Acts 14 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                            Chapter Fourteen

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To continue tracing the route of Paul and Barnabas on their
   missionary journey

2) To note the increasing persecution endured by the apostle Paul (cf.
   2Ti 3:10-11)

3) To give special attention to their appointment of elders in every
   church

SUMMARY

Luke continues his narration of events during Paul's first missionary
journey.  Upon arriving in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas again visited the
local synagogue.  Response to their message was positive among both Jews
and Greeks, but soon opposition again came from unbelieving Jews.  Even
so, Paul and Barnabas stayed "a long time" in Iconium, speaking boldly
and performing signs and wonders.  Eventually the opposition became
violent, forcing Paul and Barnabas to flee to Lystra and Derbe (1-6).

In Lystra, Paul healed a man crippled from birth (similar to Peter, cf.
3:1-10).  The people assumed that Paul and Barnabas must be gods, and so
named them Zeus (Barnabas) and Hermes (Paul).  When the priest of Zeus
prepared to offer sacrifices, the apostles tore their own clothes and
barely restrained them by an impassioned speech.  Not long after, Jews
from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the multitudes to stone Paul and drag
him outside the city.  Though assumed to be dead, Paul was able to
return to the city and departed the next day with Barnabas to Derbe
where they preached the gospel and made many disciples (7-21).

From Derbe, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, strengthened the
disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (Pisidia) and appointed elders
in every church with prayer and fasting.  Passing through Pisidia they
came to Pamphylia where they preached the gospel in Perga.  From there
they went down to Attalia and then sailed to Antioch (Syria) from which
they began their journey, where they reported to the church all that God
had done with them.  There they stayed for "a long time" (21-28).

OUTLINE

I. PREACHING IN ICONIUM, LYSTRA, DERBE (1-21)

   A. MINSTRY AND PERSECUTION IN ICONIUM (1-6)
      1. Speaking at the local synagogue leads many Jews and Gentiles to
         believe
      2. Unbelieving Jews stir up and poison the minds of the Gentiles
         against the brethren
      3. Paul and Barnabas stay a long time, speaking boldly and
         performing signs and wonders
      4. The city becomes divided, and an attempt is made by Gentiles
         and Jews along with their rulers to abuse and stone them
      5. Made aware of the planned violence, Paul and Barnabas flee to
         Lystra and Derbe

   B. MINISTRY AND PERSECUTION IN LYSTRA AND DERBE (7-21)
      1. Paul and Barnabas preach there and in the surrounding region
      2. In Lystra Paul heals a man crippled from birth
      3. The people proclaim Paul and Barnabas to be gods, the priest of
         Zeus sought to offer sacrifices to them
      4. Tearing their clothes, Barnabas and Paul proclaim themselves to
         be men who preach the one true living God and scarcely restrain
         the people from sacrificing to them
      5. Jews arrive from Antioch and Iconium and persuade the multitude
         to stone Paul
      6. Presumed dead, Paul is dragged outside the city where later as
         he is surrounded by disciples he revives and returns to the
         city
      7. The next day Paul and Barnabas depart to Derbe where they
         preach the gospel and make many disciples before beginning
         their return trip through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch

II. CONFIRMING DISCIPLES AND APPOINTING ELDERS (22-23)

   A. STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLES (22)
      1. Paul and Barnabas exhort them to continue in the faith
      2. They warn them:  "We must through many tribulations enter the
         kingdom of God."

   B. APPOINTING ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH (23)
      1. Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in every church with prayer
         and fasting
      2. They commend them to the Lord in whom they believed

III. RETURN TO ANTIOCH OF SYRIA (24-28)

   A. THE JOURNEY HOME (24-26)
      1. Passing through Pisidia, they come to Pamphylia
      2. After preaching in Perga, they go down to Attalia
      3. From there they sail to Antioch of Syria, from which they had
         been commended to the grace of God for the work accomplished on
         their journey

   B. THEIR REPORT AND STAY AT ANTIOCH (27-28)
      1. Paul and Barnabas report to the church all that God had done
         with them, and how He opened a door of faith to the Gentiles
      2. They stay a long time in Antioch with the disciples

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Preaching in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (1-21)
   - Confirming disciples and appointing elders (22-23)
   - Return to Antioch of Syria (24-28)

2) Upon their arrival in Iconium, what did Paul and Barnabas first do?
   (1)
   - They spoke at the Jewish synagogue, producing faith in many Jews
     and Greeks

3) What did the unbelieving Jews do in response? (2)
   - They stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against them

4) What did Paul and Barnabas do?  Who was with them and how? (3)
   - Stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord
   - The Lord, who bore witness to His word by granting signs and
     wonders to be done by the apostles' hands

5) As the city became divided, what attempt was made against Paul and
   Barnabas? (4-5)
   - To stone them

6) How did they respond to such a threat? (6-7)
   - By fleeing to the cities of Lystra and Derbe, and preaching the
     gospel there

7) What miracle did Paul perform in Lystra? (8-10)
   - He healed a man crippled from birth

8) How did the people react?  What names did they give to Paul and
   Barnabas? (11-12)
   - They thought that gods had come in the likeness of men
   - Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes

9) Who attempted to lead the city in offering sacrifices to them? (13)
   - The priest of Zeus, whose temple was in the front of the city

10) How did Barnabas and Paul restrain the crowd from offering the
    sacrifices? (14-18)
   - By tearing their clothes and crying out to the multitude
   - By professing themselves to be but men, and encouraging them to
     turn to the living God

11) How did the apostles describe the true God? (15-17)
   - As the Creator of all things who bore witness of Himself through
     His blessings to mankind

12) Who then came to the city and persuaded the people to stone Paul?
    (19)
   - Jews from Antioch (Pisidia) and Iconium

13) After Paul revived from his stoning, where did he and Barnabas go?
    (20)
   - First back to Lystra, and then on to Derbe

14) What happened in Derbe?  When they left, where did they go? (21)
   - They preached the gospel and made many disciples
   - They retraced their steps, going back through Lystra, Iconium, and
     Antioch

15) What did they do as they made their way through such cities? (22-23)
   - Strengthened the brethren, exhorting them to continue despite
     persecutions
   - Appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting,
     commending them to God

16) Where they go after passing through Pisidia?  What did they do
    there? (24-25)
   - To Perga in Pamphylia, where they preached the gospel

17) From where did they then sail? (25-26)
   - Attalia

18) What is significant about Antioch of Syria? (26)
   - It was where they started and ended their missionary journey

19) What did Paul and Barnabas do upon their arrival? (27)
   - Gathered the church together and reported what God had done with
     them to open a door of faith among the Gentiles

20) How long did Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch of Syria? (28)
   - A long time
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