Acts Chapter 14.

Acts Chapter 14.

Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary tour through Galatia.

Iconium.            13:51;  14:1.  B-D. 551.  

The mission at Iconium was most difficult and was marked by revival and opposition.  14:2-6. 

           

Where there is revival, there is likely also to be opposition.  The opposition arose from the Jews who continued to reject the word of God.  They sought to turn the minds of the pagans against the missionaries.  The Jews would rather the Gentiles remain idolaters than they should receive the Gospel.

           

When the brethren became aware of the vicious plot of the Jews to stone them, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, B-D. 760, Lystra and Derbe.  They had no desire to court persecution.  They were not cowards, but they desired to live to preach another day.  The mob is fickle, one day it demands its victims, but its wrath soon subsides.  (Paul is supposed to have met Thecla at Iconium in that apocryphal story).

           

Lystra.  13:8.  B-D. 761.   A cripple has faith to be healed. v.9-10.

           

In the story of  Acts there is a certain pattern of events that parallel the careers of Peter and Paul.  This parallelism makes Paul the equal with Peter.  Compare 3:1-11 with 14:8-11.

           

The missionaries are in contact and conflict with "raw" paganism.  Their impact upon paganism is now manifest.  The door of the Church has been opened to the most superstitious pagans who accept the Gospel.

           

Pagan deities.   Zeus or Jupiter, was the chief god of the Greek pantheon, D-D. 680, with Hermes or Mercury the messenger of the god's,  B-D. 520.

           

A Sermon to Idolaters.   14:15-17.   The apostles reprove idolatry by an appeal to natural revelation, that is, what may be known of God from Creation.  The wise preacher attempts to find some common ground with his listeners.  The preacher must use every possible approach, but his central message will always be that Jesus is Lord. 

           

Paul stoned.  14:19.  The usual form of execution among the ancient Hebrews was stoning. B-D. 1218.  The bitter hostility of the Jews is shown in their coming from the cities Paul had already visited, that they may oppose him.  Not even in pagan circles do the Jews recognize any kinship with Christianity.  Better the pagans to remain gross pagans than to become Christians.  The Jews were determined to stamp out the work of evangelism.

           

The Fickle Mob.   14:19.   The fickleness of the multitude was manifest in that at one moment they would worship Paul and Barnabas, then they would stone them.  In modern times Africans have been stirred to molest the missionaries who for years had endeared themselves to them by their ministrations.

           

At Lystra the hostility of the mob was especially directed against Paul the chosen vessel.  He was already becoming a marked man to the Jews everywhere.

           

Derbe.  14:20.  B-D. 306.   Many disciples were made at Derbe. 14:21.

           

The disciples were made through the preaching of the Gospel.  'Matheteuo' is used again in Matthew 28:19.   See Disciple in B-D. 312.

           

Pastoral Work. 14:22.

           

The missionaries returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of  Pisidia.  They concerned themselves with pastoral work and provided for the pastoral care of the churches in days to come.  For this purpose, they appointed elders or presbyters.  No community can be without leaders.  The pastoral care of the converts is as important as the making of converts.

           

The return through Pisidia.         14:24.  B-D. 1000.

Attalia.                                      14:25.  B-D. 111.

           

The return to Antioch in Syria.    14:26.

           

A "welcome home" to Paul and Barnabas.  They hold a great missionary meeting.  They did not speak of what they had done, but of what God had done with them.  They declared how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  This door was now fully open to all nations without distinction.  This was a triumphant missionary rally.

Theological Assessment.

Church Ministry.    

The apostles appoint elders in every church (local).  14:23.

'Cheirotoneo' meant, "stretch out the hand", expressing agreement with the motion, hence, "to elect by show of hands."   But the word came to have a weaker meaning, "to appoint or designate."

           

The elders were not self-appointed.   Here they were appointed by Paul and Barnabas.  The Church may have had part in the choice by vote, but the important point here was the apostolic appointment.

           

Some argue that since we no longer have apostles to appoint elders, we can no longer have an elderhood, but 1.Tim.4:14 surely represents the presbytery or elderhood as an enduring institution in the Church.  B-D. 1027.

           

The elders must have in measure represented the apostles for the care of the local church and continued the work of the missionaries.  Not that the elders had the same standing as the apostles, for in rank they were distinct from apostles.  The apostles must be a witness of the Resurrection.  The authority of one's personal presence at an event cannot be handed over to others.  It was not apostolic succession.  Paul and Barnabas did not appoint apostles, but elders.  But the elders or presbyters continued the work begun by Paul and Barnabas, transmitting the apostolic message and teaching.

           

The apostles recognized the value of leadership and organization.  The elders would preserve unity in the Church by means of example and exhortation.  Their authority was the apostolic teaching, which they were responsible to maintain in the Church.  And the Church must recognize their authority, providing they abide in the teaching of the apostles.

           

But experience is required for leadership.  How could men of experience be found in the new churches?  Some converts would have been Jews and proselytes.  These have gained experience through the Synagogue.  The Church followed the Synagogue in many things, such as, the public reading of the Scriptures, recitation of Psalms, prayers and the exposition of the Scriptures, as well as discussion upon religious topics and the devout life.

           

The work of elders including teaching Christian truth, pastoral counseling and visitation.  It also had an administrative side, such as the exercise of discipline and settling of disputes, financial arrangements and contributions, the giving of hospitality to visitors, helping the poor, visiting the sick and writing letters of commendation.

           

In an established assembly the elders themselves will make provision for the future, by directing into the elderhood those who are already giving themselves to pastoral work and show fitness for the task.  This they do in fellowship with the church.  In the founding of new churches on the mission field the modern missionary must do as Paul and Barnabas did and appoint elders in the newly founded churches.  Communities cannot be without leaders and even poor leaders are better than none at all.

           

The ideal presbyter:

            Of an ambassador, the just address.

            A father's tenderness, a shepherd's care.

            A leader's courage, which the Cross can bear.

            A rule's drive, a watchman's wakeful eye.

            A pilot's skill, the helm in storms to ply.

            A fisher's patience, and a labourer's toil.

            A guide's dexterity, to disembroil.

            A prophet's inspiration, from above.

            A teacher's knowledge,

             And a Saviour's love.