing or dignified member of the pair. Their response shows how readily fallen humanity may confuse God’s works with the supposed divinity of human instruments. Barnabas accepted no such honor, for the miracle testified to the living God rather than to the apostles. Act 12:22 And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god,… and Paul they called Hermes, Hermes was regarded as the messenger of the gods, making Paul’s preaching seem to fit the role in the minds of the crowd. Paul had proclaimed the gospel and commanded the crippled man to stand, so the people associated him with divine speech. Yet Paul was not a messenger of pagan gods, but an apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to declare repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through the risen Lord. Exo 4:16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman… because he was the chief speaker. Paul commonly took the leading role in proclaiming the gospel, as seen throughout the missionary journeys. His prominence in speaking did not diminish Barnabas’s ministry, but displayed the differing gifts God had given them. The crowd’s mistaken praise soon led to attempted sacrifices, requiring Paul and Barnabas to direct all glory away from themselves and to the Creator who made heaven, earth, sea, and all that is in them. Act 17:2-3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… The priest of Zeus, Zeus was regarded as the chief god of the Greek pantheon, and the people of Lystra had identified Barnabas with Zeus after witnessing the healing of the lame man. The priest’s participation gave official religious weight to the crowd’s mistaken conclusion and showed how deeply pagan worship shaped public life in the city. 2Ki 23:5 Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests… whose temple was just outside the city, The temple stood near Lystra as a visible center of civic devotion. Temples and their priests served the religious identity of a community, and sacrifices offered there were believed to secure divine favor. The nearby shrine also explains how quickly the priest could organize a public sacrifice after the crowd proclaimed Barnabas and Paul to be gods. Heb 13:12-13 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate… brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, Bulls were costly offerings associated with honoring a powerful deity such as Zeus. Wreaths were used to adorn the animals, the participants, or the place of sacrifice, marking the occasion as sacred celebration. The city gates provided a prominent public setting where the crowd could gather around Paul and Barnabas. 1Ki 18:23-24 Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose… hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. The healing led the people to honor the servants of God rather than the God who had worked through them. Paul and Barnabas would immediately reject such worship, tearing their garments in grief and urgently directing the crowd to turn from vain idols to the living Creator. Human beings, even apostles used mightily by God, must never receive the honor that belongs to God alone. Exo 32:5-8 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf… But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, Barnabas and Paul are called apostles because the church at Antioch had sent them out under the direction of the Holy Spirit for the work of proclaiming Christ among the nations (Acts 13:2–3). In Lystra, the healing of a man crippled from birth led the crowd to identify Barnabas with Zeus and Paul with Hermes. The priest of Zeus was already bringing bulls and garlands to offer sacrifice at the city gates (Acts 14:11–13). The apostles recognized that the crowd’s admiration had become idolatrous worship, a direct denial of the God they proclaimed. Act 10:25-26 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him… they tore their clothes Tearing their garments expressed grief and horror at the blasphemy unfolding before them. Faithful Jews used this public act when God’s honor was violated or when devastating evil was encountered. Barnabas and Paul would not accept glory that belongs to God alone, even though refusing the crowd’s praise placed them in danger. Their response stood in sharp contrast to Herod Agrippa I, who accepted divine honors and was judged by God because he did not give God the glory (Acts 12:21–23). 2Ki 19:1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes… and rushed into the crowd, The apostles moved immediately to stop the sacrifice before it could be completed. They did not remain at a safe distance or allow the misunderstanding to pass unchallenged. Their urgency revealed pastoral concern for the people of Lystra, who were worshiping created beings rather than their Creator. The same crowd that sought to honor them would soon be influenced to stone Paul, showing the instability of praise that is not rooted in truth (Acts 14:19). Num 16:47 So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered… shouting, Barnabas and Paul raised their voices over the gathering because the matter concerned the worship of God and the salvation of those present. Their coming words would identify them as mortal men and call the Lystrans to turn from worthless idols to the living God, who made heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them (Acts 14:15). Act 21:36 For the crowd that followed him kept shouting… “Men, why are you doing this? After God healed a man lame from birth through Paul’s ministry, the people of Lystra concluded that Barnabas and Paul were Zeus and Hermes. The apostles urgently stopped the sacrifice, tearing their clothes in grief over worship being given to men. Rev 22:9 But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant… We too are only men, human like you. Paul and Barnabas refused every claim to divinity. God’s servants may be used powerfully, but they remain dependent creatures; glory for God’s works belongs to God alone. Act 10:26 But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said,… We are bringing you good news Their message was not about their own power or reputation, but about God’s saving work. The gospel announces that sinners may be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. Rom 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?