But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Iconium was inhabited by Romans, Greeks, and Jews and was a resort for pleasure-seekers with no particular object in life, and the apostles began work there as at Antioch by laboring first in the synagogue for the Jews. Many Jews and Greeks accepted the gospel of Christ amid bold and successful preaching accompanied by signs, and converts multiplied.
The increasing popularity of the doctrine of Christ filled the unbelieving Jews with envy and hatred, and they began unreasonable opposition and stirred up and influenced the Gentiles against those who accepted the true faith. The multitude of the city was divided, with one part holding with the hostile and unbelieving Jews who opposed the apostles and the other part holding with and supporting the apostles. Opposition to the message divided the people, with some siding with the Jews who opposed them while others supported the apostles.
Determined to stop the apostles at once, the unbelieving Jews went to the authorities with false and exaggerated charges that great numbers joining the apostles pointed to secret and dangerous designs and that the city was in danger of being incited to insurrection. Those who held with the apostles were unprejudiced Jews and Greeks who took the position that the morals and good order of the city would be improved if the apostles were allowed to remain and work there. In consequence of the charges the apostles were repeatedly brought before the authorities and magistrates, but their defense was so able, clear, sensible, calm, and comprehensive that although the magistrates were prejudiced by the false statements they dared not condemn them and could only acknowledge that their teachings made men virtuous, law-abiding citizens.
The resistance did not stop the message but brought it wider attention, giving the doctrine great publicity before a much larger number of unprejudiced hearers than ever before in that place and adding people to the new faith. After their defenses had won support, their opponents later incited a mob and threatened them with stoning.
Acts 14, including this verse, is to be studied and mastered by those preparing to be laborers together with God because it gives the pattern for missionary work in these last days. Paul and Barnabas visited every place where they could get an entrance, had success in saving souls to Jesus Christ, and after working a large territory visited the churches they had planted and then returned to Antioch from which they had been sent out by prayer and counsel. In the same way the work is to be carried now, with the circle of influence ever enlarged, no boundaries set to labor, workers ever educated for further conquests for Christ, and truth extended to all parts of the globe.
The experience at Iconium is an example of the bitter opposition that people who teach God's law may face when ministers and others reject what they regard as God's light, using misrepresentation and falsehood to keep its messengers from reaching the people. Those who observe and teach the binding claims of God's law receive in a degree the same treatment the apostles received at Iconium, meeting bitter opposition from ministers and people who persistently refuse the light of God and who by misrepresentation and falsehood close every door by which the messenger of truth might gain access to the people.
Iconium was inhabited by Romans, Greeks, and Jews and was a resort for pleasure-seekers with no particular object in life, and the apostles began work there as at Antioch by laboring first in the synagogue for the Jews. Many Jews and Greeks accepted the gospel of Christ amid bold and successful preaching accompanied by signs, and converts multiplied.
The increasing popularity of the doctrine of Christ filled the unbelieving Jews with envy and hatred, and they began unreasonable opposition and stirred up and influenced the Gentiles against those who accepted the true faith. The multitude of the city was divided, with one part holding with the hostile and unbelieving Jews who opposed the apostles and the other part holding with and supporting the apostles. Opposition to the message divided the people, with some siding with the Jews who opposed them while others supported the apostles.
Determined to stop the apostles at once, the unbelieving Jews went to the authorities with false and exaggerated charges that great numbers joining the apostles pointed to secret and dangerous designs and that the city was in danger of being incited to insurrection. Those who held with the apostles were unprejudiced Jews and Greeks who took the position that the morals and good order of the city would be improved if the apostles were allowed to remain and work there. In consequence of the charges the apostles were repeatedly brought before the authorities and magistrates, but their defense was so able, clear, sensible, calm, and comprehensive that although the magistrates were prejudiced by the false statements they dared not condemn them and could only acknowledge that their teachings made men virtuous, law-abiding citizens.
The resistance did not stop the message but brought it wider attention, giving the doctrine great publicity before a much larger number of unprejudiced hearers than ever before in that place and adding people to the new faith. After their defenses had won support, their opponents later incited a mob and threatened them with stoning.
Acts 14, including this verse, is to be studied and mastered by those preparing to be laborers together with God because it gives the pattern for missionary work in these last days. Paul and Barnabas visited every place where they could get an entrance, had success in saving souls to Jesus Christ, and after working a large territory visited the churches they had planted and then returned to Antioch from which they had been sent out by prayer and counsel. In the same way the work is to be carried now, with the circle of influence ever enlarged, no boundaries set to labor, workers ever educated for further conquests for Christ, and truth extended to all parts of the globe.
The experience at Iconium is an example of the bitter opposition that people who teach God's law may face when ministers and others reject what they regard as God's light, using misrepresentation and falsehood to keep its messengers from reaching the people. Those who observe and teach the binding claims of God's law receive in a degree the same treatment the apostles received at Iconium, meeting bitter opposition from ministers and people who persistently refuse the light of God and who by misrepresentation and falsehood close every door by which the messenger of truth might gain access to the people.