Open Doors and Dividing Walls

Acts 14:1-28 | Josh Lane | Imagine being worshipped as a God and then chased down for murder all in the same day. Welcome to a day in the life of Paul the missionary. Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey together after having been driven out of Antioch and Pisidia. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they begin to “speak boldly” for the Lord (Luke 14:3) and a whole number of things happen. There is awe, amazement, and belief from both Jews and Gentiles in response to the word preached and the proof signs that the Lord worked through these men. However, in opposition to this there are Jews who begin to create division and stir up strife amongst those being preached to. On top of that, there are people who misinterpret the signs given by God through Paul and Barnabas, and they then begin to worship these men as gods! This is so shocking, appalling, and not the fruit they are seeking from their ministry. Not only could they not convince the crowds of the truth, more dissenters come and stir up enough hatred in the crowd that Paul is stoned nearly to death. What happened over the course of these days is jarring to the senses and may even strike fear in the hearts of the disciples.