Berean Study Bible Paul and Barnabas at IconiumIconium was an important inland city in the Roman province of Galatia, located in present-day Turkey. Its Jewish population and established synagogue provided Paul and Barnabas with a natural setting to begin proclaiming Christ. 2Ti 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me… Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, They continued their practice of first presenting the gospel to the Jewish community, where the Scriptures were read and discussed. The synagogue also included Gentiles who respected Israel’s God and were open to hearing the message of the promised Messiah. Act 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,… where they spoke so well Their teaching clearly and persuasively presented Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Lord gave their words power, enabling listeners to understand and respond in faith. Act 17:2-3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. Many from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds received the gospel and trusted in Christ. The growing church at Iconium showed that salvation was being extended to all who believed. Act 17:4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas… But the unbelieving Jews In Iconium, some Jews rejected the gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas. Their opposition continued the pattern of resistance that had begun in other cities during the missionary journey. Jhn 12:37-40 Although Jesus had performed so many signs… stirred up the Gentiles These opponents worked to turn the city’s Gentile population against the missionaries and the new believers. Jewish influence in the synagogue and wider community could shape public opinion and provoke hostility. Act 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women… and poisoned their minds False reports and hostile accusations created distrust toward Paul, Barnabas, and those who believed their message. The opposition was deliberate, seeking to prevent the gospel from taking root in the city. 2Co 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived… against the brothers. The brothers were the believers who had received the gospel, including both Jews and Gentiles. Though division and persecution arose, the growing church in Iconium remained identified as one family in Christ. 1Th 2:14-15 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God… So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, Paul and Barnabas remained in Iconium long enough to instruct and strengthen those who had believed. Iconium was an important city in southern Galatia, in present-day Turkey, and their extended ministry helped establish the church amid growing opposition. Act 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word… speaking boldly for the Lord, They continued publicly proclaiming Jesus despite resistance from unbelieving Jews and the possibility of violence. Their confidence rested in the Lord who had sent them, rather than in human approval or safety. Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly… who affirmed the message of His grace The gospel announced God’s gracious salvation through faith in Christ, apart from works of the law. The Lord confirmed that this was His message and upheld the apostles as His witnesses. Act 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me… by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. God worked miracles through Paul and Barnabas to demonstrate His power and to authenticate their proclamation. These signs gave visible testimony that the gospel they preached came from God. Rom 15:18-19 I will not presume to speak of anything except… The people of the city were divided. In Iconium, the preaching of Christ produced a clear division between those who believed and those who rejected the message. The gospel challenged established religious loyalties and exposed differing responses to Jesus as the Messiah. Jhn 7:43 So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. Some sided with the Jews, Jewish opponents, likely including influential leaders of the synagogue community, resisted Paul and Barnabas and sought to turn the city against them. Their opposition reflected a refusal to accept the apostles’ proclamation that salvation had come through Christ. Act 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women… and others with the apostles. Many Jews and Gentiles believed the message and identified themselves with Paul and Barnabas. Their response showed the continuing spread of the gospel beyond its Jewish setting and the formation of a new community centered on faith in Christ. Act 2:41 Those who embraced his message were baptized… But when the Gentiles and Jews, “But when the Gentiles and Jews” highlights that longstanding cultural and religious divisions did not prevent both groups in Iconium from uniting against Paul and Barnabas. Their preaching provoked opposition from those who rejected the gospel and saw it as a threat to established beliefs and public order. Act 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate… together with their rulers, The phrase “together with their rulers” shows that local authorities became involved, giving the opposition official force and increasing the danger to the missionaries. Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand… set out to mistreat and stone them, The planned violence demonstrated the depth of hostility. Stoning, a punishment associated with religious offenses, revealed a determination to silence the apostles through public abuse and death. Act 7:58-59 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.