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.
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