Paul and Barnabas had the same trouble in Iconium with the leading Jews stirring up the people to treat the disciples harshly. The people decided to stone Paul and Barnabas, so they left and went to Lystra and Derbe and preached the Good News. While Paul was speaking in Lystra he healed a crippled man there in the crowd listening to him. When the people saw it they were amazed, but instead of praising God, they thought that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus and they started sacrificing animals to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crowd shouting that they were men just like them, but they wouldn't listen. Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, stirred up the crowd and stoned Paul. They left him for dead. The believers gathered around and Paul got up and went back into town and the next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe. Many believed in Derbe and they went back through the towns they had been to and encouraged the believers to remain true to the faith. In each church they appointed elders and prayed and fasted and trusted them to the Lord. They spent a while in Antioch with the believers there.
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and taught the believers that they should be circumsized. Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this. So it was decided that they should all go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about the matter. When they got there, they reported about the things they had done and the believers they had welcomed. The question of circumcision came up and was discussed. After a long debate, Peter stood and spoke. He told them that God had given the Gentiles the Holy Spirit just as they were, so why should they be burdened with that heavy load that even the Jews couldn't carry? Peter said, "No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." (15:11) The group listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all the wonderful signs and miracles the Lord showed to the Gentiles. Then James spoke up and told them that Simon Peter had told them how God cared for them, and he quoted Amos 9:11-12 which speaks about the Gentiles who turn to God. He suggested that they write a letter of instruction and encouragement in right living. So they decided to send Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas to Antioch with the letter. Basically they told them not to eat food offered to idols, or blood, or strangled animals, and stay away from sexual immorality. The disciples spent time there with those believers, who were pleased with the letter. Later, Paul wanted Barnabas to go with him to visit the believers in every city they had preached. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul didn't because he had left them before. They argued sharply over it and separated. Barnabas and John Mark sailed for Cyprus and Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia strengthing the churches. Paul went to Derbe and Lystra where a Christian named Timothy lived. Because his father was Greek, Paul circumsized Timothy (which looks on the surface like a contradiction. Bible scholars suggest that Paul did this for evangelical reasons because Jews wouldn't associate with Gentiles, which is what Timothy was considered if he wasn't circumsized. What I don't get is, how would anyone know...?) They traveled to all the towns and the churches were made stronger in faith and they grew every day. The Holy Spirit didn't let them go to Asia, so they went to Galatia and Phrygia. The Spirit of Jesus kept them out of Bithynia, so they kept going to Mysia and Troas. (I have a little map in the back of my Bible which lets me follow along with the travels of these men. It helps!) Paul had a dream that someone from Macedonia needed their help, so they decided to go there.
Tomorrow read Acts 16:11-18:28
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