They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
Paul and Barnabas became aware through friends of a plot at Iconium to kill them by stoning, and they left the city secretly for safety to preserve life rather than uselessly expose themselves to fury. Their flight was to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding country of Lycaonia, where they continued their work instead of abandoning it. The trouble had grown from success in the synagogue where many Jews and Greeks believed, until envious unbelieving Jews stirred an ignorant mob and misrepresented the apostles to the authorities as dangerous to the city. Their departure was only temporary, leaving believers to stand while the excitement passed, with purpose to return and finish the work begun. In Lycaonia they hoped to escape Jewish prejudice, but met an entirely new element of heathen superstition and idolatry in which there were still souls who would accept Christ, and amid opposition converts were daily added. In this they enlarged their circle of influence wherever entrance could be gained, which is the pattern for workers now to set no boundaries to labor but ever advance until truth extends to all parts of the globe.
Flight from Iconium
The flight describes the close of the work at Iconium, where preaching first in the synagogue had led many Jews and Greeks to accept the gospel, while unbelieving Jews opposed and stirred the Gentiles against the apostles. The growing popularity of the new doctrine stirred those unbelieving Jews to fresh opposition from envy and hatred and a determination to stop the apostles at once, and they were enraged that opposition only added numbers to the new faith.
They stirred the worst passions of an ignorant mob and raised a tumult that was blamed on the apostles. They misrepresented the work to the authorities in false and exaggerated terms, claiming the whole city was in danger of insurrection and that great numbers were joining the apostles for secret and dangerous designs, in order to gain the magistrates and deny the apostles any chance to vindicate themselves. The disciples were repeatedly brought before the authorities, but defended themselves so ably, with clear, sensible, calm and comprehensive answers, that although the magistrates were prejudiced by the false statements they dared not condemn them and could only acknowledge that the teaching made men virtuous, law-abiding citizens. Unprejudiced Jews and Greeks held that the morals and good order of the city would improve if the apostles were allowed to remain and work, and these defenses gave the doctrine great publicity before a much larger number of unprejudiced hearers than ever before in that place.
Having learned through friends, though unbelievers, of a plot by the Jews with a mob to kill them by stoning, Paul and Barnabas became aware of the danger. They left Iconium secretly for safety, refusing uselessly to expose themselves to this fury in order to preserve life. Their departure was not a final abandonment of Iconium but temporary, leaving the faithful and opposing parties to battle for themselves while trusting God to give victory to the doctrine of Christ and to sustain the gospel. They purposed to return after the excitement and unrest had abated to continue and finish the work they had begun.
Labor in Lycaonia
Driven by persecution from Iconium, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region and country, where they continued their work. They chose to labor there in the hope that they would not meet Jewish prejudice and persecution.
Lystra and Derbe were populated by a heathen, superstitious, idolatrous people, yet among them were souls who would hear and accept the doctrine of Christ. The move brought the apostles into contact with an entirely new element of heathen superstition and idolatry, distinct from Jewish bigotry and intolerance. This was part of meeting all grades of people and all kinds of faith and religions, including Jewish bigotry and intolerance, sorcery, blasphemy, unjust magistrates who loved to exercise power, false shepherds, superstition, and idolatry. Though persecution and opposition met them on every hand, victory crowned their efforts and converts were daily added to the faith.
Pattern for Workers Today
The flight to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region was an enlarging of the circle of influence, going to every place where an entrance could be gained to save souls to Jesus Christ. After working over a large territory the apostles visited the churches they had planted and then returned to Antioch, from which they had been sent out by prayer and counsel. This is the pattern for work now, with no boundaries set to limit labor, the church ever meditating advancement and educating workers for further conquests for Christ and ever moving on so that truth may extend to all parts of the globe. Those preparing to be laborers together with God in these last days must study the whole chapter, and will realize similar experiences.
The experience is an example of what happens to those who observe and teach the binding claims of God's law. Like the apostles at Iconium, opposition drives them to leave and continue their mission elsewhere, and they receive similar treatment. They often meet 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 have access to the people.
