Acts 14: From One Place to Another
If Paul was sent to the Gentiles, why do you think he kept showing up at synagogues and not another public meeting place?
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Acts 14:1 At the Jewish synagogue in Iconium, a huge number of Jews and foreigners believed the message of Paul and Barnabas concerning Jesus Christ.
King James
Acts 14:1 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.
What arguments might the Jews have used to turn foreigners against Paul?
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Acts 14:2 The Jews who rejected the message turned the hearts of many foreigners against Jesus’ followers.
King James
Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
With Paul and Barnabas facing opposition, why didn’t they leave Iconium, just as they had in Antioch?
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Acts 14:3 Paul and Barnabas stayed there for a long time, confirming the message of grace with great wonders and amazing miracles.
King James
Acts 14:3 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.
In ancient cultures, when dissenters could not be silenced with words, what was the next course of action?
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Acts 14:4 The people of the city were divided, some siding with the unbelieving Jews, others with the apostles.
14:5 A mob of unbelievers—city leaders, Jews, and foreigners—were gathering to stone them to death.
King James
Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
14:5 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.
In what ways might the followers of Jesus have dealt with their enemies? How would their conduct have supported or detracted from what they claimed to believe?
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Acts 14:4 The people of the city were divided, some siding with the unbelieving Jews, others with the apostles.
14:5 A mob of unbelievers—city leaders, Jews, and foreigners—were gathering to stone them to death.
King James
Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
14:5 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.
After Paul and Barnabas fled Iconium, what do you think happened to the believers there?
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Acts 14:6 Aware of the danger, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra, Derbe, and other cities in the region of Lycaonia.
King James
Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about.
What kinds of responses would they have expected when they entered other cities?
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Acts 14:6 Aware of the danger, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra, Derbe, and other cities in the region of Lycaonia,
14:7 where they spread the message of Jesus Christ.
King James
Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
14:7 And there they preached the gospel.
No doubt, Paul had seen other cripples and didn’t heal them. What difference did he see in the lame man at Lystra?
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Acts 14:8 A man was sitting at Lystra, crippled from birth, unable to walk.
14:9 While preaching, Paul saw that the man believed the message of salvation.
King James
Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed.
Since the cripple couldn’t walk, how do you think he came to be at the same place where Paul was preaching?
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Acts 14:8 A man was sitting at Lystra, crippled from birth, unable to walk.
14:9 While preaching, Paul saw that the man believed the message of salvation.
King James
Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed.
When Paul told the lame man to stand, how could he know what God would do?
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Acts 14:10 “Stand up,” Paul shouted, and the man leaped to his feet and began to walk.
King James
Acts 14:10 Said with a loud voice, stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
When people saw the miracle, they saw Paul as the source of power, evidence that he was a god. In that misjudgment, what truth had they missed?
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Acts 14:11 When the Lycaonians saw what Paul had done, they said in their native language, “The gods have appeared as men in our midst.”
King James
Acts 14:11 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.
What qualities of their gods did the people see demonstrated in the actions of Paul and Barnabas?
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Acts 14:12 They decided Barnabas must be Zeus—the Roman god, Jupiter. Because Paul was the chief messenger, they called him Hermes—the Roman god, Mercury.
King James
Acts 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Why do you think the priest of Zeus was so eager to accept the apostles)?
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Acts 14:13 The priest of Zeus entered the city with wreaths and oxen for the people to offer as sacrificial gifts to the apostles.
King James
Acts 14:13 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.
How did Paul and Barnabas respond to the faith expressed by the people?
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Acts 14:14 When Paul and Barnabas understood what the people intended, they tore their clothes in grief, ran through the procession, and shouted,
14:15 “You shouldn’t be doing this. We are ordinary men, no different from you. Listen to our message, forsake this liturgy, and give your hearts to the living God, who made the earth, sea, sky, and every living thing.”
King James
Acts 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
14:15 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.
Why are people often repulsed by the idea that they should not go their own way?
