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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
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
A Parting of Mission in Perga
Acts of the Apostles 13:

The first missionary journey of Paul seemed to get off to an amazing start.

Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and recounted to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. – Acts 9:27

.. the brothers learned of [an assassination attempt and] brought him [from Jerusalem] down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. – Acts 9:30

.. the church at Jerusalem.. sent Barnabas off to Antioch – Acts 11:22

And he [Barnabas] left for Tarsus to search for Saul; and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd.
Acts of the Apostles 11:25-26a LSB

https://talkofjesus.com/an-antioch-blueprint-of-church-evangelism/

The Christians of the Church in Antioch sent a contribution to the brothers of the Church in Judea for famine relief by the hand of Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus [Paul]. – Acts 11:28-30

They return to Antioch.

And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, fulfilling their ministry, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.
Acts of the Apostles 12:25

In Antioch (of Syria):

And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

https://talkofjesus.com/acts-13-4-sailing-salamis/

What happened between Syrian Antioch and Pisidian Antioch?

Cypress – Mixed Results

So on a second sailing from Paphos Cypress to Perga, as on most journeys the missionaries must have talked about their most recent results from the towns on Cypress

AND what these three will do next in Pisidia.

I must share an astute observation of Tony Merida from his commentary: Exalting Jesus in Acts.

He titles his chapter on missions covering Acts 13: The Holy Spirit, a Bible, a Passport, and a First-Aid Kit, Part 1.

He points out about ‘Stop 1’ in Cypress:
- Some people will be open to God’s Word
- Some people will oppose God’s Word
- Some people will embrace God’s Word
We have already observed this in Luke’s introduction and the examples of Bar-Jesus and the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.

Paul and Barnabas are the ‘commissioned‘ missionaries sent out by the Holy Spirit from the Church in Antioch. BUT they encounter a problem with ‘the help.’

As you might guess Merida’s ‘Part 2’ description will also be applied to Acts 14 after the events which will take place NEXT in Perga and Pisidian Antioch–thus, our mission need for ‘a first-aid kit.’

Not So Smooth Sailing – a Problem in Perga

Now after Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
Acts of the Apostles 13:13 LSB

John MARK

As I pointed out earlier, this young man is the Gospel-writer Mark whose Gospel would have already been published and known to some of the church when Luke published this second volume, Acts of the Apostles.

So why would they have told Mark to go back home to Jerusalem rather than continuing on mission in Pamphylia?

Alexander MacLaren :: John Mark (Acts 13:13)
- He was the son of a well-to-do Christian woman in Jerusalem
- The Church in Jerusalem met in their large home
- He is a younger cousin of Joseph (Barnabas)
- so he was naturally selected to be the attendant and secular factotum of Paul and Barnabas
  - Mark was NOT the anointed missionary sent, but a helpful servant to them.
    For more: follow the link above to the source to the commentary of Alexander MacLaren.
Luke does not tell us why they sent him back home before they began their hike to the cities before them, but later he records that Barnabas sought to enlist John Mark once more for a second missionary journey.

(More about that after a few years and many miles later.)

.. John left them and returned to Jerusalem. But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch.

– Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 13:13b-14a

To Be Continued…
October 4, 2022