Acts 14 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 14 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• This second part of Barnabas and Paul’s church planning journey probably occurred between 46-47 A.D.

• The two preachers returned to Antioch of Syria and remained until approximately 48 A.D.

CHARACTERS:

• Paul (Saul) – An Apostle who travelled the Mediterranean planting churches

• Barnabas – Paul’s good friend and fellow worker, a Levite from Cyprus.

• Crippled Man – He was healed by Paul in Lystra.

• Evil Jews – A group of Jews who travelled from town to town stirring up opposition to Barnabas and Paul’s teaching.

WHERE:

• Antioch in Pisidia – Paul preached to the Jews of Antioch with mixed success.

• Iconium – Paul and Barnabas travelled to Iconium after being run out of Antioch. 

• Lystra – Southwest of Iconium, where Paul was stoned for teaching Jesus.

• Derbe – East of Lystra, the two preachers taught here before deciding to turn around and retrace their steps.

• Antioch in Syria – Paul and Barnabas’ home where they worked with the Church.

OUTLINE:

• PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS IN ICONIUM (14:1-7):

  • After being kicked out of Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium.

  • They preached to Jews and Gentiles, and many believed.

  • But other Jews worked to thwart the gospel’s success and “poisoned the minds” of the population against Paul and Barnabas.

  • After learning that the Jews and Gentiles were plotting to stone them, Barnabas and Paul decided to leave Iconium and travel to Lystra.

• PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS IN LYSTRA (14:8-18):

  • While teaching in Lystra, the two preachers met a crippled man.

  • Paul healed him with the power of the Holy Spirit, and he stood up and started walking.

  • The citizens who observed the miracle assumed Paul and Barnabas were gods.

  • “Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes.”

  • Priests from the temple of Zeus brought oxen to sacrifice in their honor. When

  • Barnabas and Paul heard about this, they tore their clothing and cried out to the people to stop.

  • They told them they were regular men, not gods, and they wanted to share a message about the living God who made the heavens, earth, and sea.

  • Even after further clarification, they had a hard time restraining the people from offering sacrifices to them.

• THE EVIL JEWS FOLLOW PAUL TO LYSTRA (14:19-21):

  • Paul and Barnabas’ enemies from Antioch and Iconium followed them to Lystra.

  • They persuaded the people to turn against the preachers and their message.

  • They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city. After a short time, Paul recovered

  • and went back into the city with the believers.

• TEACHING IN DERBE AND THE JOURNEY HOME (14:21-28):

  • Barnabas and Paul taught in Derbe before doubling back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch to strength the new believers.

  • With prayer and fasting they appointed elders in each church.

  • They passed through Pisidia, Pamphylia, taught in Perga, and finally boarded a ship in Attalia.

  • From Attalia they sailed to Antioch in Syria, the city where their journey began.

  • They gathered the Church and told them all about their trip and all that God had done through them in spreading the gospel to the Gentile world.

  • They remained in Antioch “no little time.”

APPLICATION:

•  Barnabas and Paul left us a great example of perseverance.

• Their Jewish enemies were a nuisance, but they didn’t allow them to steal the joy they found in sins being forgiven and souls being saved.  

• Don’t let a little resistance keep you from serving the Lord and finding joy in the work you believe is important.

• Focus on the positive results rather than the haters.