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Acts 14:16 In the past, God allowed people to go their own way.
King James
Acts 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
In what different ways might people have felt when they were told that a God different from their gods were responsible for their provision?
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Acts 14:17 But even then, he revealed himself to those who recognized his gifts—rain from above and fruit from the land, filling our hearts with food and gratitude.”
14:18 Yet these words barely kept them from offering the sacrifices.
King James
Acts 14:17 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.
14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
What turned the hearts of the people against Paul?
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Acts 14:19 Their attitude changed quickly when Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded them that not only were these men not gods, they were of the devil. So they stoned Paul and left him outside the city, believing he was dead.
King James
Acts 14:19 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.
Paul was stoned and left for dead outside the city. What do you think happened to Barnabas?
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Acts 14:19 Their attitude changed quickly when Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded them that not only were these men not gods, they were of the devil. So they stoned Paul and left him outside the city, believing he was dead.
King James
Acts 14:19 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.
How long do you think Paul was lying there before anyone came to him?
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Acts 14:19 Their attitude changed quickly when Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded them that not only were these men not gods, they were of the devil. So they stoned Paul and left him outside the city, believing he was dead.
King James
Acts 14:19 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.
How would you describe the situation when believers gathered around Paul’s body?
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Acts 14:20 However, as believers gathered around him, he got up and returned to the city. The next day, he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
King James
Acts 14:20 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.
Do you believe Paul was dead or just appeared to be?
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Acts 14:20 However, as believers gathered around him, he got up and returned to the city. The next day, he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
2 Corinthians 12:2 More than fourteen years ago, I was caught up into Heaven. Only God knows whether I was there physically or only spiritually.
12:3 It seemed like I was there in my physical body, but I might have been having an out-of-body experience. God knows which it was.
12:4 I was caught away to paradise, where I heard and saw things far more wonderful than words can describe.
King James
Acts 14:20 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.
2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Why might Paul have returned to Lystra and not leave until the next day?
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Acts 14:20 However, as believers gathered around him, he got up and returned to the city. The next day, he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
King James
Acts 14:20 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.
What do you think it was like for Paul and Barnabas to return to the cities from which they had fled?
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Acts 14:21 After preaching in that city, teaching many about Christ, they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and then Antioch in Pisidia,
14:22 where they strengthened the faith of believers, encouraging them to stand firm in the face of persecution, because those who sought the Kingdom of God were sure to experience hard times.
King James
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
14:22 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.
In the appointment of leaders in the different fellowships of believers, what was the importance of fasting and prayer?
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Acts 14:23 They fasted and prayed, then appointed leaders in all the churches and entrusted them to the work of the Lord in whom they believed.
King James
Acts 14:23 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.
How many days, weeks, or months do you think Paul and Barnabas spent in Pamphilia, Perga, and Attalia? What does their past experiences say about what might have happened in these cities?
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Acts 14:24 After traveling through Pisidia to Pamphylia,
14:25 Paul and Barnabas preached Jesus Christ to those in Perga, then went to Attalia.
King James
Acts 14:24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
14:25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.
What do you think motivated Paul and Barnabas to return to Antioch in Syria, the place where their mission had started?
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Acts 14:26 From there, they set sail and went to Antioch in Syria, returning to where their missionary journey had started when believers placed them in God’s care for the now-complete work.
King James
Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
What changes in the fellowship at Antioch might have taken place while the apostles were away?
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Acts 14:26 From there, they set sail and went to Antioch in Syria, returning to where their missionary journey had started when believers placed them in God’s care for the now-complete work.
King James
Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
How would you describe the reception that Paul and Barnabas received from the believers?
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Acts 14:27 The church gathered to hear all that had happened on their journey, how God had welcomed people of other nations to the faith.
King James
Acts 14:27 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.
What might have determined the length of time that Paul remained at Antioch?
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Acts 14:28 Paul and Barnabas stayed with the believers in Antioch for a long time.
King James
Acts 14:28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.