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Category: Acts for a 21st c. Church

Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church

Acts of the Apostles 1-28

Acts of the Apostles:
+ The first century Church SHARED Christ while suffering severe persecution.
+ Luke records a historic account of the Church which gives 21c Christians a context to SHARE the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Read more about the Early Church & add your COMMENT on Scripture.

ACT now.

+ SHARE the Gospel history witnessed in the CURRENT chronological SERIES from ACTS of the APOSTLES.

Acts 14 Pursued through Lycaonia
Fleeing Persecution

After having fled Pisidian Antioch, Roman capital of the Galatian district of Lycaonia, Barnabas and Paul must again go into hiding as they escape persecution in Iconium.

Luke’s detailed account of Paul’s first missionary journey in Acts 14 shows us what will frequently take place in many cities throughout the world. His historic account of the Apostles provides background for understanding of the intense hatred of Jesus Christ by many unbelievers.

Iconium – A Pattern of Persecution

Iconium lies to east of Lake Egirdir on a plain bordered by the Taurus Mountains

Acts 14: Fleeing Iconium

5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they continued to proclaim the gospel.

Lycaonia and the surrounding region

A 21st c. satellite view of the plain east of the Taurus mountains.
(A large man-made lake later provided irrigation to this arid region but would have been a river in earlier centuries.)

Λυκαονία – Lycaonia

Luke mentions that they fled to the cities of Lycaonia.. and the surrounding region. Although Lycaonia was also a city in the southern region of this district set on a plain near the Taurus Mountains, he names the next two cities where they will preach the gospel in addition to other more remote towns of Lycaonia.
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Lycaonia = "wolf land"

a region in Asia Minor, situated between Pisidia, Cilicia, Cappadocia, Galatia and Phrygia, whose chief towns were Derbe, Lystra and Iconium
metaph. of cruel, greedy, rapacious, destructive men 
- Source: BlueLetterBible.org.
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Barnabas and Paul will eventually enter Lystra where Luke records yet another miracle among the gentiles.

περίχωρος – períchōros –
- signifies “country round about,” Luk 8:37; “country about,” Luk 3:3, AV (RV, “region round about”)
NOTE Luke’s Gospel mention of the Lord Jesus using this same reference also points to rejection of the Gospel.

And all the people of the country^G4066 of the Gerasenes

and^G4066 the^G4066 surrounding^G4066 district^G4066 asked Him [Jesus] to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear. And He got into a boat and returned.
Gospel of Luke 8:37 LSB – Strong’s G4066 – perichōros

Rejection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,

BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.

HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,

AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,

TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
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Gospel of Luke 4:18-19a - Jesus Christ quoting the prophet Isaiah 61
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your [ears].” - The words of Jesus from Luke 4:21
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Acts of the Apostles

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

– ACTS of the Apostles in Pisidian Antioch 13:49-50 KJV
- Strong’s G5561 – chōra
  - ..the idea of empty expanse; a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants):—coast, county, fields, ground, land, region.
- Strong’s G3725 – horion
  - boundaries for a region, district, land, territory
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Acts of the Apostles 13:51 King James Version

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off G1621 the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. – Gospel of Mark 6:11 KJV

And it came to pass in Iconium..

ACTS 14:3-7 KJV

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 with the 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:
- Strong’s G4066 – perichōros
  - signifies “country round about,” “country about,” (RV, “region round about”)
And there they preached the gospel.
Acts 14:7 KJV

“The one who listens to you listens to Me,

and the one who rejects you rejects Me.

And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – Luke 10:16 LSB

To be continued…

NEXT: Lystra
November 14, 2022
Iconium – A Pattern of Persecution
But having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium.
Acts of the Apostles 13:51 LSB
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Their journey of about 90 miles on a Roman road connecting these two capital cities of Asia Minor through the mountains would typically take about a week on horseback or on foot.
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Paul and Barnabas have just been run out of Pisidian Antioch continuing on a mission from Cypress where the Church in Antioch of Syria had initially sent them to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus to all the world.

An Antioch Blueprint of Church Evangelism

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
– ACTS of the Apostles 11:19-20 LSB

Observe a developing pattern of reactions and consequent acts when the Good News of Christ Jesus is proclaimed to ALL sinners in a city.

