The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, and “there came there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and Barnabas, “returned again to Lystra”, where we read:
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many,
they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
The verse begins, “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had preached the gospel” which means “and after the time and moment Paul and Barnabas heralded, declared and proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ” “to that city” or “to the people in the dwelling place or town of Derbe”, “and had taught many” which means “and brought glad tidings and gave instruction concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation” they did the following. Luke shared how “Paul and Barnabas” “proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ” to the people in “Derbe” and instructed them in the things that pertain to “Christianity”.
The verse continues, “... they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,” Luke added the words, “they returned again” or “Paul and Barnabas went back another time” “to Lystra” which means “to the city of Lystra whose name means ransoming which was the city in the eastern part of the great plain of Lycaonia”, “and to Iconium” or “and to the town whose name means little image and was a famous city of Asia Minor which was the capital of Lycaonia” “and Antioch” which means “and the city in Pisidia on the borders Phrygia that was founded by Seleucus Nicanor whose name means driven against”. Luke shared how “Paul and Barnabas” went back to the cities of “Lystra, Iconium and Antioch” after they shared the “gospel” with the people in “Derbe”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul and Barnabas” went back to “Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia” after they proclaimed the “gospel” and taught principles of Christianity to the people in “Derbe”. At this point, for those who are paying attention, our minds may be blown. These towns were the dwelling places of the people who “stoned” “Paul”, and he was returning to them. This tenacity and discipline can only come when a person has totally surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. God saved “Paul” from his sins and used him mightily to share His “gospel” with cities even when they “stoned” him for doing so. God desires to have an intimate loving relationship with everyone who will yield their life to His Son Jesus, and those who are wise surrender to Him and become willing servants in His Kingdom.
Next time Luke shares how Paul and Barnabas were, “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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