All That God Has Done
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then I would invite you to turn to Acts 14:8-28. (READ)
Illustration
Let me begin by saying to you, “Happy Thanksgiving.”
We’re continuing our series in the book of Acts. Although the text that is before us is not explicitly about Thanksgiving, I think we can implicitly draw out the theme of gratitude. [SLIDE 2] That is…remembering and declaring all that God has done for us and with us. That’s my single and simple point for this morning’s message.
Context
The passage that we read is the conclusion of Paul’s first missionary journey. When Paul and Barnabas arrived and gathered with the Antioch Church that sent them out, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. That is a cause for celebration and praise and thanksgiving.
As we have been looking at Paul’s 1st missionary journey, Luke unfolds the providence of God in Paul’s ministry. Ultimately, it was God the Holy Spirit who appointed and sent Paul and Barnabas out for the work to which He called them (Acts 13:2).
Ultimately, it was God who brought Paul and Barnabas to the island of Cyprus, and then eventually to Antioch in Pisidia, and then to Iconium. We have seen some fruit in their ministry, but we have also seen oppositions and tribulations in their ministry.
And when you read the first half of our sermon text, it seems like the ministry and mission were distratrous and disappointing, but in the end God was at work. Allow me to show you in the text as I unfold and expound the Word of God.
Exposition
[SLIDE 3] We see in verses 8-18, Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra because they were fleeing from heavy persecution in Iconium back in verses 5-6. And Lystra was probably around 40 KM south of the city of Iconium.
[SLIDE 4] A brief background about Lystra is that it was mainly a Gentile city. It was located in the region called Lycaonia, which was part of the country (if you will) of Galatia.
When Paul and Barnabas arrived, they did not enter into the Jewish synagogue as it was their pattern. That is because Lystra had no exposure to Judaism.
So, the missionaries would give a message outdoor in the Greek langauge. It was a common practice for Greek philosophers to give public oratory. At that time, crowds would flock to hear the speech.
While Paul was speaking, Luke introduces a crippled man who was lame since he was born, and he was listening to Paul’s speech.
Now, the story of the lame man is mentioned a couple of times in the book of Acts. For example, we recall in Acts 3 that Peter healed the lame man outside of the temple.
Luke notes that the lame man listened to Paul speaking. Luke doesn’t elaborate on the content of Paul’s speech. Perhaps, the content prompted the lame man to have faith to be made well.
Now, the phrase, “to be made well,” can also be translated as “to be saved/delivered.” Is Luke talking about being saved from sins or being healed from his disability?
Most translations would suggest being physically healed of his crippled condition. Therefore...
Could Paul have preached about God and His power to heal?
Could Paul have preached about the death of Jesus, thus alluding to Isaiah 53 where it says by His wounds we are healed?
We can’t know for sure what it was, but Paul saw that he had faith. So, out of the crowd, he looks intently at him and performs his very first miracle in the book of Acts by simply saying to him in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.”
And…the man walked around for the first time in his life.
When I preached Acts 3, a story where Peter healed the lame man in front of the temple, I tried to help you understand what true biblical healing is in contrast to many so-called faith healers of our day. Biblical healing happens immediately, not a gradual process.
Furthermore, there is evidence for immediate healing. Luke tells us in verse 10 that this lame man sprang up and began walking. Essentially, he leaped. Paul didn’t teach him how to walk. He only told him to stand on his feet, but he certainly did more than standing.
And the Lycaonian crowd saw what Paul had done. And we may expect that this situation would be the same as Peter’s where he would have the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. However, the crowds were pagans, heathens, idol worshippers.
[SLIDE 5] In verses 11-13, when they saw the healing of the crippled man done by Paul, they immediately spoke in their own native language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.”
So, they thought that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes in human form. If you use the KJV, it would state Jupiter and Mercurius. Same gods, but different names. These gods were from the ancient Greek mythology that the people of Lystra knew.
Since the Lycaonian spoke in their local dialect, there would be no way for Paul and Barnabas to understand the events unfolding before them.
So, you have the priest of Zeus along with the crowd offering sacrifices to the missionaries as an act of exaltation and worship to them.
There was a poem written by Ovid called Metamorphoses that was published in the early 1st century. And it was a collection of mythological stories. There was a story that he told in one particular area.
