Act 14:19 | KingComments | STEP | When the Jews of Antioch and Iconium come to Lystra, they are not displeased with the idolatry of the pagans. Nor are they on the side of Paul and Barnabas against idolatry. On the contrary, they turn against the two servants of God. Their hatred of the gospel is greater than their abhorrence of paganism and its idolatry. The Jews of Antioch and Iconium are not satisfied that they have driven the bringers of the gospel out of their own cities. They pursue the apostles, and through their malicious imputations they manipulate the crowds here in Lystra as well, resulting in an uprising against Paul and Barnabas. The crowds stone Paul as if he were a false prophet. Then they drag him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. When people start to worship people, they exalt themselves, someone equal to them, a human being. When someone comes to condemn this worship and points to the Lord Jesus as the only One Who may be honored, he gets the hatred of those people on himself. At first they wanted to worship Paul as a god, but when it turns out that he condemns their religion, they turn against him and kill him. At least that’s what they think. The power of life is greater than the power of the devil and death. Surrounded by the disciples, Paul comes back to life. It is a beautiful picture: The disciples stand around him as a circle of life – presumably they have prayed for him – through which there is an atmosphere to which death gives way and life can manifest itself. When Paul has got up, he enters the city again, not to be admired as a god who has power over death, but to finalize a few things. It is in itself a wonder of God that from almost dead a moment later he is able to go on healthy and strengthened. After finishing his work in Lystra, he goes with Barnabas to Derbe the next day. There too they preach the gospel with great results. Many come to faith there and become disciples. That will mean that these believers are baptized and also taught to live as followers of the Lord. Presumably in this environment and during this visit Timothy was brought to the Lord by Paul ( ; ; ).

‏ Acts 14:19

Paul Stoned

When the Jews of Antioch and Iconium come to Lystra, they are not displeased with the idolatry of the pagans. Nor are they on the side of Paul and Barnabas against idolatry. On the contrary, they turn against the two servants of God. Their hatred of the gospel is greater than their abhorrence of paganism and its idolatry.

The Jews of Antioch and Iconium are not satisfied that they have driven the bringers of the gospel out of their own cities. They pursue the apostles, and through their malicious imputations they manipulate the crowds here in Lystra as well, resulting in an uprising against Paul and Barnabas. The crowds stone Paul as if he were a false prophet. Then they drag him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

When people start to worship people, they exalt themselves, someone equal to them, a human being. When someone comes to condemn this worship and points to the Lord Jesus as the only One Who may be honored, he gets the hatred of those people on himself. At first they wanted to worship Paul as a god, but when it turns out that he condemns their religion, they turn against him and kill him. At least that’s what they think.

The power of life is greater than the power of the devil and death. Surrounded by the disciples, Paul comes back to life. It is a beautiful picture: The disciples stand around him as a circle of life – presumably they have prayed for him – through which there is an atmosphere to which death gives way and life can manifest itself.

When Paul has got up, he enters the city again, not to be admired as a god who has power over death, but to finalize a few things. It is in itself a wonder of God that from almost dead a moment later he is able to go on healthy and strengthened.

After finishing his work in Lystra, he goes with Barnabas to Derbe the next day. There too they preach the gospel with great results. Many come to faith there and become disciples. That will mean that these believers are baptized and also taught to live as followers of the Lord. Presumably in this environment and during this visit Timothy was brought to the Lord by Paul (Acts 16:1; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2).