Shalom, everyone. Let's turn, please, to the book of Acts today. I'd like you to turn with me to Acts chapter 14. In our study and ministry of the book of Acts, we have arrived to the end of chapter 13, and we have seen in this chapter the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul, which had begun in Acts chapter 13, and which will end at the end of chapter 14. We want to read chapter 14 in this ministry meeting today, and if you turn in your Bibles to chapter 14, I begin to read with verse 1. And we read: "And it came to pass, in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. "Long time therefore abode they, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles." "And when there was an assault made, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully and to stone them. They were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lyconia, and unto the regions that lieth round about." "And there they preached the gospel.

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak, who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed." "He said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet." "And he leaped on your feet, and he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the speech of the Lyconia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker." "The priest of Jupiter." "The priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, which was before their city, and the people saw what Paul had done, and when the people saw the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the speech of the Lyconia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker." "Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people." "Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard of, they ran to their clothes, and ran among the people, crying out, and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things?

We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein, who in time past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, "nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness, and with these sayings, scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them." "And there came a certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,

supposing he had been dead." "Habit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe." "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Neconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God." "And when they had ordained them elders, in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commanded them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

"And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pampylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Atalia, and thence sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled." "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples." This is chapter 14 of the book of Acts. "And this is, beloved brothers and sisters, the supplement, if you will, or the continuation from chapter 13.

If you remember, at the beginning of chapter 13, at the city that is called Antioch, which is in Syria, in Syria, the Spirit of God said to the brothers and sisters in this local assembly, "Separate me Barnabas and Shaul for the work where unto I have called them." And once the Spirit of God have called Shaul and called Barnabas, he have sent them through the church of Antioch to go to preach the message of the gospel to the Gentile world, to the goyim, to the nations of the world. And the first missionary journey, dear brothers and sisters, the apostle Paul, actually I should say the apostles, because Barnabas is also recognized in chapter 14 as an apostle, it is these two chapters described to us the first missionary journey of the apostle Paul.

He have covered quite a large ground. He began from Salamis, and then he went to Pampos, and then to Perga, and then to Antioch of Pisidia, and by the time we arrive to chapter 14, he is continuing to minister the gospel in additional three cities, specifically Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, before he goes back to the Antioch in Syria, where the brethren have commended them to the ministry of the gospel. Now, it is very interesting, brothers and sisters, because in the earlier church age, there were especially God raised, we know from Israel, from among the Jewish people, those who will serve him and minister the gospel and spread the message of Yeshua, the Messiah, to the nations of the world.

And one of these individuals that he called was Shaul of Tarsus, Paul, and also Barnabas. And we can see how the Spirit of God is moving and leading people to come to know Yeshua, the Messiah. Now, you notice, brothers and sisters, as we read this text today in Acts chapter 14, that as they were preaching the gospel, they always experienced conflict. You know, sometimes we say to someone when we share the message of the Messiah, we say, you know, you come to the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, you're going to get saved, you're going to have hope and a promise to have eternal relationship with God.

But we perhaps maybe neglect to show them that when they are going to follow the Messiah in discipleship, they are going to experience problems in their lives. We have already seen that in our studies of the scripture, when we studied the book of Ephesians together, and when we studied the Old Testament, the book of Judges together, and we see that those who want to follow Yeshua, the Messiah, those who want to follow God, they are going to go through some trials in their lives. Because in this world, this world reject Yeshua, reject the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. And because they reject the Messiah and the message of the gospel, they are also rejecting the people of God.

And you and I, as we read such a text, will have to admit and recognize that as we follow Yeshua, we are going to experience opposition. Time and again, we are going to experience opposition. So this chapter is actually divided into three sections. The first section is the preaching in the city of Iconium. This is verses 1 to 7. The second section is the preaching in the city of Lystra. This is verses 8 to 20. And the third section is the preaching in the city of Derbi. Verses 21 to 28. And ultimately returning to the city of Antioch from which they were sent. So let's just look at this together. And let's see some of the experience that the apostles have experienced when they were preaching the gospel to the Goyim, to the nations of the world.