Paul and Barnabas became aware through friends of a plot at Iconium to kill them by stoning, and they left the city secretly for safety to preserve life rather than uselessly expose themselves to fury. Their flight was to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding country of Lycaonia, where they continued their work instead of abandoning it. The trouble had grown from success in the synagogue where many Jews and Greeks believed, until envious unbelieving Jews stirred an ignorant mob and misrepresented the apostles to the authorities as dangerous to the city. Their departure was only temporary, leaving believers to stand while the excitement passed, with purpose to return and finish the work begun. In Lycaonia they hoped to escape Jewish prejudice, but met an entirely new element of heathen superstition and idolatry in which there were still souls who would accept Christ, and amid opposition converts were daily added. In this they enlarged their circle of influence wherever entrance could be gained, which is the pattern for workers now to set no boundaries to labor but ever advance until truth extends to all parts of the globe.
Flight from Iconium
The flight describes the close of the work at Iconium, where preaching first in the synagogue had led many Jews and Greeks to accept the gospel, while unbelieving Jews opposed and stirred the Gentiles against the apostles. The growing popularity of the new doctrine stirred those unbelieving Jews to fresh opposition from envy and hatred and a determination to stop the apostles at once, and they were enraged that opposition only added numbers to the new faith.
They stirred the worst passions of an ignorant mob and raised a tumult that was blamed on the apostles. They misrepresented the work to the authorities in false and exaggerated terms, claiming the whole city was in danger of insurrection and that great numbers were joining the apostles for secret and dangerous designs, in order to gain the magistrates and deny the apostles any chance to vindicate themselves. The disciples were repeatedly brought before the authorities, but defended themselves so ably, with clear, sensible, calm and comprehensive answers, that although the magistrates were prejudiced by the false statements they dared not condemn them and could only acknowledge that the teaching made men virtuous, law-abiding citizens. Unprejudiced Jews and Greeks held that the morals and good order of the city would improve if the apostles were allowed to remain and work, and these defenses gave the doctrine great publicity before a much larger number of unprejudiced hearers than ever before in that place.
Having learned through friends, though unbelievers, of a plot by the Jews with a mob to kill them by stoning, Paul and Barnabas became aware of the danger. They left Iconium secretly for safety, refusing uselessly to expose themselves to this fury in order to preserve life. Their departure was not a final abandonment of Iconium but temporary, leaving the faithful and opposing parties to battle for themselves while trusting God to give victory to the doctrine of Christ and to sustain the gospel. They purposed to return after the excitement and unrest had abated to continue and finish the work they had begun.
Labor in Lycaonia
Driven by persecution from Iconium, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region and country, where they continued their work. They chose to labor there in the hope that they would not meet Jewish prejudice and persecution.
Lystra and Derbe were populated by a heathen, superstitious, idolatrous people, yet among them were souls who would hear and accept the doctrine of Christ. The move brought the apostles into contact with an entirely new element of heathen superstition and idolatry, distinct from Jewish bigotry and intolerance. This was part of meeting all grades of people and all kinds of faith and religions, including Jewish bigotry and intolerance, sorcery, blasphemy, unjust magistrates who loved to exercise power, false shepherds, superstition, and idolatry. Though persecution and opposition met them on every hand, victory crowned their efforts and converts were daily added to the faith.
Pattern for Workers Today
The flight to Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region was an enlarging of the circle of influence, going to every place where an entrance could be gained to save souls to Jesus Christ. After working over a large territory the apostles visited the churches they had planted and then returned to Antioch, from which they had been sent out by prayer and counsel. This is the pattern for work now, with no boundaries set to limit labor, the church ever meditating advancement and educating workers for further conquests for Christ and ever moving on so that truth may extend to all parts of the globe. Those preparing to be laborers together with God in these last days must study the whole chapter, and will realize similar experiences.
The experience is an example of what happens to those who observe and teach the binding claims of God's law. Like the apostles at Iconium, opposition drives them to leave and continue their mission elsewhere, and they receive similar treatment. They often meet 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 have access to the people.