Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

14:9 seeing that he had faith to be made well. The Holy Spirit gave Paul the ability somehow to see what was happening in the invisible, spiritual realm.

14:11-13 The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men. Since the people were speaking in their native Lycaonian language, Paul and Barnabas were probably unaware of what was transpiring. They realized the gravity of the situation, however, when the local priest began to offer sacrifice. The crowd's acclamation was based on a local myth that the gods Hermes and Zeus had once visited their region in human form.

14:14-15 tore their garments. Contrast the response of Herod (12:21-23). who made the heaven and the earth. Since the Lystrans were polytheists, it was necessary to begin with the basic message that God is the creator of all that exists.

14:17 rains . . . and fruitful seasons. Paul tells these Gentiles who had no knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures that their regular harvests, the food they eat every day, and the gladness they experience in the ordinary activities of life are all a witness from God of his existence, wisdom, and goodness. They should not think that these things "just happen" or that they are the work of some local deities, for they are from the one true God "who made the heaven and the earth" (v. 15). The themes of this short speech will be developed in the speech at Mars Hill (17:16-34). These are the two occasions where Paul speaks to Gentiles who worship idols.

14:19 The Jews again stirred up opposition, this time coming from Iconium and Antioch, over 100 miles (161 km) distant by road. they stoned Paul. The action was so brutal that they could see no sign of life in Paul. Later, in recounting his sufferings for the gospel, Paul says, "Once I was stoned" (2 Cor. 11:25; cf. 2 Tim. 3:11). supposing that he was dead. Those who stoned Paul apparently thought they had succeeded in killing him. But as "supposing" indicates, they were mistaken in thinking that, even though Paul was indeed gravely injured.

14:20 The presence of disciples indicates that despite the opposition, a nucleus of believers was established at Lystra (including Timothy, 16:1). They gathered about Paul, perhaps at first to mourn, but then, with some sign of life, to pray for his recovery. Amazingly, and apparently miraculously, he rose up and entered the city, apparently under his own strength.

14:21 Derbe, about 58 miles (93 km) southeast of Lystra, marked the farthest point in Paul's first journey. The account is brief, noting only that Paul made a number of converts there. From that city (Derbe) Paul could have continued on south to his starting point of Syrian Antioch on foot, a much easier journey than backtracking through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch (see map). The decision to take this longer route shows the importance Paul attached to maintaining contact with his churches and establishing local elders. It also shows tremendous courage that he would return to the cities from which he had been driven by such violent opposition. Debates surround the exact location of ancient Derbe, but many associate it with the unexcavated mound of Kerti Hüyük since inscriptions mentioning Derbe were found in the area.

14:22 Paul's telling the Christians of those cities to expect many tribulations is echoed in his own account of his persecutions there (2 Tim. 3:10-12; cf. Rom. 8:17). Often in Acts new believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith (Acts 11:23; 13:43), and the reference to "tribulations" indicates that the Christian's life is often beset by difficulties.

14:23 Paul's churches followed the synagogue pattern of leadership by elders. It is significant that elders were appointed from the beginning for such young churches (cf. James 5:14, which dates to sometime between a.d. 40 and 50). The language here indicates a plurality of elders in every church (cf. also Acts 11:30; 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1, 5). See also note on 1 Sam. 4:3.