“THE MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL AND BARNABAS” Acts 14:1-28

From Acts 13:4 – 14:28, Dr. Luke is tracing the first Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas.  As the missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, continued to preach the gospel, some believed, in addition, there was also increasing opposition to the gospel message.  Encountering opposition, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach the gospel.  God honored their faith by granting signs and wonders.  These miracles authenticated that Paul was an apostle of God.  When the missionaries discovered a plot to stone them, they left for Lystra and Derbe and there preached the Word (vv. 1-7).  At Lystra, Paul was enabled to perform a great miracle by healing a notable cripple (vv. 8-10).

This miracle was accepted by the heathen citizens as proof that Paul and Barnabas were their gods come to earth; and they named Barnabas “Jupiter” and Paul they named “Mercury.”  The local priest of Jupiter and the crowd were ready to offer them sacrifices when Paul and Barnabas publicly stopped them; and Paul seized the opportunity to preach the word to the crowd.  However, Paul’s message to the crowd was rejected and the people stoned Paul and left him for dead (vv. 11-19).

According to verse 20, Paul made a miraculous recovery, and the very next day he travelled with Barnabas to Derbe!  Whether or not Paul was dead is not stated; probably he was unconscious and at death’s door (II Corinthians 12:2-4).  At any rate the recovery was so rapid as to be miraculous.  The reference to Paul’s stoning (II Corinthians 11:25) undoubtedly had this incident in view (II Timothy 3:11).

In view 21-28, Paul and Barnabas turned back and retraced their steps through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.  They returned through Pisidian and Pamphylia and preached again in Perga.  Then they went to Attalia, and sailed from that port back to Antioch (Syria).  These courageous missionaries returned to the very cities where their lives had been in danger!  Paul and Barnabas were not thinking of themselves, but of those precious new Christians who needed to be established in the word!  Paul and Barnabas reported to the believers at Antioch the tremendous work of the Lord on their first missionary journey because the Antioch church had sent them out.

May God Bless!