From Perga in Pamphylia, Paul and Barnabas continued north to Antioch
in Pisidia. Day after day, these two missionaries traveled on foot
through a mountainous region, where very few people resided. Sometimes,
perhaps, they could find lodging with some shepherd, but more often,
they would sleep in caves or among the trees. But they had a message of
salvation in their hearts and so were happy. After about seven days of
wearisome and dangerous travel, they reached Antioch in Pisidia.
[Sidenote: In the Synagogue.]
When the Sabbath day came, as was their custom, the missionaries went
into the synagogue, and sat down in the congregation. After the leaders
had read the law and the prophets, they asked the visitors if they had
"any word of exhortation for the people." At this, Paul stood up and
delivered a most impressive sermon, so much so, that the people invited
Paul to speak again on the next Sabbath. Many who were present accepted
the Gospel. [1]
"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear
the word of God.
[Sidenote: Turn to Gentiles.]
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming." Their opposition and contradiction made the missionaries
only more earnest and emphatic. Finally, when it was apparent that the
Jews would not accept the truth, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said,
"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken
to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo we turn to the Gentiles." When the Gentiles heard
this announcement, they were delighted and many of them accepted the
principles of the Gospel.
[Sidenote: Jews Jealous.]
But the Jews were jealous; they became filled with envy and determined
to drive the missionaries "out of their coasts." This they did with the
aid of "the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city."
The persecution became so bitter that Paul and Barnabas "shook off the
dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium."
IN ICONIUM
[Sidenote: Again in Synagogue.]
Filled with the joy that comes from true service to one's fellowmen,
Paul and Barnabas began their preaching in Iconium. Entering the
synagogue here, as they had done in the city from which they had just
been driven, they spoke "boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony unto
the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by
their hands."
[Sidenote: Again Opposed.]
Jews and Greeks also rallied around the standard as unfurled by these
great missionaries; but Jews and Greeks also organized to oppose them.
The result was that the city was divided; "and part held with the Jews
and part with the Apostles."
Hearing that a plot was on foot to do them injury, and to stone them,
Paul and Barnabas withdrew from the city, and went to "Lystra and
Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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