Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. Act 18:4Act 13:46Act 13:51Act 14:211Co 1:22-24Act 11:21Act 13:43Act 17:1-2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Act 13:50Act 13:45Act 14:19Act 17:5Act 21:27-301Th 2:15-16Act 17:13Act 18:12 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. Heb 2:4Act 20:32Eph 6:18-20Act 20:24Act 4:29-30Mrk 16:20Rom 1:161Th 2:2
The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. Act 28:24Act 14:14Act 17:4-5Act 19:9Luk 11:21-231Co 9:5Act 13:2Jhn 7:43 But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, Act 14:192Ti 3:11Act 17:5Act 4:25-29Luk 6:28Mat 5:44Psa 2:1-3Psa 83:5 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region, 2Ti 3:11Act 14:20-21Mat 10:23Act 16:1-2Act 17:13-142Ki 6:8-12Act 23:12-22Act 9:24 where they continued to preach the gospel. Act 14:211Th 2:22Ti 4:2Act 14:15Act 16:10Act 11:19Act 17:2Act 8:4
The Visit to Lystra and Derbe
In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. Act 3:2Act 4:9Jhn 5:3-5Jhn 5:7Jhn 9:1-2 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. Act 3:4Mat 15:28Mat 9:28-29Mat 13:58Mat 8:10Mat 9:22Mrk 1:40-41Mrk 10:52 In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk. Isa 35:6Jhn 14:12Jhn 5:8-9Act 3:6-8Act 9:33-34Luk 13:11-13Luk 7:14
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Act 28:6Act 8:10Act 12:22 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Act 19:35 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. Dan 2:46Act 10:25
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, Mat 26:651Co 9:5-62Ki 18:372Ki 5:7Ezr 9:3-5Jer 36:24Act 14:4Mrk 14:63 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 1Sa 12:211Co 8:4Act 10:26Psa 146:5-6Jas 5:17Rev 14:7Gen 1:1Jer 14:22 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. Act 17:30Psa 81:12Psa 147:20Rom 1:281Pe 4:3Eph 2:12Mic 4:5Rom 1:21-25 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” Rom 1:19-20Jol 2:23Job 5:10Deu 11:14Isa 5:61Ti 6:17Deu 28:12Deu 8:12-14
Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them. Jer 44:16-17Exo 32:21-23Gen 11:6Jhn 6:15Gen 19:9
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 2Co 11:252Ti 3:11Act 13:50-51Act 13:45Act 14:52Co 11:23Act 7:58Act 9:16 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 2Co 1:9-102Co 6:9Act 14:6Act 16:40Act 20:1Act 12:17Act 14:28Act 16:1
Strengthening the Disciples
They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, Act 13:51Act 14:1Act 14:19Act 13:14Act 14:6Mat 28:192Ti 3:11Act 14:8 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 1Pe 5:102Ti 3:12Jhn 16:331Th 3:2-4Rom 8:17Rev 2:102Ti 1:8Col 1:23
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. Tit 1:5Act 11:30Jas 5:142Ti 2:2Act 20:321Ti 5:11Ti 5:22Act 20:17
After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Act 13:13-14Act 15:38 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. Act 15:40Act 11:192Co 1:12Act 11:26Act 13:1-3Col 1:25Col 1:28Col 4:17 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 1Co 16:9Act 15:122Co 2:12Col 4:31Co 5:41Co 11:181Co 3:5-9Act 11:18 And they spent a long time there with the disciples. Act 11:26Act 15:35