Paul’s ministry at Iconium

Paul at Iconium    Acts 14:1-7

Having withdrawn from Antioch in the manner described in 13:51, Paul leads his company to the city of Iconium, about 100 miles SW of Antioch. This is the modern Turkish city of Konya which today is an important pilgrimage site for Moslems. Here they continue their ministry of the gospel with important successes.

I  THE CHARACTER OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN THIS CITY.

Cp v1-5.

It is said that they so spake as to see many brought to the faith. Again we have insight into the ministry that God uses to save sinners.

1. Speaking boldly in the Lord. They boldly—‘frankly, confidently’— proclaimed their message and spoke in the Lord. They spoke truly as men representing the Lord. Cp 2Cor 5:20. What an experience of God these men had as they spoke for Him.
2. The word of His grace. The theme of their preaching was the grace of God revealed in Scripture. Cp 20:32, Rom 3:24.
3. Witnessed to by Divine power. God works through such a ministry. Miracle signs and wonders were granted as the witness/seal of God on their preaching. These were the visible evidences of His work at this time. Though the temporal/physical signs and wonders have been withdrawn the gospel is still the means God uses to display His power in salvation. Cp Rom 1:16, 1Cor 1:18.
4. Long time. Ordinarily, it takes time to see this process produce believers. The Apostle must be prepared to ‘so speak’ for a long time to accomplish anything for God. The passage of time must not be allowed to become a pressure to adopt a different kind of ministry.

This is what produces believers, v1. Faith is the gift/work of God, 13:48. Yet this is the means that God uses to produce faith in the soul of man. Cp Rom 10:13-17. This is the model God has given for His servants to follow. We must adhere to it! Many were saved in this instance.

Such preaching also produces division, v4. Cp Matt 10:34-38, Luke 12:51, Jn 7:40-44, 1Cor 11:18-19.

1. The fault line was belief/unbelief, v2. Here is a line that crossed ethnic and cultural boundaries. This is the one issue that separates men.
2. The effect of unbelief on the mind, v2. These men became hostile and bitter because of the working of evil in their thinking. The absence of faith indicates the presence and working of evil.
3. An assault made, v5. This was a very definite attack on their lives. The reference to stoning assumes a Jewish legal process that would involve a sentence of death by stoning. The inference is of a travesty of justice—a trumped up process leading to a predetermined end. The death threat was sufficient to cause the Apostles to move on to new cities. The division that the gospel produces may even prove fatal to the faithful servants of Christ.