Acts 14: Division & Reformation, Passion & Leadership

The same thing happened in Iconium The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke as they had before. As a result, a huge number of Jews and Greeks believed. However, the Jews who rejected the faith stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the brothers. Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas stayed there for quite some time, confidently speaking about the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the word about his grace by the signs and wonders he enabled them to perform. The people of the city were divided—some siding with the [non-believing] Jews, others with the Lord’s messengers. Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area, where they continued to proclaim the good news. Acts 14:1-6 (CEB)

Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, “If we are to enter God’s kingdom, we must pass through many troubles.” They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust. Acts 14:21-23(CEB)

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Jesus the Messiah:

Though he was in the form of God,        he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself        by taking the form of a slave        and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human,        he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,        even death on a cross. Therefore, God highly honored him        and gave him a name above all names,    so that at the name of Jesus everyone        in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow         and every tongue confess that            Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 (CEB)