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. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the
Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 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. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and
part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 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, 6 They
were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and
unto the region that lieth round about: 7
And there they preached the gospel.
Lystra
and Derbe are referred to as cities of Lycaonia,
a large region in the central part of what we call today, Asia Minor, the
country of Turkey. Lycaonia was bordered by Galatia on the north,
Cappadocia on the east, and the west by Phyrgia and Pisida with the Taurus
mountains on the south. From ancient times Greek mercenaries and merchants had
spread out on the Asian mainland as we saw before in our study of the Bible in
the Old Testament. Greek speaking and culture permeated the cities of western
Asia Minor, Turkey today.
There is no small
ruckus caused by Paul and company’s preaching in Iconium so they flee to these
cities to preach the gospel.
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: 9 The same heard Paul speak:
who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright
on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 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. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter;
and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 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. 14 Which
when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes,
and ran in among the people, crying out, 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: 16 Who in times past
suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 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. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they
the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Here is a man who never
walked in his entire life who is healed through Paul. The response of this in
this city of Greek culture and religion was to proclaim Paul and Barnabas as
gods.
Jupiter also known as
Jove, was the king of the gods whom the Romans recognized as their version of
the Greek Zeus. This will be important later when Paul is witnessing to the
Greeks in Athens. It is interesting that Barnabas gets that title. Paul, doing
most of the talking is called Mercurius, also known as Mercury. Mercury was
also a major god in the Graeco-Roman religion, a god of, among other things,
eloquence, messages, and divination. His Greek counterpart was Hermes. He was a
son of Jupiter/Zeus.
Paul and Barnabas, of
course, reject this worship and a sermon is preached on God’s nature and the
need to turn from pagan gods to Him. A very important point is made in this
short passage. God has a witness of Himself, not just in prophets and evangelists.
He has a witness in nature and although this is lost on modernist Christians
today, nature is, next to the Bible and the hearts and minds of Christians, His
greatest witness. Nature reveals God, not blind forces.
God’s bounty is a
witness to all mankind of His mercy and goodness.
Matthew
5:45 That ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Luke
6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do
good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and
ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and
to the evil.
Paul will make a
similar argument when talking to the Greeks in Athens as he does here in verse
16 with suffered meaning tolerated, allowed, or permitted as in the
English phrase “I suffer fools gladly.”
Acts
17:30 And the times of this ignorance
God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
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. 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. 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, 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. 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. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia,
they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they
had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence
they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they
fulfilled. 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. 28 And there they abode long time with the
disciples.
Preachers will often
say that Paul’s being near death by stoning or having died and been brought
back was the occasion for his remarks in;
2Corinthians
12:1 ¶ It is not expedient for me
doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body,
or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and
heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
This event did not keep
Paul from returning to Lystra, Iconium, & Antioch of Pisidia. As I noted
before these were cities of Greek culture in Western Asia Minor, the country of
Turkey today. We saw, though, that being Roman by citizenship they used Roman
names for gods like Jupiter instead of Zeus and Mercurius instead of Hermes.
We’ll see Ephesians use the Roman goddess Diana instead of Artemis. Diana is
the Roman version of Artemis. From there they went to Pamphylia, preaching in
Perga, and then to Attalia, on the coast. From there they sailed to Antioch.
Remember that Seleucia was Antioch’s seaport, about 16 miles from it. This is
the Antioch in today’s extreme Southern Turkey where Christians were first
called so, south and east of Pisidian Antioch mentioned earlier. There they rehearsed,
relayed all that God had done with them.
Verse 22 presents an
important question of doctrine we should take the time to consider. We enter
the kingdom of God through much tribulation? You mean, it is not simply a
matter of 1-2-3 repeat-after-me prayer?
First, what is the
kingdom of God? To lay the groundwork we should note that only Matthew uses
both the phrases kingdom of God and kingdom of Heaven. Indeed, Biblically
speaking they are synonymous. A difference is not necessary to prove the
millennial reign of Christ or Israel’s importance as there are many verses that
declare those doctrines emphatically. But, with regard to the kingdom of Heaven
and the Kingdom of God compare the following verses. First, these two verses
link both as synonyms.
Matthew 19:23 ¶ Then said
Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly
enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of God.
Now, compare these verses;
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say
unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than
John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he. 12 And from the days of
John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force.
With;
Luke 7:28 For I say unto
you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than
he.
…then…
Matthew 13:10 And the
disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given.
With;
Mark 4:10 And when he was
alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is
given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are
without, all these things are
done in parables:
And…
Matthew 13:31 Another
parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a
grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but
when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
With…
Mark 4:30 And he said,
Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we
compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in
the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and
becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the
fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Luke 13:18 ¶ Then said he,
Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed,
which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great
tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
And…
Matthew 13:33 Another
parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a
woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
With…
Luke 13:20 And again he
said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid
in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
And…
Matthew 18:3 And said,
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
With…
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus
saw it, he was much displeased,
and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them
not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not
receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called
them unto him, and said, Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom
of God. 17 Verily I say unto you,
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no
wise enter therein.
And…
Matthew 4:12 ¶ Now when
Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;…17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to
say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
With…
Mark 1:14 ¶ Now after that
John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the
kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel.
And…
Matthew 5:3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
With…
Luke 6:20 ¶ And he lifted
up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Now, you and I have to note that the kingdom of God and of Heaven is an
invisible kingdom, not possessing armies and weapons of war, buildings or
parliaments and congresses.
Luke
17:20 ¶ And when he was demanded of the
Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The
kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom
of God is within you.
One cannot see this kingdom of God inside of us unless one is born
again. Note this very important passage in John’s gospel.
John
3:1 ¶ There was a man of the Pharisees,
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that
thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou
doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born of water [natural birth, see verse 4
for context] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is
flesh [natural birth; see verse 4]; and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto
thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not
tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of
the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and
said unto him, How can these things be? 10
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things? 11 Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from
heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life. 16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
What is the kingdom of God, though?
Romans
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat
and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
And these are not just
mere words alone without substance.
1Corinthians
4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in
word, but in power.
In the kingdom of God
and kingdom of Heaven parables there are warnings given about counterfeits and
counterfeit faith, and about people with malicious intent deceiving and doing
harm. They will be dealt with in God’s own time as the parable of the tares and
the wheat and the parable of the woman leavening three measures of meal show. There
is a parable about a sower and the word as seed and it is shown how false
conversions and shallow conversions can happen and what their result is. I remarked
on those in the comments on the gospels.
But, there Paul said in
Romans in the text itself that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost, the very mind of God, indwelling the believer. The
verse-by-verse comparisons show that the kingdom of God and of Heaven are
synonyms with the kingdom of Heaven used only by Matthew who also uses the
kingdom of God so we are not talking about a political rule with armies and
fortresses and weapons of carnal war but spiritual in nature having to do with
the heart and mind.
As Paul said;
2Corinthians
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we
do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
No comments:
Post a Comment