… they found out about it Paul and Barnabas learned of a coordinated plan by Jews and Gentiles in Iconium to mistreat and stone them. Their awareness allowed them to leave before the plot was carried out and continue the work entrusted to them. Act 23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot,… and fled to the Lycaonian cities Their departure was a prudent response to imminent danger, not an abandonment of their ministry. Lycaonia lay in the interior of Asia Minor and included communities less influenced by Greek culture than many larger cities of the region. Mat 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.… of Lystra and Derbe These cities lay within the Roman province of Galatia. At Lystra, Paul would heal a man crippled from birth, while Derbe would become a fruitful place for preaching and making disciples. Timothy, later Paul’s coworker, was from Lystra. Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found… and to the surrounding region, Paul and Barnabas also carried the gospel into the smaller towns and rural districts around these cities, extending their ministry beyond major population centers. Mrk 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly… where they Paul and Barnabas went into Lycaonia after opposition in Iconium made further ministry there dangerous. They entered the Gentile cities of Lystra and Derbe during their first missionary journey. Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly… continued They did not abandon their work because of threats or persecution but carried the message into new areas. Act 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch,… to preach Their ministry centered on publicly proclaiming Jesus Christ, calling hearers to turn from idols and believe in the living God. 1Co 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach… the gospel. They announced the good news of salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection, extending God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life to Gentiles as well as Jews. Mrk 1:14-15 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee…
The Visit to Lystra and DerbePaul and Barnabas had come to this Roman colony in Lycaonia during their first missionary journey. Its largely Gentile population provided a setting for the gospel to be proclaimed beyond the Jewish communities where Paul often began his ministry. Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found… there sat a man crippled in his feet, The man’s condition left him dependent on others and unable to support himself in a society with few provisions for the disabled. 2Sa 4:4 And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame… who was lame from birth His disability was lifelong, leaving no question that he had never possessed the ability to walk. Act 3:2 And a man who was lame from birth was being carried… and had never walked. The completeness of his condition made his later healing an unmistakable work of God, displaying the restoring power promised in the coming of the Messiah. Act 3:8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went… This man was listening to the words of Paul, A man crippled from birth was among the crowd in Lystra as Paul proclaimed the gospel. Though Lystra was largely Gentile and pagan, the message of Christ was reaching those who had not been raised in Israel’s Scriptures. Act 16:14 Among those listening was a woman named Lydia,… who looked intently at him Paul fixed his attention on the man and recognized that he was responding to the message with genuine faith. Act 3:4 Peter looked directly at him, as did John.… and saw that he had faith to be healed. The man’s faith was evident in his readiness to trust God’s power. Paul’s healing of him would publicly confirm the gospel he preached and the authority Christ had given His apostles. Mrk 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,… In a loud voice Paul called out, Paul addressed the man publicly so that the crowd could witness both the command and its result. His forceful call reflected confidence that God would heal through the name and power of Jesus Christ. Jhn 11:43 After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice… “Stand up on your feet!” Paul commanded the man to do what he had never been able to do. The command required an immediate response of faith and marked a complete reversal of his lifelong disability. Jhn 5:8 Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” And the man jumped up The man’s instant movement showed that he had received full strength in his feet and legs. His response was not gradual recovery but visible, joyful restoration. Act 3:8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went… and began to walk. The healing was undeniable to those present in Lystra. The man who had been lame from birth could now stand, leap, and walk, confirming the truth of Paul’s message and the power of the risen Christ. Mrk 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat… When the crowds saw what Paul had done, When the crowds saw Paul heal a man lame from birth, they recognized the miracle but interpreted it according to their pagan beliefs rather than as evidence of God’s power at work through Paul. Act 3:10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging… they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: Their sudden outcry in the local tongue likely prevented Paul and Barnabas from immediately understanding what the crowd intended. Act 2:6 And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together… “The gods have come down to us in human form!” The people assumed Barnabas and Paul were gods visiting their city, reflecting the widespread influence of Greek and Roman mythology in the region. Act 28:6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up… Barnabas they called Zeus, The people of Lystra interpreted the healing of the lame man according to their pagan beliefs. Zeus was regarded as the supreme god, and Barnabas was apparently seen as the more imposing figure of the two. Act 12:22 And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god,… and Paul they called Hermes, Hermes