Acts Of The Apostles (20 Of 39)

Illus: It is easy for me to understand why some of the old soldiers who faced death itself, some even lost legs, eyes, arms, etc., become angry when they see people who have done nothing to win, or keep, their freedom, wanting to burn the symbol of that freedom, the flag.

Well, that is not the only way people show their ingratitude.

So many times, we enjoy our air-conditioned churches, feeling respectable and dignified, not thinking of the great price many saints of God have paid for us to have this blessing.

This chapter gives us just a little insight of the high price saints have paid through the years, so that we might have the message of salvation today.

Let’s look at-

I. THE PERSEVERANCE

Look at verse 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."

Barnabas' and Paul's forced departure from Antioch in Pisidia was still fresh in their minds.

If you remember, they had gone to the synagogue and had been invited to preach. They had preached, and the people were so pleased that they invited them to come back to speak to them again on the next Sabbath. During that week, all who had heard them were telling their friends and neighbors what they had heard. The Bible tells us that that next Sabbath the almost the whole population of the town went to hear them.

The Jews became jealous when they saw such a multitude flock out to hear these men tell more about Jesus Christ being their "living" Savior, and they arranged to have Paul and Barnabas run out of town.

There are two kinds of jealousy, a good kind and a bad kind. The wrong kind of jealousy is a terrible thing.

Illus: Someone said, "One blessing in being poor, honest, and hard working is that nobody envies you."

Someone else said, "When you feel yourself turning green with envy, you're ripe for trouble," and we might add, "and so is someone else."

They were opposed by evil men who were jealous of them, but it did not stop them.

Notice the determination of Paul and Barnabas. Even though they had gotten in trouble for preaching Jesus in the temple at Antioch, the Bible tells us that when they reached Iconium, "...they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews..."

That is, when they reached Iconium, they continued to do the things that got them in trouble before.

Christians need that kind of determination today!

So many times a person will begin working for the Lord in some ministry in a church, but run into some opposition and quit, sometimes only a few weeks after they began.

Paul and Barnabas were not that way. They were rejected, forced out of one town, but when they arrived at the next town they were even more determined to preach this same gospel.

Notice the report of what happened: "...and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed."

Notice especially the words, "...AND SO SPAKE..." All who heard them speak were convinced that they knew what they were talking about.

But there is always opposition around.

Look at verses 2-6, "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 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. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part witht he apostles. 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, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about."

Paul and Barnabas were so used of God in that they "so spake", that the unbelieving Jews had a hard time turning the people against them.

Verse 3 begins, "Long time therefore..." This lets us know the period of time they were able to preach God's Word, before the unbelieving Jews could muster enough resistance to make them flee. Paul and Barnabas were determined to preach the gospel.

The devil was mad. He made his crowd just as determined to stop Paul and Barnabas from preaching Jesus. But Paul and Barnabas kept right on obeying God.

We need to pray that God will give us the same determination that Paul and Barnabas had, and that we then will carry out His will in spreading the message.