The first thing we mention here, that in chapter 14, verses 1 to 7, we see the preaching in the city called Iconium. It is part of the province of Galatia. That's where we read the book of Galatians. Where we read the epistle to the Galatians. These are some of the towns and the cities that really in the Roman province of Galatia. And look what we learn here in this 14th chapter, verses 1 to 7. It says in verse 1, first of all, that Paul and Barnabas, the first thing they do when they are coming to the city of Iconium, they are going to the synagogue of the Jewish people. Remember, we have already mentioned that the principle that the Apostle Paul and Barnabas have taught is the principle that is found in Roman 1 and verse 16, where Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe." And then he adds, "To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, to the Greek." And so here you can see what happened in verse 1.

And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both. Notice, the both here in verse 1 is Shaul or Paul and Barnabas, found already in chapter 13 in verse 50. "They went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and also the Greeks believed." So they went first of all to the synagogue. And remember, in order to have a synagogue in a city, you have to have what we call in Hebrew, minyan. Minyan means 10 men that are above the age of 13 years of age, which means they have already had their bar mitzvah when they are 13 years of age.

And in order to form a minyan, 10 men that are above the age of 13, in order to have a synagogue, you must have at least those 10 men. Because the synagogue, Beit Knesset, is the house of gathering where there will be prayers going on. And this is a collective assembly or a collective congregation from among the Jewish people. So in the city of Iconium, they went straight to the synagogue. And you remember, as we have already read in the previous chapter, in Antioch of Pisidia, they also went to the synagogue, and it was a custom to give the guests to preach the word. And Shaul, Paul, he was a rabbi, and he was actually calling himself a Pharisee of the Pharisees.

He was preaching the message of the word of God. And again, brothers and sisters, we must emphasize, in the synagogue, you don't have the New Testament. In fact, the New Testament was not in existence at that time. So he was preaching from the Tanakh, the Torah, Nevi'im, Ketovim, the law, the prophets, and the writing. He was preaching the message, as it says here, in the synagogue to the multitude, both to the Jewish people and those who were there, guests in the synagogue. And look how wonderful, we read in verse 1, that great multitude of both Jews and also Gentiles, Greeks, believed a message concerning Yeshua, the Messiah.

What a glorious thing it must have been in Iconium, a Gentile city, far away, in a pagan world. There is a little synagogue there. They go first to the synagogue, preach the message of the gospel. Some of the Jewish people come to faith in the Messiah, and some of the Greeks, of the Gentiles, come to faith in Yeshua, the Messiah. What a privilege it must be for the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, to experience this. Today, when we share the message of the word of God, we hardly see here and there, at least in North America, where people come to faith in the Messiah. Though we are grateful that there are those who do believe, but it's not like it was in first century.

We're living in the other end of the church age, where we see that there is a lack of the preaching of the word. There's all sorts of views and things that are happening that not too many people hear sound preaching of the gospel. But Paul and Barnabas went and they preached the word of God. But, immediately when they preached the word, notice in the next verses, there was those unbelieving Jewish people in the synagogue that were offended. And they were not happy that here coming Paul and Barnabas, two Jewish men to preach the message, others got saved. They were not happy. So you notice what they do in verse 2.

The unbelieving one has stirred the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. He said, But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, made their minds evil, affected against the brethren. So what happened, those who did not believe the message, opposed the message, stirring up problems, and accusing the apostles, and they end up stirring up the Gentiles against the brethren. These brethren, in Hebrew we call them Achim, these are brothers and sisters in Yeshua the Messiah, who became believers in the city of Iconium. So they stirred them up, against them. In verse 3, notice the word, therefore. Because of this, therefore, long time, they abode, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

In other words, Paul and Barnabas, this time, because of all this stirring up, against the brethren, accusation, or hatred, or animosity, they purposely remain longer time there, and they continue, and notice that word, boldly in the Lord. You know, sometimes, we have a natural boldness. Sometimes, we can do things, that are abnormal. I don't know if you have seen yesterday, on television, I know one of our sons have seen yesterday, Niagara Falls, the one who boldly, crossed the Niagara Falls, on a rope. He walked over the Niagara Falls, and it is amazing to see, there is a natural boldness, that some had. And by the way, he was a believer, as he was walking on that rope, he was praising God, praising the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to the Father.

But what I'm saying, that here you can see, that there is a boldness, that comes from the Lord, to continue on, and to preach the word, speaking boldly in the Lord. And they gave testimony, unto the word of His grace. Look, they were preaching the grace of God. The fact that God, had been gracious with men, forgiving their sins, the price had been paid, Yeshua died on the tree, salvation is available for sinners. Grace of God, or the grace of God. And so, they were preaching about the grace of God, the grace of God. And they noticed that, accompanying their preaching, was signs and wonders.