was believed to be the spokesman and messenger of Zeus. Since Paul addressed the crowd and proclaimed the message, they identified him with Hermes. Exo 4:16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman… because he was the chief speaker. Paul took the leading role in preaching, while Barnabas served alongside him in the missionary work. The crowd’s response showed that they had mistaken God’s power at work through the apostles for the appearance of their own gods. Act 17:2-3 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue… The priest of Zeus, Zeus was widely worshiped in Lystra, and his priest represented the city’s established pagan religion. His involvement gave official religious weight to the response of the people after the healing of the lame man. 2Ki 23:5 Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests… whose temple was just outside the city, The temple stood near Lystra as a recognized center of worship, likely serving both the city and surrounding countryside. Its location made it accessible for public processions and sacrifices. Heb 13:12-13 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate… brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, Bulls were fitting offerings for Zeus, whom the people believed had appeared with Barnabas and Paul. The wreaths were prepared for the sacrificial ceremony, either to adorn the animals or those taking part in the ritual. Bringing them to the gates placed the event before the gathered population. 1Ki 18:23-24 Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose… hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. The priest and the people intended to worship Barnabas and Paul as gods. Their response showed that they had interpreted the miracle through their pagan beliefs rather than recognizing the power of the living God. Exo 32:5-8 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf… But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, Barnabas and Paul recognized that the people of Lystra were preparing to honor them as gods after the healing of a lame man. Though sent out by the church as apostles and missionaries, they understood that such worship belonged to God alone. Act 10:25-26 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him… they tore their clothes In horror at the idolatry being directed toward them, they publicly expressed grief and outrage. Their response made clear that they rejected any claim to divine status. 2Ki 19:1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes… and rushed into the crowd, They acted immediately, entering the gathering despite the confusion and danger, determined to stop the sacrifices before they were offered. Num 16:47 So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered… shouting, They urgently called the people away from their false worship and toward the living God, refusing to allow the miracle to become an occasion for idolatry. Act 21:36 For the crowd that followed him kept shouting… “Men, why are you doing this? Paul and Barnabas confronted the people of Lystra after they tried to sacrifice to them as gods following the healing of a lame man. The apostles refused honor that belonged only to God. Rev 22:9 But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant… We too are only men, human like you. Though God had worked powerfully through them, they were servants, not divine beings. Act 10:26 But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said,… We are bringing you good news Their purpose was to proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ, not to gain followers for themselves. Rom 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?… that you should turn from these worthless things The people were called to abandon idols and pagan worship, which could neither create, save, nor give life. 1Th 1:9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us,… to the living God, Unlike the false gods of the nations, the true God is active, sovereign, and worthy of worship. Dan 6:26 I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom,… who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. The God Paul proclaimed is the Creator of all things and therefore stands above every human being, idol, and power worshiped in the pagan world. Psa 146:6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea… In past generations, God set Israel apart to receive His covenant and Law while the Gentile nations remained outside that covenant administration. He did not immediately judge every people according to their idolatry and rebellion, but endured their ignorance and sin. Act 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times,… He let all nations God permitted the nations to follow the desires of their own hearts rather than giving them the Law and prophets entrusted to Israel. Their separation from God’s revealed commands led them into false worship and moral corruption. Psa 81:12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts… go their own way. Though the nations rejected the true God, He did not leave Himself without witness in creation and providence. The gospel now announces to all peoples the salvation fulfilled in Christ. Isa 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned… Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: Though the nations had long pursued false gods, the living God had continued to make His character known through the world He created and sustained. His kindness toward all people showed that He was neither distant nor indifferent. Psa 19:1-4 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare…… He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, In a farming society, rain and harvest determined whether communities survived. Paul points to these regular blessings as evidence that the Creator rules over nature, rather than the local deities worshiped by the people of Lystra. Deu 