Thursday, October 29, 2020

The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts, chapter 14, comments: Paul nearly killed

 


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.

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