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.
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.
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.
Barnabas and Paul will eventually enter Lystra where Luke records yet another miracle among the gentiles.
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 countryG4066 of the Gerasenes
andG4066 theG4066 surroundingG4066 districtG4066asked 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.”
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
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
..the idea of empty expanse; a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants):—coast, county, fields, ground, land, region.
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:
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Proverbs 4:1-2 King James Version
From a chief of sinners zealous for the Word of Scripture:
To my beloved fellow believers of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Why must a believer study doctrine?
In the scriptures of the New Testament the Apostle Paul encourages the Romans of the church, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Since I have shared several studies of Doctrine from the Bible I will not rehash these in today’s conclusion to this study of Church Doctrine; however if you would like to learn more click continue reading below.
https://talkofjesus.com/what-is-doctrine
My more recent concern for Church doctrine addressed deconstruction of Bible-based Doctrine presented as a new way to make the church relevant.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
[Therefore, I ask, what justification can any shepherd of the church offer for correcting God’s word while preaching ‘the bible says..?’]
Applying Scripture to the Church
Scripture may apply only to the time in which it was written OR
Old or New Testament Scripture may apply to these last days since the Apostles OR
a Scripture may apply only until a day it is fulfilled.
But the BIBLE says what God says; nothing more, nothing less and certainly not anything other than the Scripture you may read for yourself.
Whenever the written word of God points to the church the godly must humbly obey. But of course you must know your Bible in order to apply God’s inspired word appropriately.
(Don't just take some preacher's word for it that 'the Bible says' what he says.)
In the Apostolic Age
Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle John:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come..
God WAS and IS and WILL BE–the Father of all, the Son Christ Jesus the Ever-living Word of Salvation to redeemed sinners and the Holy Spirit of the Holy God who breaths life into the lifeless souls of sinful man.
The Lord speaks to His Church through the Spirit and the Word of Scripture.
Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle Paul:
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things,
not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.
But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
A Doctrine to Die for (as Christ also died for His Church)
No human leader–not even the Pontiff of Rome–can claim to be head of the church on earth. Sovereign headship belongs to Christ alone. “The greater part of the clergy is heretical and the highest are the worst.”
John Wycliff , who hand-copied the first version of the Wycliff English Bible in the year of our Lord, 1382 – source
While it is yet today–until the day of reckoning
For Yahweh of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and high
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be made low.
- Isaiah 2:12 LSB
Once more I will defer to the theological trumpet of John Stott from THE RADICAL DISCIPLE
But fundamental to Christian behavior is the lordship of Jesus Christ. “Jesus is Lord” remains the basis of our life.
.. Is the church the lord of Jesus Christ so that it has liberty to edit and manipulate, accepting what it likes and rejecting what it dislikes?
The Radical Disciple on the challenge of ethical relativism
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Gospel of John 14:21
Christ’s Commandment for the Church
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. – Acts of the Apostles 11:26
Search the Scriptures and you will find this the only place followers of the way of Jesus Christ, disciples of His teaching and doctrine are called ‘Christians.’
ἐκκλησία – ekklēsia or church is used 114 times in the New Testament.
If you are a disciple of the teachings (doctrines) of the Lord Jesus Christ do you suppose God’s inspired word chooses to call us out as a church rather than referring to a building for Christians?
go and show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
My beloved brother or sister of the Church, do you do that?
“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, call upon one or two other followers of Jesus from your church to witness such a word against a member of the Lord’s body broken for you?
“And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;
Can you, my fellow brother in Christ, actually take such a serious division of doctrine or belief to your church?
and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as the Gentile and the tax collector.
Of course this analogy of Jesus spoke to times before the risen Christ baptized gentiles into the Church.
The charge of Jesus is to throw him out and have nothing to do with this unrepentant sinner who would lightly claim to be a christian.
The DOCTRINE of the CHURCH is a life and death issue.