11:14 then I will provide rain for your land in season,… filling your hearts with food and gladness.” God’s provision supplied both physical need and the joy that accompanied abundance, meals, and harvest celebrations. Even those who did not know Him still lived under the benefits of His sustaining goodness. Psa 104:14-15 He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops… Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas had urged the people of Lystra to turn from worthless idols to the living Creator. Yet the healing of a man lame from birth had stirred the crowd to treat the apostles as gods. Jer 44:16-17 As for the word you have spoken to us in the name… Paul and Barnabas Paul and Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” were missionaries sent from the church at Antioch to proclaim the gospel among the Gentiles. At Lystra, Barnabas was called Zeus, while Paul, as the main speaker, was called Hermes. Act 10:25-26 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him… could hardly stop the crowds The people’s response reflected the strong influence of local pagan worship and their belief that gods could appear in human form. Even the apostles’ grief and urgent protests were barely enough to restrain them. Act 19:28-34 When the men heard this, they were enraged… from sacrificing to them. The priest of Zeus had already prepared bulls and garlands for a public sacrifice. Paul and Barnabas firmly rejected such honor, directing the people away from human worship and toward God alone. Deu 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to newly arrived gods… Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium Opponents from cities where Paul had previously preached followed him to Lystra, showing the determined resistance stirred by his ministry. 2Ti 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me… and won over the crowds. The same people who had marveled at Paul’s healing and sought to honor him now turned against him under hostile influence. Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds… They stoned Paul Treating him as a blasphemer and a danger to their religious order, they carried out a violent punishment intended to kill him. 2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned… and dragged him outside the city, Believing the execution complete, they removed his body from Lystra. Heb 13:12-13 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate… presuming he was dead. Paul survived an attack severe enough to convince his enemies that he had died, continuing the pattern of suffering he endured for proclaiming Christ. Mrk 5:39-42 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion…”… But after the disciples had gathered around him, Paul’s fellow believers remained with him after the hostile crowd had stoned him and dragged him outside Lystra, assuming he was dead. Their presence showed loyalty and concern in a dangerous setting. Act 20:10-12 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man,… he got up Though severely injured, Paul rose and continued his work. His survival testified to God’s preserving care amid violent opposition. Luk 8:55 Her spirit returned, and at once she got up.… and went back into the city. Rather than fleeing immediately, Paul returned to Lystra, where he had been attacked. His action strengthened the disciples and demonstrated that persecution would not end the mission. Act 9:26-27 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join… And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. Paul and Barnabas continued east to Derbe, another city of Lycaonia. There they would preach the gospel, make disciples, and extend the church’s witness into new territory. Act 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found…
Strengthening the DisciplesDerbe, a Lycaonian city in Asia Minor, received Paul and Barnabas after the violent opposition they faced in Lystra. Their work centered on proclaiming Jesus Christ and calling people to faith in Him. Luk 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village… and made many disciples. Many in Derbe believed, forming a body of new believers who needed instruction and encouragement in the faith. Jhn 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware… Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, Rather than taking an easier route home, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through cities where opposition had been fierce. Paul had been stoned in Lystra, and both men had faced resistance in Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia. Their return showed their concern for the churches they had established and their commitment to strengthen the disciples before departing. Act 15:36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back… strengthening the souls of the disciples Paul and Barnabas returned to the churches they had recently planted, helping new believers stand firm amid persecution and opposition. Their ministry addressed the whole inner life, grounding disciples in the truth they had received and preparing them for continued faithfulness. Act 18:23 After Paul had spent some time in Antioch,… and encouraging them to continue in the faith. The churches needed ongoing instruction and reassurance because following Christ often brought rejection from neighbors, local authorities, and former religious communities. Paul and Barnabas urged them not to abandon the gospel when difficulties came. Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm… “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Entrance into God’s kingdom involves suffering in the present age because the world remains opposed to Christ and His people. The apostles did not promise an easy path, but affirmed that affliction would not prevent God’s purposes or the future fulfillment of His kingdom. 