Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.” (Acts 15:12)

Chapter 14 starts in Iconium when Barnabas and Paul preach in the synagogue there. A great crowd of Jews and Gentiles (Greeks) believed. But Jews who did NOT believe stirred up other Gentiles against the two men. Barnabas and Paul kept preaching and performing miracles, signs, and wonders in the city, and it became divided. Eventually, unbelieving Jews and Gentiles (working together) plotted to kill them, so they fled to Lystra and Derbe. There they continued to preach.

A crippled man who lived in Lystra, heard Paul preaching. Paul looked at him and saw that he had trust in the Lord. Paul commanded his healing, and the man accepted it. He was able to walk. The people of the town saw it and believed that Barnabas and Paul were the Greek gods come to life. They started a huge celebration and their priest made arrangements to sacrifice to them. Once they figured out what was going on, Barnabas and Paul BEGGED them to stop. Paul gave a big speech about Jesus and HIS divinity. They tried everything and BARELY managed to make them stop. But then unbelieving Jews from Antioch and Iconium came to town searching for Paul and turned the city against him. He was stoned to death and left outside the city walls. God raised him and the next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

When they had spent some time in Derbe, with many people believing, they returned the way they had come. They checked in on the believers in the cities they had ministered in and encouraged them. They appointed elders for each church with prayer and fasting. Then they returned back to their original city (Antioch) and reported on everything that had happened and all God had done.

Chapter fifteen is all about the council in Jerusalem. Men had come from Judea to Antioch teaching believers that if they didn’t follow the Law of Moses to the letter, they would not be saved – which is not what Jesus had taught. It became a huge dispute between Paul, Barnabas, and these teachers. So a delegation was sent to Jerusalem to inquire of the church (the elders) and the apostles. They were welcomed with joy and they told all about what God had been doing through them. Some believing Pharisees immediately stood up declaring all the believers (Jew or Gentile) had to be circumcised. The debate was on. They considered all things. Listened to Paul and Barnabas. Listened to Peter. Listened to James, the brother of Jesus (and head of the Jerusalem church). They agreed that God was clearly moving in the Gentiles in the SAME WAY He was moving in the Jews. They clearly could see no differences there. They consulted Holy Spirit. The decision of the council was that this was to be laid on all believers in Jesus who were not Jewish: Avoid food that had been offered to an idol, avoid sexual immorality (in any form), from eating an animal that had been strangled, and from eating blood. That was it. They wrote it down in an encouraging letter and sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch to spread the news.

After they had done that and spent some time at home, Paul came to Barnabas and suggested another missionary journey to check up on all the churches they had planted. Barnabas agreed it was a good idea and wanted to bring John Mark again. Paul was against it because he hadn’t stayed with them last time. This turned into an argument, which turned into a HUGE to do. They separated from each other. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Apostles, Saul, Barnabas, Jews, Gentiles

Key Verse(s): Acts 14:21-28; 15:22-31