“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. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 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. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 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, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel” (Acts 14:1-71And 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. 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3Long 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. 4But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5And 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, 6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7And there they preached the gospel. (Acts 14:1‑7)).
Paul and Barnabas, having been thrown out of the city of Antioch in Pisidia, began to preach the good news of God to the inhabitants of the city, Iconium. The only thing that the devil as a roaring lion managed to do by his wickedness was to encourage the work of the Lord, since the apostles, thrown out of one place, began to preach in another.
“Preach, preach the word of the Lord!
Preach with desire and prayer!
In front of the mocking world
Be witnesses of His love
The power of the Savior
Preach!”
In Iconium a great multitude of Jews and Greeks converted. But wherever God is working, soon the devil comes plotting or roaring in order to try and undo the divine work. In Iconium, the unbelieving Jews, who always lived without coming in contact with the Gentiles, still knew how to stir them up against the brothers. But this did not matter to the apostles: they kept on, firm and trusting in the Lord, who permitted them to do wonders — signs in order to convince all the people that the gospel was from the true God. Having finished, then, the Lord’s testimony in Iconium, the Lord permitted the Jews, along with the Gentiles and their leaders, to create a conspiracy to kill the apostles; and they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of another region: Lycaonia. There, and in all the surrounding area, they preached the gospel.
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:8-108And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:8‑10)).
That pagan heard God’s good news and was convinced that He was the living and true God. He had faith — which is the “gift of God” (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)) — in the All-powerful One. Paul, discerning it, commanded him to make use of his doomed feet. “He leaped and walked” (without having ever learned how).
In marked contrast, Paul did not heal Timothy, his son in the faith that suffered from his stomach and continuous sickness, nor Trophimus, another fellowsoldier (see 1 Tim. 5:2323Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23) and 2 Tim. 4:2020Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. (2 Timothy 4:20)). Why? Because Timothy and Trophimus lacked faith? No, on the contrary, maybe Paul saw that it was necessary that each one have a “thorn in the flesh” so that they would not become exalted above measure (Compare 2 Cor. 12:77And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7)). In the case of the helpless man in Lystra, the miracle was done publicly for the confirmation of the gospel to the unbelievers; in these last cases, it may have been the corrective hand of the Lord on His servants.
“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. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 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. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 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: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them” (Acts 14:11-1811And 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. 12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15And 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: 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. (Acts 14:11‑18)).
On the part of the apostles, their faithfulness to God was tested when the pagan priest of Jupiter — a false god — wanted, with the people, to offer sacrifices to them as gods come down from heaven. Paul and Barnabas forcefully — they ripped their clothing — presented themselves to the pagans, and reprimanded them. At the same time, they preached to them to convert to the living and true God, the great Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that was in them. The same One who had given them rain from heaven and profitable weather, maintaining and filling their hearts with happiness — things that false gods had never done, since they were absolutely nothing. They were barely able to hold the priest and the people back. It appears that the people were not happy to have failed.
“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:19-2019And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:19‑20)).
From far away the unbelieving Jews, enemies of Jesus the Lord, came, determined to kill Paul, His servant. We are not told how they persuaded the pagans. But they, probably, were irritated because the apostles would not accept their idolatrous friendship, and with traitorous hearts they listened to the Jews’ lies and later stoned their benefactor, Paul.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:21-2221And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21‑22)).
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Cor. 13:88For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8)). All the opposition that Satan raised against the gospel only resulted in the spreading of the good news throughout many regions. There were already Christian assemblies in various places, but they needed spiritual help. Thus the apostles, in spite of the bad treatment which they had received, returned by the same route they had walked, visiting the new believers in Christ in the capacity of “pastors,” and helping them with the word of “edification, exhortation, and consolation.”
From the beginning, there has been the need of order — order of government and order in the local churches (or assemblies). In those days, the apostles exercised their apostolic authority in the assemblies that were the fruit of their labor in the gospel: they chose elders, or bishops. Since the believers were still only “babes in Christ,” it is evident that the word “elder” does not refer to a great spiritual development, but rather a certain maturity on the part of the fathers of the family (see 1 Tim. 3:4-54One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (1 Timothy 3:4‑5)). In order to shepherd the flock of God, to govern well, it is necessary that the fathers of families know how to govern well in their own houses. We also note that Scripture always talks about multiple “elders” or “bishops” — never about just one. In addition to this, they are only elders in their respective assemblies, not in various — much less in a bishopdom that includes entire countries. And, as we have already observed, we do not have anyone since the days of the apostles and their delegates who chooses an elder or bishop. Instead, we have the requirements of such written in 1 Tim. 3:1-71This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1‑7) and Titus 1:5-95For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:5‑9). Therefore, we should respect and thank God for the ones who have those essential qualities. The Thessalonians were “babes in Christ,” but Paul exhorted them thus: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:12-1312And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12‑13)).
We continue:
We are not told if an assembly was formed in Perga or not. We are only told that the apostles preached the word, leaving the results with the Lord (it was from Perga that John Mark went back — Acts 18:1818And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. (Acts 18:18)). They returned to their local assembly, Antioch (about 500 kilometers north of Jerusalem).
They had been commended by their brothers in Antioch to the grace of God, not by the apostles in Jerusalem. It is very important that we abide by the fact that every believer should have a local identification. The word of God condemns the spirit of independence that is so prevalent these days. Even the apostles Paul and Barnabas had a local identification with the assembly of Antioch.
“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples” (Acts 14:27-2827And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28And there they abode long time with the disciples. (Acts 14:27‑28)). It was very appropriate that the brothers who had given them the right hand of fellowship for their mission should hear from the apostles’ lips, not what they had done, but what God had done with them. All the glory is always His! Afterwards, they stayed in Antioch for a long time. Our Lord is not a “hard man” that is always demanding too much from His servants. He let Paul and Barnabas rest in the protection of their own assembly and, at the same time, serve Him there, since there are always spiritual needs in any Christian assembly.