Acts - Week 46

Week 46 Acts 14 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 14:3-4 

3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 

Even at Iconium the Jewish leaders stirred up opposition against Paul ad Barnabas, but the two missionaries stayed a long time. While there they performed “miraculous signs and wonders.” These were convincing proofs that the two of them had been sent from God. Even so, the people were divided about their message. Some agreed with the Jewish leaders; others with Paul and Barnabas. 

REFLECT 

Have you noticed that whenever there is the working of God in a community, not all are agreed it is from God? Sometimes even pandemics are used of God to cause others to think about death ad eternity, but not all think God allowed the pandemic. 

RESPOND 

Now that we have the complete revelation of God, it is not necessary to seek signs, wonders and miracles. One only has to check the Bible to see who is a true messenger of God. In this regard, read 1Timothy 4:1-5. Discuss this passage with your disciple. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 14:5-7 

5 Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. 6 When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. 7 And there they preached the Good News. 

The Jewish leaders had stirred up some of the Gentiles so they cooperated in planning an attack to stone Paul and Barnabas. This was an attempt to kill them. The towns of Lystra and Derbe are also in the area now known as “Turkey.” Unafraid, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach the gospel to anyone who would listen. Rather than cowering because of persecution, they remained bold in preaching what they knew others needed to hear.  

REFLECT 

Have you thought about how persecution has been used of God to spread the gospel even further? Tertullian, who lived at the end of the first century and beginning of the second, is quoted as saying, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”  

RESPOND 

The apostle Paul was imprisoned by the Roman Empire when he wrote Philippians. Yet he reminded his readers that this had resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. Read Philippians 1:12-13 for his comments. Talk with your disciple about what you might do if persecution comes to you. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 14:8-10 

8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. 

This passage tells of Paul’s spiritual insight into a listener to realize he was under conviction and wanted to be healed. Without touching him, Paul gave the command for him to stand up and the man with crippled feet who had never walked “jumped to his feet and started walking.” What a startling sight this must have been to everyone there! So startling, in fact, they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods. 

REFLECT 

What would you have thought had you been watching this incident long ago? Even though God does not always heal, are you confident He has the power to do so? Can you praise Him even if He does not. 

RESPOND 

Be aware that every seeming “miracle” needs to be tested by the message. Read Deuteronomy 13:1-5 for an example of when a miracle was not followed by the right message. Let this be a warning about seeming supernatural incidents. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 14:11-13 

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. 

The idol worshippers of that day thought surely Paul and Barnabas were gods. Even the priest of the idol-worshipping temple was convinced they were gods and prepared sacrifices to them. Even though these people did not believe in Jesus, the God who really took on human flesh, they thought these two missionaries were gods in human form. This reveals how the masses can be deluded.  

REFLECT 

Think how understandable it is that these people had no explanation when they saw this man who had never walked jumping to his feet and walking. There had to be some explanation for it. This reveals how one’s worldview can lead to wrong assumptions.  

RESPOND 

Read Romans 1:21-23 to see the path that people take when they are not thankful to God. Instead of worshipping the Creator; they worship creatures and idols that cannot speak.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 14:14-15 

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 

Paul and Barnabas stopped the rush to worship them. They told the people of their true mission: to tell them the Good News about turning from their gods to God. Notice how they referred to their idols as “worthless things” in contrast to God who is “the living God.” The idols certainly were not living. See also how Paul and Barnabas described God. Whereas idols are created by men and cannot create anything, the living God “made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”  

REFLECT 

How do you describe the living God for someone? Paul and Barnabas didn’t get into the fine points of theology; they just reminded the people that what they saw around them was the result of God’s creative working. 

RESPOND 

To see where God is described as Paul and Barnabas did, read Exodus 20:11; Psalm 146:5-7 and Acts 4:23-24. In this last passage the disciples prayed for Peter and John and expected persecution. Such praying and describing God in this way evidences confidence in a sovereign God.