18 November

Bible in 365 Days

Acts 14-15

Acts 14

In Iconium there was largely a repetition of the experiences at Antioch. Becoming aware of the growing hostility, Paul and Barnabas passed on, and came to Lystra. There is a marked difference between Paul's address here and messages which he delivered to the Jews. In this he recognized and dealt only with Gentile position and thought. He described himself as a bearer of good tidings from the eternal God. Designating their gods, "vain things," he announced the living God.

With relentless anger, the persecuting Jews of Antioch and Iconium followed the apostle to Lystra. Here it is easy to read the statement, "They stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead"; but it was a fearful experience, and in all probability he would carry the marks of it with him to the end of his journey. How he must have remembered Stephen as the stones rained on him.

Nevertheless, this great missionary pressed forward as far as Derbe, and then turning back on his course, he revisited the very places where he had been submitted to persecution. As he did so, he told the people that "through tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God." What emphasis his own bruised body would lend to his word. The statesmanlike qualities of the apostle are manifested in this revisiting of the churches, establishing them, and appointing elders to take the oversight of affairs. Returning to Antioch, the two reported on their work, and so ended the fist missionary journey.

Acts 15

In the work among Gentiles the question of circumcision very naturally arose, and its difficulty is revealed in the calling of a council. That council seems to have opened with much desultory discussion. Then followed the serious contributions. Peter's address is chronicled. In it he faced a supreme fact, that in sending him to the Gentiles God had proved that He made no distinction. The next speakers were Paul and Barnabas, who simply repeated the story of their work. The summing up by James is characterized by wisdom, and his finding was that the Gentiles should not be troubled with anything that was purely Jewish. The difficulty cleared away, the discussion ceased. Remarkable unanimity had been gained, for it is said that the apostles and the elders of the whole Church were in agreement. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, and there was rejoicing when the message was delivered to the church.

A revealing story of sharp division between these two men occurs here. Paul seems to have been afraid of Mark, because he had withdrawn from, them on a previous occasion, whereas Barnabas believed in him, and defended him. It is good to remember that subsequently Mark was restored to Paul's favor, as certain references in his letters clearly show.