Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 14:19-20
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Commentary:
14:19 The Jews again stirred up opposition, this time coming from Iconium and Antioch, over 100 miles (161 km) distant by road. they stoned Paul. The action was so brutal that they could see no sign of life in Paul. Later, in recounting his sufferings for the gospel, Paul says, “Once I was stoned” (2 Cor. 11:25; cf. 2 Tim. 3:11). supposing that he was dead. Those who stoned Paul apparently thought they had succeeded in killing him. But as “supposing” indicates, they were mistaken in thinking that, even though Paul was indeed gravely injured.
14:20 The presence of disciples indicates that despite the opposition, a nucleus of believers was established at Lystra (including Timothy, 16:1). They gathered about Paul, perhaps at first to mourn, but then, with some sign of life, to pray for his recovery. Amazingly, and apparently miraculously, he rose up and entered the city, apparently under his own strength.
14:20 The presence of disciples indicates that despite the opposition, a nucleus of believers was established at Lystra (including Timothy, 16:1). They gathered about Paul, perhaps at first to mourn, but then, with some sign of life, to pray for his recovery. Amazingly, and apparently miraculously, he rose up and entered the city, apparently under his own strength.
Questions:
- An EMPTY tomb ignites RUNNING with COMMITMENT. One of the ways you know someone really believes something is that they are willing to suffer, and maybe even die, for it. Most people, if they don't really believe something, will deny it to save their lives. On Sunday, Clayton shared documented, historical evidence, OUTSIDE of the Bible (one from an atheist), that almost all of the disciples suffered horrific deaths for claiming they saw Jesus alive. This fact is HUGE for our faith. This is some of the best actual proof that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God. No one dies for something they know to be a lie. Liars make bad martyrs. What does this do for your faith? How much does it bolster your confidence in what you say you believe?
- Imagine the scene in Acts 14, as Paul is stoned and left for dead. It was a miracle that he survived it! Most of us would lick our wounds and find some place a little safer to do share the gospel. But what did Paul do? He got up and WENT BACK INTO THE CITY. Woah! What in the world would drive someone to do that? This was a man that was sold out to the cause, and who was willing to literally give up everything to make the name of Jesus known. How sold out are you? How uncomfortable are you willing to be in order to serve and follow Jesus?
Pray:
- That your faith in the resurrection would be stronger than ever.
- That you would be sold out for the gospel, just like Paul.
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