… that you should turn from these worthless things The sacrifices prepared for Zeus and Hermes belonged to idolatry, which cannot save, hear, or give life. Repentance requires leaving false worship and every allegiance that replaces God. 1Th 1:9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us,… to the living God, Unlike lifeless idols fashioned by human hands, the true God acts, speaks, judges, saves, and gives life. He alone deserves worship. Dan 6:26 I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom,… who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. Paul began with God as Creator because the Lystrans needed to know the One above all supposed local deities. The Maker of all things has authority over all people and calls His creation to worship Him rather than created things. Psa 146:6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea… In past generations, Before Christ’s coming and the worldwide proclamation of the gospel, God permitted the nations to remain largely outside Israel’s covenant privileges. Israel received the Law, the prophets, and the promises, while the Gentile peoples commonly pursued idolatry and rebellion. Yet God’s patience did not mean abandonment; He continued to bear witness to Himself through creation, providence, and conscience. Act 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times,… He let all nations God sovereignly allowed the Gentile nations to follow the desires of their own hearts and experience the consequences of rejecting His truth. Their spiritual darkness displayed humanity’s need for redemption and magnified the grace later revealed in Christ. Paul also declared that God had overlooked former times of ignorance but now commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Psa 81:12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts… go their own way. The nations’ chosen paths led to false worship and moral corruption, as Romans 1:18–32 describes. God did not approve of their rebellion; He restrained judgment in patience while preparing the way for the gospel. Through Christ, the promised light has come to the Gentiles, fulfilling God’s purpose that His salvation should reach the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Isa 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned… Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: God had continually revealed His power, kindness, and sustaining care to the nations, even while they walked in ignorance of Him. Creation bears witness to the Creator’s eternal power and divine nature, leaving humanity accountable before Him (Romans 1:20). Paul spoke these words at Lystra to people who regarded nature as governed by many gods. The one true God, rather than being distant or capricious, had patiently shown mercy to all people through His works. Psa 19:1-4 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare…… He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, The God of Israel alone governs the heavens, the rains, and the harvests. Rain was essential to life in the agricultural world of Asia Minor, and abundant crops displayed God’s providence. Scripture repeatedly identifies rain and harvest as blessings from the Lord (Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24). God’s gifts to the nations were not evidence that idols possessed power, but evidence that the living God continued to uphold the world He made. Deu 11:14 then I will provide rain for your land in season,… filling your hearts with food and gladness.” God’s provision extends beyond bare survival to nourishment, celebration, and joy. Food, fruitful labor, family feasts, and the gladness of harvest all testify to His generous character (Psalm 104:14–15). Such blessings call people to recognize their Maker, give thanks, and turn from empty worship to the God who gives every good gift. Psa 104:14-15 He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops… Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas had torn their garments, rushed into the crowd, and openly declared that they were merely men. The healing of the lame man had unmistakably displayed God’s power, yet the people interpreted the miracle through the religious framework they already knew. Jer 44:16-17 As for the word you have spoken to us in the name… Paul and Barnabas These two apostles were key figures in the early Christian church, known for their missionary journeys and spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, was a Pharisee who converted to Christianity after an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” was instrumental in introducing Paul to the other apostles and was known for his generosity and leadership. Their partnership exemplifies the collaborative nature of early Christian missions. Act 10:25-26 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him… could hardly stop the crowds The people of Lystra were prepared to act on their belief, bringing bulls and garlands for a public sacrifice. Their persistence reveals how deeply pagan worship shaped the city and how difficult it was to turn people from visible religious customs to faith in the unseen Creator. Act 19:28-34 When the men heard this, they were enraged… from sacrificing to them. Paul and Barnabas refused even the appearance of receiving divine honor. Their response stands with Peter’s refusal of worship from Cornelius and contrasts sharply with Herod’s acceptance of praise as a god. God’s servants may be used mightily, but worship belongs to God alone. Deu 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to newly arrived gods… Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium Opposition followed Paul from cities where his preaching had exposed unbelief and divided the synagogues. These men traveled considerable distance to Lystra, showing deliberate hostility toward the gospel Paul proclaimed. Paul later recalled the persecutions he endured in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra (2 Timothy 3:11). 2Ti 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me… and won over the crowds. The same people who had recently treated Paul and Barnabas as gods were quickly turned against them. Public enthusiasm proved unstable when stirred by fear, false accusation, and resistance to God’s truth. Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds… They stoned Paul The attack was intended to kill him. Stoning recalled the punishment associated with blasphemy under the Law and echoed the death of Stephen, whose witness Paul had once supported before his conversion. 