[SLIDE 6] According to Ovid’s story, “Zeus and Hermes had once visited a valley near Lystra. They went from door to door, but the people refused to take them in. Finally, they came to a poor house occupied by a man named Philemon and his wife Baucis. These elderly people received Zeus and Hermes. So they stayed the night. In the morning the gods took the couple up out of the city to a mountain, and when they looked back on the valley they saw that the gods had flooded it, drowning everyone. Then, while they were looking on, Philemon and Baucis saw that the gods had transformed their poor hovel into a great temple with a glittering gold roof.”
So, this story should have been known in Lystra. It is not surprising that the Lycaonians were worshipping the missionaries because they thought Zeus and Hermes had returned. Maybe they were terrified that the same event in the story about the flood was going to happen to them if they don’t receive them.
They were entrenched with the idea that gods can transform into human beings. That story would mostly have been an oral tradition that’s passed down from generation to generation.
Paul and Barnabas may not have understood what they’re saying, but they understood the ceremony that they’re performing.
As some have said: ACTION speak louder than WORDS.
[SLIDE 7] In verses 14-18, they responded by tearing their garments. This was a Jewish expression of horror and revulsion at blasphemy. They tried to stop these people from worshipping them as gods.
So, they insisted them that they are human beings just like them. They’re no different from the Lycaonians.
That reveals to us about their character and integrity. They could have said, “Well, it’s about time that we got some respect. Maybe we can use that respect and fame to tell them about Christ.”
However, if they flirted with that temptation in their mind, they would immediately shake it off.
They’re not in the mission field to receive praise and adoration from the crowd. They’re there to point lost sinners to Jesus because one day they will have to give an account before a holy and righteous God for the things that they have done on earth.
If they started to accept this kind of pagan worship, then they have failed in their mission and have stolen the glory and praise that only belongs to the Triune God.
So, far from seeking praise and exaltation, Paul and Barnabas are determined to bring them the good news to a purely Gentile audience.
They say to these Gentiles Acts 14:15
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
The way they approached these pagans with the good news seems different from how they spoke in the Jewish synagogue.
You see, the Lycaonians would not have known the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Old Testament was also foreign to them, so starting to tell them about the good news from the Old Testament would not be useful.
Instead, they instruct them to turn from these vain things, which is the idol worship and Greek mythologies like Zeus and Hermes.
Now, that’s a bold statement to make to the audience since the Lycaonians were pagan worshippers for many generations/
However, not only were the Gentiles instructed to turn away from these idols, but they’re to turn TO Someone, who is the Living God.
The fact that they addressed God as the “living God” is to contrast the false idols who were simply dead and vain gods. These gods cannot see, feel or hear.
This God is the living God who created the heaven, and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
I was reading 1 Kings 18 recently, and I’m reminded of the story of Elijah when he battled against the false prophets of Baal. And Elijah mocked them and their gods because Baal would not answer them. That’s because Baal is just a lifeless idol that won’t respond to anyone.
In our modern day, there are many idols from different religions, but in reality they are Satanic and are meant to lead people away from the true and living God.
Now, perhaps the audience might object by saying: “We have served what you call ‘vain idols’ for centuries, and life has not been so bad. Why should we now turn from them to this God that you call ‘the living God’?”
[SLIDE 8] So, Paul and Barnabas would respond and say something peculiar in verse 16-17, “In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
What is that supposed to mean?
For the Gentiles, they did not have the Old Testament Scriptures to know the one and true God - special revelation.
They only had nature and creation to point them to God. Therefore, Paul appeals to them with what theologians have called general revelation or natural theology.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Creation testifies to the glory of God.
So, God allowed them to walk in their own ways, using their reasoning and conscience, without the written law.
However, this doesn’t mean that the Gentiles are excused from not knowing the true God. [SLIDE 9]
Romans 1:20 (ESV)
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
[SLIDE 10] In verse 17, Paul and Barnabas wanted to show the Lycaonians why they are to turn to the living God…and that is because this living God is good and gracious and kind.
According to one source, it says that in Greek mythology, the local gods that were worshipped by the people in Lystra were cruel and violent, and that somehow they needed to please these gods in order to receive provision.
Here, Paul and Barnabas not only tells them about God as the Creator, but about God’s provision and common grace.
