Page 71 - Acts Student Textbook

face of such opposition. We need such boldness today. The apostles often demonstrated it and
prayed for it (cf. 4:29-31; Eph. 6:18-20; etc.).

What was the result of Paul and Barnabas’ preaching?

The result of the preaching of the word was division (14:4). Some people agreed with Paul and
Barnabas, but others agreed with the Jews who were disobedient. Division will always occur (as it
often did in Acts and in Jesus’ lifetime) when some people accept the truth and some don’t.

What did Paul and Barnabas do when opposition developed into persecution?

The preachers finally fled because of an attempt to stone them (14:5,6). Though the preachers had
been able to teach for some time in Iconium, the Jews and Gentiles were finally able, with the help of
their rulers, to make a violent assault on Paul and Barnabas. The plan was to attack and stone them.
Paul and Barnabas, however, learned of the attempt and fled.

How did Paul and Barnabas preach to this complete Pagan culture of Lystra? (14:8-20)

Lystra (14:8-20) and Derbe (14:21a): two cities of Galatic Lycaonia, S.E. of Pisidia
Note Barnabas = Zeus and Paul = Hermes (14:12). In the region of Lystra and Derbe, Paul and
Barnabas preached the gospel (14:7). Paul healed a lame man who had never walked (14:8-10). The
people attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas (14:11-13). Paul and Barnabas urge the people to
turn from idols and worship the true God (14:14, 15). Here Paul and Barnabas did not preach in the
same way they did in Pisidian Antioch in the synagogue. Here they did not preach the gospel from
the Old Testament. Instead they preached from General revelation because that is what the people
here were exposed to. They had no idea of the Bible. We call this kind of presentation as
contextualization of the gospel.

Return visit to the Galatian churches (14:21b-23). Return to the home church in Antioch (14:24-28).

How does the above information help us understand the book of Galatians?

It is based on this missionary journey that we can determine when, and who the recipients of the
book of Galatians were:

The book of Galatians might have been written before the Jerusalem council. This is believed so
because of few reasons: Firstly, in Galatia they had the problem of the presence of the Judaizers, if
the book was written after the Jerusalem council, Paul in his argument about salvation by grace
through faith alone, would have made reference to the council’s decision. Secondly, Peter was part
of the decision made at the Jerusalem council about salvation by grace through faith alone, if it was
after, Peter’s hypocritical actions in withdrawing from table fellowship with the Gentile believers in
Antioch (Gal 2:11-14), even affecting Barnabas, wouldn’t make sense.

About the addressees: An early date fits the South Galatian theory (i.e. all the places visited during
the first missionary journey including, Iconium, Lystra, and Derby). The Northern Galatian theory fails
because we have no record of Paul going there.

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