Acts of Apostles on Mission
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In case you missed their last stop in Antioch of Pisidia:
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Who has believed our message?

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. – ACTS 13:42 NKJV

And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region..
And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts of Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch 13:49,52 LSB

Iconium Lycaonia
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Lycaonia - background: 160 B.C. - After defeat of the Hellenistic King Antiochus Rome gave it to the king of Pergamum after which it became part of Galatia then to Cappadocia.
64 BC -Pompey gave the northern part of the tetrarchy to Galatia and the eastern part of the eleventh strategia to Cappadocia. The remainder was attached to Cilicia. Its administration and grouping changed often under the Romans.

Iconium Ἰκόνιον (Ikónion) in Greek (with regular Medieval Greek apheresis Kónio(n)) and as Iconium in Latin. Ikónion is the Hellenisation of an older Luwian name Ikkuwaniya.

Some claim that the name Ikónion was derived from εἰκών (icon), referring to an ancient Greek legend according to which the hero Perseus had vanquished the native population with an image of the "Gorgon Medusa's head" before founding the city.

The Konya region.. at different times under the rule of the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Classical Greeks, the Persians and the Romans.  - source: Wikipedia
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Acts 14

Now it happened that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.

2 But the unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the [souls] of the Gentiles against the brothers.

3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [miracles] signs and wonders be done through their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided;
- and some sided with the Jews,
- and some with the apostles.
The familiar pattern:
- Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together
  - Pisidian Antioch. And on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down. Acts 13:14
  - Salamis, Cypress. they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews Acts 13:5
- and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
  - Pisidian Antioch. Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas.. And the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. Acts 13:43a,44
- 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.
  - Pisidian Antioch. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, blaspheming. Acts 13:45
  - Paphos Cypress. they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus.. opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. – Acts 13:6b,8b
- 14:3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [miracles] signs and wonders be done through their hands.
  - Pisidian Antioch. “Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through [Christ] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.. Therefore watch out, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you Acts 13:38,40
  - Paphos Cypress. “..will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him.. Acts 13:10b-11a
- 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
  - Pisidian Antioch.
  - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
  - But the Jews incited the worshipping women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their boundaries. Acts 13:50
  - Paphos Cypress. And when they had gone through the whole island .. they found .. a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus.. with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus..[who] summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Acts 13:6-7 excerpt
  - Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on [Bar-Jesus].. “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind..” Then the [Roman] proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:9b-10a,12
- 14:5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, they became aware of it and fled..
  - Pisidian Antioch. [they] instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas..
  - Paphos Cypress. Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos..
And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, they became aware of it and fled..

Paul, Barnabas and disciples who believed fled from persecution in Iconium to Lycaonia and the surrounding region

ACTS of these disciples of the risen Christ called Christians — To be continued…
November 12, 2022
Unworthy of Eternal Life
Acts unworthy of God–seeking men

יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 49:6 וַיֹּאמֶר נָקֵל מִֽהְיוֹתְךָ לִי עֶבֶד לְהָקִים אֶת־שִׁבְטֵי יַעֲקֹב ונצירי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהָשִׁיב וּנְתַתִּיךָ לְאוֹר גּוֹיִם לִֽהְיוֹת יְשׁוּעָתִי עַד־קְצֵה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ס

Who has believed our message?

Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you – Acts 13:40 NIV

Acts 13: in Pisidian Antioch
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This scene unfolds on a second Sabbath when Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress have been invited back to share their GOOD NEWS of Israel's Messiah at the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. 