2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned… and dragged him outside the city, The hostile crowd cast Paul out as one rejected and unworthy to remain among them. Jesus also suffered outside the city, bearing rejection in order to bring sinners to God (Hebrews 13:12–13). Heb 13:12-13 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate… presuming he was dead. Paul survived an assault severe enough to convince his enemies that he had died. His deliverance displayed God’s preserving power and prepared Paul for further ministry, though it did not spare him from continued suffering for Christ. Mrk 5:39-42 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion…”… But after the disciples had gathered around him, The believers in Lystra did not abandon Paul after the mob left him for dead. Their presence shows the forming church’s care for a wounded servant of Christ, and they may well have prayed for him. Surrounded by fellow disciples, Paul experienced the fellowship by which God strengthens His people in suffering. Act 20:10-12 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man,… he got up Paul’s recovery after such a brutal stoning displays God’s preserving power. Though struck down, he was not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8–9). The Lord who had called Paul to carry His name before Gentiles, kings, and Israel would sustain him through suffering appointed for that ministry (Acts 9:15–16). Luk 8:55 Her spirit returned, and at once she got up.… and went back into the city. Paul returned to Lystra, where his attackers and the new disciples remained. His willingness to reenter the city demonstrated that persecution would not silence the gospel or sever his care for the believers. He later returned to strengthen the disciples there and taught that believers must enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations (Acts 14:21–22). Act 9:26-27 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join… And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. Paul and Barnabas continued eastward to Derbe, another city of Lycaonia. Their partnership in ministry provided mutual support amid danger, and their onward journey carried the gospel into new territory. God used even violent opposition to advance the mission of making disciples among the nations. Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found…
Strengthening the DisciplesDerbe lay in Lycaonia, in the southern region of Galatia in Asia Minor. After suffering violent opposition in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas continued their mission rather than withdrawing from the work entrusted to them. Their message centered on Jesus Christ—His death for sin, resurrection, lordship, and the call to repentance and faith. Their ministry fulfilled Christ’s command to make disciples among all nations, demonstrating that persecution could not silence the advance of the gospel. Luk 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village… and made many disciples. The response in Derbe involved more than outward professions of faith. Many received the gospel and became followers of Christ, entering a life of learning, obedience, fellowship, and perseverance. The Lord used the apostles’ preaching to establish a body of believers in a city where the gospel had not previously taken root. Jhn 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware… Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, Rather than taking the safest route home, Paul and Barnabas deliberately retraced their path through cities where hostility had been severe. Paul had been stoned at Lystra and left for dead, while opposition had driven them from Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia. Their return revealed pastoral concern for the believers who remained and showed that new disciples needed strengthening amid pressure. The gospel had created churches in difficult places, and these congregations required encouragement to stand firmly in faith. Act 15:36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back… strengthening the souls of the disciples Paul and Barnabas returned to cities where opposition had recently erupted, including Lystra, where Paul had been stoned and left for dead. Their concern was not merely for new converts to make a profession of faith, but for believers to be established inwardly in trust, obedience, and hope. The Christian life requires continual strengthening through God’s Word, prayer, fellowship, and remembrance of Christ’s faithfulness. Act 18:23 After Paul had spent some time in Antioch,… and encouraging them to continue in the faith. The apostles urged the disciples to remain in the gospel they had received rather than retreat under pressure or return to former ways. Faith must endure because believers face temptation, fear, false teaching, and hostility. Their encouragement joined comfort with a clear call to steadfastness, as Christ Himself taught that those who endure to the end will be saved. Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm… “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Suffering was not presented as an unexpected failure of God’s purposes, nor as a means of earning salvation. It was the appointed path for believers who belong to a crucified and risen Lord. Persecution, rejection, loss, and spiritual conflict marked the early church and continue to mark faithful Christian witness. God’s kingdom is already present in the lives of His people, yet its full glory awaits Christ’s return; present affliction gives way to the future reign and restoration God has promised. 2Th 1:4-5 That is why we boast among God’s churches… Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, As they retraced their missionary route through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas strengthened the believers and established recognized spiritual leadership in every congregation. Elders were mature men entrusted with shepherding, teaching, guarding sound doctrine, and overseeing the flock. Their appointment provided ongoing care for churches that would soon face opposition without the continued presence of the missionaries. Titus 1:5 and 1 Timothy 3:1–7 further reveal the moral and spiritual qualifications required for such leadership. Tit 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would… praying and fasting The selection of elders was carried out under earnest dependence on God rather than human preference. Prayer sought the Lord’s wisdom, and fasting expressed humility, devotion, and the seriousness of the responsibility. The same pattern accompanied the church’s sending of Barnabas and Saul from Antioch in Acts 13:2–3. Act 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,… as they entrusted them to the Lord, Paul and Barnabas committed the elders and the congregations under their care to the risen Lord. Christ alone is the true Shepherd and Head of His church, and the welfare of these young assemblies rested ultimately in His preserving grace. The missionaries