Part 14

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The Acts of the Hebrews – Part 14

ACTS 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in YAHUSHA, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

I believe by approaching Acts 14 in its historical context and then using similitude and relation we’ll find an amazing teaching develop in relation to today’s prideful, judiciary and “beaten generation” and view how we can navigate through this type of civilization and “beaten generation,” especially when we may find ourselves in a situation just like Shaul and Barnabas in the months ahead. 

Iconium was situated upon a high plane, an elevated place some 3000 feet above sea level in modern day Turkey.

It was a judicial center as well as a trade center with a good size Jewish population that had largely apostatized from the Temple centric faith of the fathers having accommodated with the gentile world. 

Act 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about: Act 14:7 and there they preached the gospel.

Iconium was awash with malicious rumors which turned the minds of the town against them. 

1Co 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure.  

Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

2 Th 1:4 patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure.

Lk 21:12 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

Matt 5:11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Sometimes, in the end the opposition appears to win! There was a consortium of opponents, “Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders” who formed a plot to “mistreat them and stone them.” 

But always remember as we ready our escape from Egypt: Gen 50:20 as for you, ye thought evil against me; but יהוה meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

We live in an age were civic government and the multitude are intolerant of our faith and intolerant of biblical freedoms. There is a plot afoot at that covers the religious and social spectrum that is just as serious as the plot that Paul and Barnabas found themselves in! 

There’s a serious plot to destabilize society and place them under fetters of civic authorities under the guise of ‘peace and safety’!

1 Th. 5:3 When they are saying, Peace and safety,  then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

Act 14:8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.

11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.

Act 14:14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:

Here Paul addresses a purely pagan audience, similar to the world today, one stooped in societal norms, the mystery religions and occult. 

He centers on: 

• natural revelation (YHWH’s creation) rather than special revelation (YHWH’s Word, as they were ignorant of it, as with many in our society today)

He focuses on four points that I think will help us minister to the “beaten generation” 

Paul centers on four things: 

1. 14:15 we are all human. We’re not gonna ascend as gods, and it’s blasphemy to worship actors, musicians, whomever as such! We’re to proclaim the one true Elohim and turn people from worthless idols to the living Elohim.
2. The living YAH is the Creator and sustainer, the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. יהוה is not aloof, he is with us in our affairs, He created everything and controls it all on behalf of his people, in whose lives he is deeply involved.
3. In Yahusha, the Creator YAH has changed his approach to the pagan nations. By us bringing the good news to the nations, יהוה now brings salvation to the nations that formerly were left to their own devices lost in the pantheon and empty rites of alchemy and superstition.
4.  יהוה has provided a witness to Himself: V.17 And yet he left not himself without witness by showing mercy and kindness in sending rain from heaven and crops in their season…which will be cancelled in the Millennium when the time of the gentiles comes to pass!

Act 14:16 who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

Act 14:19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch.

Now we come to the truly miraculous event of Acts, think about it, most miss the miraculous here…a stoning so severe that Paul is left for dead, he would of certainly been knocked unconscious, most probably in a coma…

But…as soon as they’re gone..with his brethren gathered around him mourning, he suddenly “just got up and went back in the city.”

22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. 24 And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.

Act 14:25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; 26 and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

Paul accomplishes great things in the assemblies which show us our call to action today:

1. Strengthening one another. Good teaching and time to grow. Deep waters mature enough to disciple one another. 

2. Encourage one another to remain true in a world of compromise and deceit; above all remain vigilant and faithful. 

3. Be assured that YAH will see us through the many hardships to enter into the Kingdom. Its about enduring your pilgrimage through life. Hardships are the building blocks a priestly anointing. 

4. We learn endurance not that the present world is our all and all but the world we will enter at death. The difficulties of this present life are the hurdles that we must overcome and endure to attain that which is ever before us – these are the building blocks of spiritual maturity! 

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.