Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 14
1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
Commentary:
14:1 Paul’s witness in Iconium followed the pattern in Pisidian Antioch. He began his witness again in the synagogue (see notes on 13:5; Rom. 1:16).
14:2–3 In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas again faced opposition. So they remained for a long time. In spite of strong opposition, they were able, by the power of the Spirit, to speak boldly and perform signs and wonders, which once again confirmed the truth of the gospel.
14:4 Both Paul and Barnabas are referred to as apostles (vv. 4 and 14). The word (Gk. apostolos) carries the general meaning of “one who is sent” but it is often used throughout the NT in a more technical term for someone specifically chosen and commissioned by Christ for the proclamation of the gospel, as in the case of the original 12 apostles (e.g., Matt. 10:2; 19:28; Mark 3:14; Luke 9:1; Acts 1:2, 15–26). The apostle Paul understood his calling as an apostle to be comparable to the calling of the original Twelve in this technical sense, that is, as one who had seen Christ and who had been specifically chosen and appointed by Christ. This was based on the fact that Paul, on the road to Damascus, had in fact personally seen the risen Christ and had been chosen by Christ (9:15), and that he had been appointed by Christ and sent by Christ (26:16–17) to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. (See also Paul’s defense of his apostolic calling in 1 Cor. 9:2; 15:7–9; and Gal. 1:1, 12, 16.) Commentators differ as to whether the word “apostles” in Acts 14:4 and 14 refers to Paul and Barnabas as being apostles in the same technical sense as the original Twelve, or whether this is intended in the general sense of “ones who are sent” (cf. 13:2–3, where Paul and Barnabas are “set apart” by the Holy Spirit and “sent … off” by the church in Antioch).
14:2–3 In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas again faced opposition. So they remained for a long time. In spite of strong opposition, they were able, by the power of the Spirit, to speak boldly and perform signs and wonders, which once again confirmed the truth of the gospel.
14:4 Both Paul and Barnabas are referred to as apostles (vv. 4 and 14). The word (Gk. apostolos) carries the general meaning of “one who is sent” but it is often used throughout the NT in a more technical term for someone specifically chosen and commissioned by Christ for the proclamation of the gospel, as in the case of the original 12 apostles (e.g., Matt. 10:2; 19:28; Mark 3:14; Luke 9:1; Acts 1:2, 15–26). The apostle Paul understood his calling as an apostle to be comparable to the calling of the original Twelve in this technical sense, that is, as one who had seen Christ and who had been specifically chosen and appointed by Christ. This was based on the fact that Paul, on the road to Damascus, had in fact personally seen the risen Christ and had been chosen by Christ (9:15), and that he had been appointed by Christ and sent by Christ (26:16–17) to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. (See also Paul’s defense of his apostolic calling in 1 Cor. 9:2; 15:7–9; and Gal. 1:1, 12, 16.) Commentators differ as to whether the word “apostles” in Acts 14:4 and 14 refers to Paul and Barnabas as being apostles in the same technical sense as the original Twelve, or whether this is intended in the general sense of “ones who are sent” (cf. 13:2–3, where Paul and Barnabas are “set apart” by the Holy Spirit and “sent … off” by the church in Antioch).
Questions:
- In Acts 14, we see Paul and Barnabas show us what it means to be sold out to the gospel. Every believer in the early church went about their lives preaching the gospel, and we should aim to do the same. When you preach the gospel, some will receive it and some will reject it. It even split the town! We should expect that some will respond to the message of Jesus and some will not. This should take the pressure off! Is there anyone in your life you've been sharing with and praying for that continues to reject the gospel? Have you gotten frustrated? How can you get the place where you still try to reach them but without getting discouraged?
- The gospel brings division. Jesus is the great dividing line! Jesus himself said that you're either with Him or against Him. There is no in between! In Luke 12 Jesus talks about this dynamic and how it might even play out in a family, where they will be split apart because some accept Him while other reject Him. The bottom line is, every person must decide for themselves what they'll do with Jesus. Have you experienced any division in your family over the gospel? Ask God to give you a renewed passion for sharing the gospel with those you love!
Prayer Topics:
- That you would be faithful to pray for lost people in your life.
- That you would have a renewed passion for the gospel.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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