“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Gospel of Matthew 19:16
Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, know what happened to the man who asked our Lord this question?
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” .. he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
And He is the head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven.
The Doctrine of the Church is a LIFE and DEATH issue. And also at issue is not only death, but JUDGMENT.
We are NOT SAVED simply by calling ourselves ‘christian,’ clinging to grace yet hiding from God.
“You are My friends if you do what I command you. “This I command you, that you love one another.
Gospel of John 15:14,17
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Paul and Barnabas SENT with the Gospel
Now in the church that was at Antioch [Syria]..
.. the Holy Spirit said,
“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
ACTS of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 13:1a,2b NKJV
Saulos of Tarsus has just completed an exhortation in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch.
Who is asking to hear more of the Gospel?
The response of the brothers gathered for worship on the Sabbath will determine who has believed the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ (Χριστός Greek) of the Jews.
Many proselytes also sought the message of God in this Hellenist-Roman city near Pisidia Antioch.
“Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”
ACTS 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
Although some Bibles translate from the Greek, ‘the people,’ Luke clearly points to the Goyim or gentiles [ethnos] included in the Sabbath, many who are proselytes seeking the true God.
Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas,
who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
The physician and gospel-writer Luke has included some details in his account of their response:
πολύς Ἰουδαῖος
MANY of the Jews
AND of the
σέβω προσήλυτος
God-fearing proselytes
Mission accomplished?
So it would seem..
One weeklater:
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
We might speculate from Luke’s account that too many gentiles in this capitol city of Galatia, Antioch (with most of the citizens either Roman or Greek) may have shown up to hear Paul at this little local Jewish synagogue.
So it may have been surrounded by much bigger crowds than a small synagogue could hold.
“MANY JEWS,” but also many “God-fearing” Greek and Roman citizens of Antioch
PLUS crowds from nearby towns.
What should the Jews expect?
Judean or Hellenist, the Jews knew their Scriptures.
Each Sabbath the Law and the Prophets were read not only in the Temple of Roman-occupied Jerusalem, but read in every synagogue throughout the Roman Empire.
Context of this time of Paul's first mission;
A.D. 47-49, the years of this mission trip:
Claudius is Emperor of Rome.
Claudius had intended to bestow Judea to his family friend Herod Agrippa but instead appointed a Prefect or Governor.
Tiberius Julius Alexander, a Roman general born of a Jewish father became Judea's Governor
(And closer to Cypress, Asia and Pisidian Antioch)
Sergius Paulus may have been the first of several successive senators named Lucius Sergius Paullus, of Antioch, Pisidia -
sourceCould the Roman Governor of Galatia have been one in the same as we just convinced of the Gospel in Paphos?
The renowned Saul of Tarsus has just proclaimed that those in Jerusalem
.. had fulfilled all that was written concerning a savior iēsous..
“But God raised Him from the dead.
Last Sabbath the Jews of Antioch heard Saul proclaim the gospel of Christ crucified and risen! We are now more than a decade after this fulfillment of Scripture. Furthermore, by now many more must have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Those who seek God MUST know more!
So they go to Antioch to hear Paul’s Gospel.
What did the Gentiles expect?
What rumors and witness had circulated among these Romans of Galatia and Greeks seeking Good News of the One God?
(For these Gentiles had formerly worshiped many gods.)
.. the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
– Acts 10:45
Some Jews in Jerusalem had said, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
– Acts 11:18
Several years ago a Roman Centurion in Capernaum had met Jesus, who healed his paralyzed servant by only His word.
– Matthew 8
Other Roman Centurions had followed The Way once they had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion personally.
Many Romans knew the witness of Cornelius of the Italian Regiment from not so long ago:
.. I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing [and Jesus’ Apostle Simon Peter proclaimed to me and my family in Caesarea] “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.“
Witness of the Roman Centurion Cornelius, excerpts from ACTS 10
So the Crowds converged in Antioch to hear the Gospel