Common grace simply means that God generally blesses humanity regardless if they’re Christians or not.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about His Father who “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45).
Paul and Barnabas want to show them the goodness of the living God and that they can have a personal relationship with Him because He’s the one who provided them rain, seasons, and food to enjoy.
Now, it seems that their message was cut off in verse 18. Luke writes, “even with these words...” So, it seems like there’re more that was said, but Luke doesn’t unfold the rest of the message. Did Paul and Barnabas eventually share the gospel and tell them about Jesus Christ who alone can save them from their sins? Did they tell them about Jesus Christ who’s the Creator of the universe?
Did the situation get out of hand and so Paul and Barnabas stopped preaching? Or did Luke intentionally condense the message and focused on those two lines?
Regardless, it doesn’t look like their message persuaded the Lycaonians to stop offering sacrifices to them and worshipping them.
Just by knowing the story so far, the ministry at Lystra did not seem successful, let alone that Paul gets stoned in the next passage.
[SLIDE 11] In verse 19, Luke begins with the word, “But.” This is going to contrast what the Lycaonians did to Paul and Barnabas by worshipping them. Instead of worshipping them, they’re going to stone Paul and drag him out of the city.
How this happened was that these Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived at Lystra. They most likely were the same Jews who rejected the message of Paul and Barnabas and were hostile towards them.
They weren’t content with just kicking the missionaries out of their city. So these Jews must have poisoned the minds of the Lycaonians just like they did to the people in Iconium.
So, whatever the Jews said to them, they’re persuaded to launch a physical assault against Paul by stoning him (almost) to death.
In the Old Testament, stoning was a capital punishment for certain offences under the Mosaic law. It was an agonizing way to die as stones - not the size of a pebble - but stones are the size of your hand being thrown at the offender’s whole body until he or she is dead. It may have been a slow and painful death.
And then there were disciples that gathered about Paul because they thought that he’s dead. They were probably mourning and grieving at his death.
Who were these disciples? Some identify these disciples as believers from Lystra.
What seemed to be a failure in verse 18 actually produced some fruit later.
It’s unclear if verse 19 happened immediately after verse 18. Perhaps, I would think that Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra for quite some time and were able to make some disciples before the Jews came and caused problems.
And I wonder if Paul’s spiritual son, Timothy, was there since Timothy was originally from Lystra.
However, what seems to be the death of Paul actually turns out to be his survival. Verse 20 says that Paul rose up and entered the city.
Now, Paul survived the stoning while Stephen, for instance, died by it. How come he survived the stoning?
Luke doesn’t explicitly tell us why and how he survived. Perhaps, we can hear Paul’s testimony elsewhere in Scripture. [SLIDE 12]
2 Corinthians 1:9–10 (ESV)
9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Also, Paul wrote this to Timothy who might have saw Paul get stoned almost to death. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 [SLIDE 13]
2 Timothy 3:10–11 (ESV)
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
Ultimately, God was behind this situation. He’s the One who kept Paul alive because God wasn’t done with him yet and He had more work for Paul to do. Nothing can thwart God’s plan for your life. This is an expression of gratitude for all that God has done.
In a similar way, if God has work for you to do, then you won’t die either. So long as you’re alive, God isn’t done with you yet.
I have often hear stories of those who were battling with critical health issues, and they overcame them. In their words, they would say something along this line, “God isn’t done with me yet. That means I have more work to do for His glory.”
[SLIDE 14] So, Paul knew that he wasn’t done with his mission. After he survived and got up, where did he go?
The text says that he entered the city…the city of Lystra. Talk about the audacity especially after being stoned by the people at Lystra. Nonetheless, Paul still had work to do in that city.
Luke doesn’t record what else he did in the city, but it doesn’t seem like he stayed for too long as the text says that he left the city on the next day and went to Derbe with Barnabas.
This would have been about 65 km walk east.
It doesn’t seem that the Apostle Paul stopped his ministry. Remember, he just got stoned. He’s probably in so much pain and agony while walking. That man should be taking a break and resting in the hospital if you will like what most people do.
However, what’s amazing about Paul is that he keeps persevering and persisting on finishing his mission. He doesn’t even lose one day. There is no time to waste because Christ will return.