On the the previous Sabbath:
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When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas..
Acts 13:43a – of Paul and Barnabas – NIV
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NOW (on this next Sabbath in Antioch)
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⁴⁴On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Antioch in the direction of Pisidia
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Reminder: Antioch is not a Jewish city but a Roman one. 
Some facts:
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- During the reign of Emperor Augustus, the Romans established eight colonies in Pisidia, but only Antioch was honoured with the title of Caesarea.
- Roman legions were stationed near the city, and their veterans were given land in the area. Later, the city was awarded the title Socia Romanorum that is Loyal Ally of Rome.
- the road known as Via Sebaste.. connected Antioch with Perge on the Mediterranean coast.
- a branch of this road leading to Iconium (now Konya) and Lystra was added.
  - source
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First Century Antioch in the direction of Pisidia (third largest city in the Roman Empire) 
- a place with a small synagogue, several temples of gods of Rome and Greece and a theatre where crowds could hear an orator, a Roman politician or go to town for various entertainment.
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Luke does not tell us where Paul and Barnabas were at this point.

Perhaps just outside the synagogue (for there would not have been enough room for the crowds inside.) As was his later habit Paul and their disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ may have walked to a large public square or even the city’s large theatre.
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Click for pictures of the archeological site.
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Acts of the unworthy chosen

⁴⁵When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy.

Contradicting the Word of God

They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

To the Jew first

Numbers 16:

28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will..” 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

“Remember these things, O Jacob,

And Israel, for you are My servant;

I have formed you, you are My servant;

O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud
And your sins like a cloud.

Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:21-22 LSB

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return;

I will also give You as a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6

And a Light to the Gentiles

Romans and Greeks drawn to Pisidian Antioch by the Lord God to hear the Good News of redemption preached by Paul to a remnant of Israel in the synagogues.

The light of the Gospel now shines in the Roman world as fulfillment of Scripture well-known to the Jews.

Psalm 67:
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excerpt
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אֱלֹהִים יְחָנֵּנוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵנו יָאֵר פָּנָיו אִתָּנוּ סֶֽלָה׃
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God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And lead the nations on the earth. Selah.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
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I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Prophesy of Isaiah 42:6-7 King James Version

Isaiah 60:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,

And the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you.

“For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And dense gloom the peoples;

But Yahweh will rise upon you,

And His glory will appear upon you.

“Nations will come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isaiah 60:3 KJV

The Apostle Paul has just preached:

For the Lord has commanded us

Acts of the Apostles 13:

47 “For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,

THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’
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Of course the reaction of the local Romans and Greeks would be joy at this Gospel.
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And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.
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Certainly this is also Good News to the faithful worshipers of the Lord who have waited for the Messiah, the Christ who saves and fulfills the promises of God.
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Lift up thine eyes round about, and see:

all they gather themselves together, they come to thee:

thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

.. the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Isaiah 60:4,5b KJV

But the Jews..
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Ἰουδαῖος
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Remember: Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress are also Jews who have greeted their brothers in the synagogue as ‘brothers.’

MANY disciples of The Way of Jesus the Messiah are Jews who have turned from the darkness of their former disobedience to follow the Lord our God.

BUT, the GOSPEL is only Good News to those who will accept it –– to those who will turn from their sin —

Jew, Roman, Greek — European, African, American —

the Gospel is Good News ONLY to those willing to follow Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer as Lord.

And like today MANY will oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ — Jew, Gentile or so-called ‘christian.’

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas,

and expelled them from their region.
Acts of the Apostles 13:30 NKJV

ὅριον

13:50 οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι παρώτρυναν τὰς σεβομένας γυναῖκας τὰς εὐσχήμονας καὶ τοὺς πρώτους τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐπήγειραν διωγμὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Παῦλον καὶ Βαρναβᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν

Unworthy of Grace

Does this sound at all familiar?

Just as Saul of Tarsus had persecuted disciples of The Way and pursued them beyond the district of Judea, so too some Jews of Pisidian Antioch continue to refuse the grace of their Redeemer.

Yet even the Lord Jesus had encountered such opposition.

And when He came to the other side, into the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying,

“What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” ..

And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.
Gospel of Matthew 8:34 LSB [Mat 8:28-34]

Topical map Galilee to Judea

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Gospel of Matthew 11:21 LSB – The rebuke of Christ Jesus to the Jews unworthy of grace

“And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”
Gospel of Mark 6:11 – Instruction of Jesus to the Twelve

Acts of Paul and Barnabas leaving Pisidian Antioch

13:51

But having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium.

Acts of the Apostles and disciples: To be continued in Iconium…
November 9, 2022