Acts 14: Love Beats Rock

Hey flooders, Seth here to give you your daily dose of God’s word from the book of Acts!
​The 14th chapter of Acts follows the travels of Paul and Barnabas as they speak in Iconium, successfully turning many Jews and Greeks into believers. As with all things, there are those who refused to accept this way (THE way) out of fear, doubt, or whatever the case may have been and instead sought to destroy it. While turning many of the people of Iconium into believers, the Jews who refused to accept the word plotted to stone the apostles. Upon discovering this, Paul and Barnadas fled to Lystra.
​There the two met a lame man who had not walked since birth. Paul sensed the man’s faith, however, and called to him to walk. The man then jumped up and walked. After witnessing this miracle, the crowd thought the two to be gods from above, even calling them Zeus and Hermes. They began to bring bulls to sacrifice and wreaths to offer. The apostles quickly explained that they were not gods, but merely humans like everyone else. They were only sent to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and told them that it was God who created all they see and all they need to survive.
​Then, Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and turned the crowd against the two apostles. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, presumably dead. Paul, however, rose to his feet and the apostles left the next day for Derbe. There they preached the gospel and won over a large number of disciples. In strengthened numbers, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. They told them “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
​The apostles continued to spread the gospel across more areas. Finally, they sailed back to Antioch and gathered the church together and reported everything that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
​Paul and Barnabas faced great opposition in their travels to spread the gospel. In all of the plotting, stoning, and oppression, they still proceeded to carry out God’s plan for them. As believers, we know that the world is divided, and that division is not a clean cut. The break is a rough and rigid one.
​ Paul tells us that we will face hardships to enter the kingdom. God has called ALL of us to disciple, to witness, and to lead others. Paul and Barnabas both faced these hardships, but never doubted God. They continue to do what He has directed them to do even after persecution and stoning. After their hardships, all of the areas where the crowds were turned against them, become places of discipleship. God’s victory shines through in the end.
​What would have happened if the apostles instead said, “Forget that! I don’t want to be stoned!” and did nothing? We should pray to be as diligent and as bold as Paul and Barnabas in our witnessing and spreading of God’s word. Where there seems to be a lack of hope, God is still working in that situation, and we should feel privileged that He wants to use us in it!

--2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.