I suppose we can take his wisdom seriously in these last days.
Paul said this in Ephesians 5:15-16 [SLIDE 15]
Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV)
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Despite his human weakness and pain, I also believe that it was the Holy Spirit strengthening and empowering him to finish his job.
[SLIDE 16] So, they arrived at Derbe. I think Derbe is no different from Lystra. Both were cities of the Lycaonia as stated back in Acts 14:6. Both were pagan cities with no influence of Judaism.
Now, very little detail is known about the ministry in Derbe. We’re not given any reasons why Luke doesn’t give us an extended record of their ministry in Derbe.
Nevertheless, we’re told in verse 21a that they made many disciples. And, this is indeed good news. They became disciples and followers of Christ.
That’s whole point of the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ: To make disciples of all nation and teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded.
Now, as they are about to head back home and complete their 1st missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas’ mission isn’t done yet. In verses 21 to the end of the chapter, after their ministry in Derbe, the missionaries trace their steps back from Derbe to Lystra to Iconium, to Antioch in Pisidia, to Perga and eventually back to Antioch in Syria.
In verses 21-23, we see the pastoral care and exhortation of Paul’s heart as a missionary. Mission is not just about seeing people come to know Christ, but also providing the church a safeguard as Paul and Barnabas are going to leave the area.
They went back to strengthen the souls of the disciples especially when the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith were opposed in those cities. That’s why new churches needed encouragement to continue in their faith since we must enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations.
They also went back to establish and appoint biblically qualified church elders in every church as stated in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Elders are men who can lead the church, teach sound doctrine, and protect the congregation from false teachers.
If Paul deemed it important to appoint elders, then churches should follow the NT pattern.
This was a way to ensure that the churches were able to survive and thrive in a hostile environment.
[SLIDE 17] Now, from verses 24-28, they’re about to return back to Antioch. They arrive in the city of Perga in the region of Pamphylia. This was the same location where John Mark left his responsibility and sailed back to Jerusalem.
Initially, back in Acts 13:14, Paul and Barnabas did not seem to have had an opportunity to preach the gospel, but they went back to that city to speak the word. Luke doesn’t stop to tell us what happened in Perga, but it is a quick snapshot of their final ministry before they sail back to Antioch from the port city called Attalia.
When they returned to the Antioch Church in Syria, they gathered the church together. At the end of verse 26, it says that they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they HAD fulfilled. In other words, Paul did not quit his ministry when life got hard, but he pressed on and fulfilled his work.
The missionaries declared all that God had done with them. This is just a general report of what God has been doing.
They also went specific in the report. That is...God opened a door of faith to the Gentiles, meaning giving the Gentiles an access.
Not just Gentiles who had an affiliation with Judaism, but pure/pagan Gentiles who had zero exposure to the Old Testament.
Even in Lystra, God opened the door for Paul to preach the gospel there and hence the Gentiles have access to God.
That’s something Paul and Barnabas were indeed thankful to God for. So, they can finally rest and remain with the disciples in Antioch. They most likely were in furlough for about a year before Paul gets sent out in his 2nd missionary journey in chapter 16.
[SLIDE 18] Application / Conclusion
Having expounded this passage, the single and simple point is this: Remembering and declaring all that God has done for us and with us.
I’m sure that Paul may have talked about God transforming many lives through his faithful proclamation of the gospel.
I’m sure that Paul may have talked about how God was building His church in unreached areas.
I’m sure that Paul may have talked about getting stoned and how God preserved His life.
I’m also sure that Paul talked about how he was worshipped by the pagans, yet God has done a supernatural work in the hearts of the Lycaonians in causing those who believed in the gospel to turn from their Greek mythology to having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and becoming disciples/followers of Christ.
Perhaps right now, you may find it hard to see what God is doing in your life. You may be frustrated. You are facing some sort of trial and hardship at school, at work, in your family.
In reality, our eyes cannot always perceive the providence of God at the moment. However, just like Paul who spent one year in his 1st missionary journey, we can always look back and try to trace the providential work of God in our lives.
In the meantime, just like Paul, you are to be faithful in serving the LORD and obeying Him no matter the cost.
So, during this thanksgiving weekend, as you gather with your friends and family members and eat turkey, will you remember to be thankful for all that God has done for you?