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.”
The people of Lystra, seeing a power they had never before witnessed in their “dumb idols” (1 Cor. 12:22Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. (1 Corinthians 12:2)), foolishly prepare to offer sacrifices to mere men. The apostles, rightly in great distress because of this, describe the true character of such wickedness (1 Cor. 10:2020But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20)) as vanity (useless, devoid of truth).
How much religious energy and zeal is expended today under the banner of Christianity which must, sadly, be characterized in the same way—vanity.
Our Christian service should be energetic, full of zeal (“do it heartily, as to the Lord”; Col. 3:2323And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:23)), but ever guided by “whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.”
16-17. “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.”
Every natural blessing they enjoyed gave witness to and came from—not their false, worthless idols—but the true God made known in the gospel Paul and Barnabas preached. But, being unthankful, they “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Rom. 1:2121Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)).
May we heed the warning in Proverbs 4:2323Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23) lest we fall into the spirit of idolatry (anything that takes the place of Christ in our heart): “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
18. “And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”
Their hearts were so steeped in the dark wickedness of idolatry, that even the Lord’s apostles could barely keep them from doing sacrifice. How hopeless the condition of man’s heart apart from God!
19. “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.”
If the enemy cannot destroy the message of the grace of God through the corruption of idolatry, he will stir up violence through hatred of the truth.
The light of God’s truth (Paul and Barnabas’s message) could scarce restrain the heathens from offering sacrifice to the apostles. The darkness of the Jew’s hatred of Christ quickly moved them to kill God’s messenger. What an indictment of our hearts!
20. “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.”
But those (the disciples) who had been “called . . . out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)) surrounded the Apostle and received him back. May we be found, as it were, surrounding and supporting the apostles’ doctrine in a world that seeks to destroy the precious truth of God it teaches.
21. “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch.”
What a display of the grace of God! The apostles return first to the very place where they had met so much spiritual and physical opposition—Lystra! Here is a wonderful example of a principle of God’s Word: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psa. 118:66The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psalm 118:6)).
22. “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.”
Paul and Barnabas’s return to Lystra was by no means a fleshly challenge to those who had earlier misused them. Their purpose was the edification (building up), exhortation (stirring up) and comfort (binding up) of the believers (1 Cor. 14:33But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)).
23. “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
Apostolic power could (and did) appoint overseers in each assembly to look after the spiritual welfare of the local gatherings. But the apostles also taught that the Lord (not men as gods) was the only source of all power and care, and the believers were (and are) to depend on Him alone.
24-25. “And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.”
The opposition of Satan, the ill-treatment of the heathen, the hatred of the Jews—none of it turned aside Paul and Barnabas from completing the service to which they had been called by the Spirit of God.
God fully and perfectly supplies all that is needed for the service to which He calls each of His own.
26. “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.”
The JND translation reads “committed” in the place of “recommended.” It is important to remember two things about the Lord’s servants: (1) They are the Lord’s servants and receive their directions from Himself, not from man. (2) Their service for the Lord ought to be carried out in the conscious sense of having been happily committed, by the brethren, to the grace of God in their service.
In this aspect, the assembly—the conscience of brethren—plays an important part in a servant’s labor. May we be found in deep, earnest prayer (and fasting) for each servant of the Lord.
27-28. “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.”
Servants are nothing more than channels of God’s blessing—what is important is what God does.
Paul and Barnabas not only served by preaching the gospel to others, but they served the local assembly where they willingly abode a long time.
Ed.