Acts 14 Commentary
Opposition to the work of the Spirit is like a huge dragon whose peace the gospel disturbs. The messengers of the gospel must flee from the incensed dragon. The human solution is simple: kill the dragon and carry on with the gospel. But this solution has a problem: The gospel is meant for the dragon. We are all dragons until we are saved. Paul was at one point a vicious dragon until Jesus met him.
We fully understand the reaction of ‘dragons’ in the city of Iconium. At the same time, we are also delighted that many ‘dragons’ receive their healing and are now part of Jesus’ flock.
The healing of the lame man in Lystra reveals an interesting picture. The miracle so mesmerizes the people that Barnabas becomes Zeus [chief of the Greek gods], and Paul becomes Hermas [messenger of the Greek gods]. Ask the apostles; they probably regret this miracle. They attempt to correct the misunderstanding but they achieve very little success. Are there times when a miracle becomes a hindrance to the work of the Spirit?
The healing of the lame man leads the people to Zeus and not Jesus.
It is worse than this. The apostles must now fight against coronation. You are not a god to anyone. It is one fight every believer must fight and win. It is a tricky battle because it is born out of an act of godliness. You need the searching eyes of the Spirit to see it. You become Zeus when you accept glory for a good you have performed on behalf of the Spirit.
These are fully grown men who bring real animals and other objects of worship! You learn one thing: they don’t know the identity of their own god.
Probably they do. A god must do what the apostles have just done. Their long search for God comes to an end here.
But there is a bigger picture. God is the creator of the heavens, the seas, and the earth, and everything in them. There are bigger miracles for His creation: rain, crop, and general well-being. The people must know this God. Paul and Barnabas are simply His human messengers.
Paganism is what it is: pagan, thoughtless, ruthless, and immoral. The same people stone “their gods” Paul and Barnabas. Unlike Stephen whose murder Paul witnessed, the LORD won’t allow Paul to die just now. He survives the stoning.
Verse 23. Prayer and fasting are still important. Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted. They needed to seek the face of the LORD during the process of appointing leaders for the churches they had planted. If you feel your project is truly important, you want to commit it to the LORD in a serious way.
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