2Th 1:4-5 That is why we boast among God’s churches… Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, As the new congregations matured, Paul and Barnabas established local leadership to guide, teach, and care for the believers. These elders provided stability after the missionaries departed and helped preserve the churches in the faith they had received. Tit 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would… praying and fasting The appointment of leaders was undertaken with solemn dependence on God. Prayer and fasting expressed the need for His direction as these churches faced opposition, false teaching, and the demands of life in a pagan world. Act 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,… as they entrusted them to the Lord, Paul and Barnabas placed both the elders and the congregations under Christ’s care. Though the apostles had planted the churches, the Lord Himself would sustain, protect, and direct them. Act 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace,… in whom they had believed. The churches belonged to those who had trusted in the risen Lord Jesus. Their continuing strength rested not in the presence of Paul and Barnabas, but in the Savior whom they had received by faith. Act 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus”… After passing through Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas traveled south through the rugged highlands of Asia Minor after strengthening the churches they had established. The route required endurance and placed them again among regions where opposition to their message had been strong. Act 13:14 And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch… they came to Pamphylia. Reaching the coastal plain brought them back toward the ports from which they could return to Syrian Antioch. Pamphylia had been part of their earlier journey, and their arrival marked the closing stage of their first missionary mission. Act 13:13 After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions… And when they had spoken the word in Perga, Paul and Barnabas preached in Perga on their return through Pamphylia. Although they had earlier passed through the city, Scripture does not record ministry there during their first visit. Perga was an important inland city near the coast, and their return provided opportunity to establish the gospel among its people before continuing homeward. Act 13:5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the… they went down to Attalia. From Perga they traveled southwest to Attalia, the chief port of Pamphylia, on the Mediterranean coast. There they could obtain passage by sea to Antioch in Syria, the church that had sent them out. Their arrival at Attalia marked the final stage of a journey in which they had preached, strengthened new believers, and helped establish churches throughout the regions they visited. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… From Attalia Paul and Barnabas departed from the Pamphylian port of Attalia, likely using the established sea routes that connected Asia Minor with Syria. Act 13:13 After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions… they sailed to Antioch, They returned to Antioch in Syria, the church that had sent them out and supported their ministry among both Jews and Gentiles. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… where they had been commended to the grace of God Before their departure, the believers in Antioch had entrusted them to God’s care for the mission ahead. Act 13:43 After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews… for the work they had just completed. Their first missionary journey had included preaching Christ, making disciples, appointing elders in new churches, and enduring opposition as the gospel spread through Cyprus and southern Galatia. Jhn 17:4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing… When they arrived, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria after completing their first missionary journey through regions including Galatia. From Antioch, the church had commissioned them for this work. Act 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up… they gathered the church together The believers assembled to hear what had taken place during the mission. The report connected the missionaries’ work with the congregation that had sent them. Act 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together… and reported all that God had done through them, Paul and Barnabas gave God the credit for the churches established, disciples strengthened, and opposition endured. Their ministry had been carried out by His power and direction. Act 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened… and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Gentiles had received the gospel and believed without first becoming Jews. Their inclusion confirmed that salvation through Christ was being extended to all nations. Act 15:7-9 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them… And they spent a long time there After completing their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch of Syria, the church that had sent them out. Their extended stay followed their report of God’s work among the Gentiles and provided time for rest, instruction, and the strengthening of the congregation. Antioch continued to serve as an important center for missionary outreach and church leadership. Act 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word… with the disciples. The believers in Antioch included both Jews and Gentiles who had come to faith in Christ. Paul and Barnabas helped establish them in sound teaching and encouraged their continued growth as a unified church. Their fellowship also prepared the congregation for the questions and disputes that would soon arise concerning Gentile believers and the Mosaic law. Act 9:19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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