could depart with confidence because the Lord was able to sustain what He had begun. Act 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace,… in whom they had believed. The elders had come to faith in the Lord Jesus through the gospel Paul and Barnabas preached. Their leadership was grounded in personal trust in Christ, whose death and resurrection provide salvation for all who believe. The churches were built not upon human leaders, but upon continued faith in the Lord who had redeemed them. Act 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus”… After passing through Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas retraced their route through the highlands of southern Galatia after strengthening the churches in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch. Their return through territory where they had faced violent opposition displayed their commitment to the newly established believers and their confidence in God’s preserving care. Act 13:14 And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch… they came to Pamphylia. Pamphylia lay along the southern coast of Asia Minor and included Perga, where the missionaries had first arrived on the earlier stage of their journey (Acts 13:13). They would proclaim the word in Perga before departing from Attalia by sea for Antioch of Syria, the church that had sent them out (Acts 14:25–26). Act 13:13 After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions… And when they had spoken the word in Perga, Paul and Barnabas had passed through Perga earlier in their journey, but Luke records no preaching there at that time. On their return, they proclaimed the gospel in this leading city of Pamphylia, refusing to leave an important population center without the witness of Christ. Perga was known for the worship of Artemis, making the preaching of the word a direct call from idolatry to the living God. Act 13:5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the… they went down to Attalia. From inland Perga, Paul and Barnabas traveled to the coastal port of Attalia, modern Antalya, where they could obtain passage by sea. Their route led them back toward Antioch in Syria, the church that had sent them out under the Holy Spirit’s direction. Their return showed that the missionary work entrusted to them had been carried through with perseverance, preaching, hardship, and dependence upon God. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… From Attalia Paul and Barnabas departed from the Pamphylian port of Attalia, likely after traveling there from Perga. Its harbor provided passage across the Mediterranean to Syrian Antioch, bringing their first recorded missionary journey to its appointed end. Act 13:13 After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions… they sailed to Antioch, Antioch in Syria had sent them out under the Spirit’s direction and now received them as faithful servants returning from the field. The church that had first called them Christians remained a vital center of prayer, teaching, fellowship, and mission. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… where they had been commended to the grace of God The believers in Antioch had entrusted Paul and Barnabas to God’s gracious care through prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 13:2–3). Their preservation through persecution, hardship, travel, and ministry testified that God’s grace had sustained what He had commanded. Act 13:43 After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews… for the work they had just completed. Their completed work included proclaiming Christ among Gentiles, making disciples, appointing elders in new churches, and strengthening believers to continue in the faith. The journey demonstrated that the risen Christ was gathering His people from every nation and that local churches were to send, support, and receive those called to gospel ministry. Jhn 17:4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing… When they arrived, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria, the church that had commissioned them for the work. Their journey had carried the gospel through Cyprus and regions of southern Galatia, including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They returned after enduring opposition, persecution, and even the stoning of Paul at Lystra. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… they gathered the church together The missionaries reported to the whole congregation that had prayed for them and sent them out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Antioch served as a vital missionary center, and the gathering affirmed that gospel ministry belonged to the church as a whole rather than to isolated individuals. Act 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together… and reported all that God had done through them, Paul and Barnabas gave God the credit for every conversion, deliverance, and new church established during the journey. They had labored faithfully, but the power and fruit of their ministry came from the Lord working through His servants. Act 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened… and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. God had granted Gentiles entrance into salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from becoming Jews or submitting to the Mosaic law. The growing Gentile response fulfilled God’s promise to make His salvation known among the nations and advanced Christ’s command that the gospel would reach the ends of the earth. Act 15:7-9 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them… And they spent a long time there Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria after completing their first missionary journey, having reported how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Their extended stay provided needed rest after hardship, persecution, and travel, but it also strengthened the church that had sent them out. Antioch remained a central base for gospel ministry, prayer, teaching, and the support of future missionary work. Act 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word… with the disciples. The believers in Antioch included both Jews and Gentiles united in Christ. Paul and Barnabas continued teaching them, recounting God’s work among the nations and establishing them in the truth of the gospel. Their fellowship displayed the responsibility of mature servants of Christ not only to evangelize new regions but also to nourish, encourage, and protect the church. Act 9:19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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