chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their 51 coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet 52 against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. CHAPTER XIV. 'Α (b) Iconium (xiv. 1-7). ND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the 3 brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders 4 to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided and part held with the Jews, 5 and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, 6 and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and 7 unto the region that lieth round about: they preached the gospel. V. LYCAONIA GALATICA (xiv. 8-20). (a) Lystra (8-19). And there The chief incident is the healing of the lame man, which leads to the attempt to worship the Apostles, and gives occasion for Paul's speech. Paul's speech. Subject: The Living God, the Creator. i. The Apostle, His messengers, to turn men from vain idols (15). ii. The past ignorance of the Gentiles allowed by God (16). iii. Yet Nature was his witness in her succession of seasons (17). The speech is just such an one as a missionary to the really heathen would use to-day; it is a brief statement of Natural Religion. 8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, 9 who never had walked : The same heard Paul speak who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving IO that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped II and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to 12 us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because 13 he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done 14 sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, 15 and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and 16 the sea, and all things that are therein : Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own 17 ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with 18 food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done 9. R.V., Fastening his eyes (see iii. 4). R.V., Faith to be made whole. Compare the importance attached to such faith by our Lord (Mark x. 52). II. The speech of Lycaonia. The Apostles did not understand this local dialect (see ver. 14). 12. Jupiter Greek Zeus Mercury. Barnabas was so called because he was the more silent and passive." Paul, as the man delivering the message of God, is called Hermes. 13. R.V., And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city. (For the text, see Larger Manual.) 14. R.V., And sprang forth among the multitude. 15. Like passions. R.V., margin Like nature. Preach unto you. R.V., Bring you good tidings. Vanities. R.V., Vain things. 16. R.V., Who in the generations gone by. 17. R.V., Gave you from heaven rains. 19 sacrifice unto 20 21 24 them. And there came thither 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. (b) Derbe (20). 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. VI. THE RETURN JOURNEY (Xiv. 21–28). (a) Organisation of the new communities; appointment of the elders (21-23). And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again 22 to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (b) Evangelisation of Pisidia and Pamphylia (24-26). And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, 25 they came to Pamphylia. And when they had 19. Drew him. R.V., Dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. St. Luke's simplicity here is an evident mark of truth. He says just the fact about St. Paul's sufferings. There is no suggestion of anything miraculous in Paul's recovery. St. Paul was stunned, so there is no difficulty in his recovering sufficiently to go to Derbe in the morning. 20. Derbe. The journey would take them some hours. 21. Taught many. R.V., Made many disciples. 22. Confirming the souls of the disciples. The return journey was devoted to building up the newly-formed communities; the appointment of elders was an important part of this work. The Faith. The expression suggests systematic teaching of the Gospel. R.V., Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Again we are reminded of the teaching of Jesus (John xv. 20; and xvi. 33). The expression "" kingdom of God is St. Luke's phrase (also St. Mark's); but St. Matthew uses kingdom of heaven, or of the heavens." As applied to the future life in the next world it is completely Pauline (comp. I Cor. xv. 50, and especially Gal. v. 21). Some writers call attention to the " we as suggestive of St. Luke's presence; but this is not necessary to the sense. 23. Ordained them elders. R.V., Appointed for them elders. 24. R.V., And they passed through Pisidia. This means they made a missionary tour straight on now to the coast, thus evangelising the parts they had omitted on the way preached the word in Perga, they went down into 26 Attalia : And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 (c) The report of the work to the church at Syrian Antioch (27-28). And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door 28 of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples. (b) THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM (THE QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION AND THE LAW OF MOSES). (xv. I-35.) (i) At Antioch. Certain men came down from Judæa and said the Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. It was decided to send the Apostles to the mother Church at Jerusalem, where the Council is held. (ii) Reception of the Apostles at Jerusalem (vers. 4, 5). Paul and Barnabas were cordially received by the Church; but the party of the Pharisees (ver. 5) made a formal statement : It is needful to circumcise them (i.e., the Gentiles), and to charge them to keep the law of Moses." The matter then goes before a Council of the Apostles and elders. (iii) The Council. (a) Ver. 7 implies that the opponents open the proceedings with their objections to the departure from the customs. This was followed by discussion. " (b) Peter then delivers his speech showing how the question had really been settled in the case of Cornelius; God had made no distinction between them"; faith was the necessary thing (7-11). (c) Barnabas and Paul make their defence; they showed "what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them (12). (d) James, as president, sums up the matter, and appeals to O.T. prophecy; he quotes the words of the prophet Amos (ix. II, 12) to show the Divine intention to call the Gentiles to share the blessings of the restored Israel. Finally 26. They sailed to Antioch. Cyprus is left, probably because they found a boat going direct to Antioch; and they intended to go there afterwards (xv. 36 ff.). Been recommended. R.V., Committed to. 27. The Apostles give the Church an official account of the work done. R.V., That he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. A Pauline ex pression; I Cor. xvi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12. 28. Time (comp. xiv. 3) he puts forward a draft resolution which the Council adopts ; viz.: i. No circumcision to be required. ii. Pollutions of idols to be avoided. iv. Things strangled to be avoided. (iv) The Letter. The draft of James is now adopted and put into official language, and is sent by the hand of special delegates, Judas called Barsabas, and Silas. It consists of: (a) The official greeting. (b) The disowning of the disturbers at Antioch. (c) A high commendation of Barnabas and Paul, Our beloved. men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (d) The decision of the brethren, which is attributed to the Holy Ghost; "it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us." " (v) Reception at Antioch (30-34). At Antioch a great assembly was called to receive the decision of the Church; and it caused great joy because of the consolation." Judas and Silas exhort the brethren with many words and then Judas is dismissed “in peace but Silas chooses to remain. CHAPTER XV. 'Α ND certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye 2 cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great 4 joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things 5 that God had done with them. But there rose up 1. The manner of Moses. R.V., The custom of Moses. 2. Dissension and disputation. R.V., Dissension and questioning. 3 R.V., Passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria (compare xiii. 6.) They carried on their work on the way. Caused great joy. St. Luke makes us feel all through the chapter that the brethren as a whole were on Apostles' side. the 5. The sect of the Pharisees. From all we know of the Pharisaic party in the Gospels this is what we should expect. They had |