In other words, when those apostles, were preaching the word, to validate what they were saying, the Lord had given to them, the ability to perform signs and wonders. If you remember, it was Yeshua the Messiah, at the end of the book of Mark, He did say, to the disciples, when they would go, to preach the message of the gospel, at the end of Mark, chapter 16, and verse 15, Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and be betta, shall be saved, but he that believeth not, shall be damned. And these signs, shall follow them that believe. In my name, they shall cast out demons, and they shall speak with new languages.

They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Now that was genuine, accompanying of the word, of the preaching of the word, with signs and wonders, as it says here in verse 3. Now we have to be careful these days, with what's going on, in the professing church today. But in the first century, when the apostles, and those who were affiliated with them, were preaching the message of the gospel, signs and wonders, accompany their preaching of the word of God. It was not for show. It was not for human pleasure.

It was just to confirm, that what they say concerning the person, and the work of Yeshua the Messiah, was indeed the truth of the word of God. And so brothers and sisters, as they were preaching the word there, in the city of Iconium, people got saved, others opposed the message of the gospel, and they steadily preached the word, faithfully, there publicly. And so, look what happened. When they were preaching, accompanied with signs and wonders, the multitude in verse 4, of the city was divided. You know the word of God, always calls a division. Why a division? Not that God wants to divide. No, God wants to unite men.

But it divides between those who accept the word, and those who reject the word. You know, from experience, those of us that came to faith in Yeshua the Messiah, we have been divided from our own families. Our fathers, our mothers, our children, sometimes spouses are divided. divided. Not that they are divided because the believers want to be divided. No, but because when husbands believe not, and the wives believe, or vice versa, it divides. And the whole city, in verse 4, the multitude of the city were divided. divided. You are either a believer in Yeshua the Messiah, and you are forgiven, and you are a saint of the Lord, or you are an unbeliever who reject the Messiah, and you not belong to him.

You cannot sit on the fence. You're either in, or you're out. You're either saved, or you're lost. You're either a believer, or an unbeliever. You're either going to heaven, or you're going to hell. There is no standing on the fence. We see this throughout the history of the preaching of the gospel by the apostles, and those who serve the Lord. And so, you see now, brothers and sisters, in verse 5, there is an assault of the Gentiles, and the Jews together now, against Paul and Barnabas. There is an assault. When you preach the word of God, you are to expect an opposition, because those who reject the message, hate that fact, that they need to repent, and to turn to the Lord, and they don't like that.

And so, look what it says in verse 5. When there was an assault made, both, and now notice this, not only the Jewish people, both the Jews and the Gentiles, it says here, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with the rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them. There was an assault, even up to the point of killing them, to stone them, even up to death. The opposition is so tremendous. I watched the other day, when there was a young girl, that fell into sin, in one of the Muslim countries, and they have stoned her. Have you ever imagined, I mean, I couldn't watch that, when they showed that clip, on YouTube.

Can you imagine, when many, when a mob, lift up stones, in all sorts of sizes, and throwing it, at the person, that person have not a chance, if they continue with that. And it is an amazing thing, how men, how the human race, can do that, to one. Here, they were doing it, to those men, who were preaching, the message, of the gospel, of our Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah. And so, here in verse 5, the assault, and you notice now, in verses 6 and 7, now the apostles felt, that it is the time, to move on. You see, earlier, in verse 3, they remain. Now, in verses 6 and 7, they fled, to another city, away from the, city of Iconium.

It says, and they, were aware of it, they fled, unto Lystra, and Derbe, cities, of Liconia, and unto the regions, that layeth round about, and there, they preached, the gospel. So, what happened, it seemed to be, that they felt, that now is the time, to move on, especially, when they sought, to stone them. So, they fled away, out of the city, of Iconium, and they, went into those, two cities, Lystra, and Derbe, and even there, now, they began, to preach, the message, of the gospel. Notice that, again and again, that word, the gospel. What is the gospel?

The gospel, is that truth, that God, sent his son, the Messiah, of Israel, the savior, of this world, to come down, to this world, to die, on a tree, in order to deal, with the question, of sin, to pay the price, to be buried, and then, to remain, in a grave, for three days, night, and after that, to be resurrected, he was raised, for our justification, and then, ultimately, ascended, to God, the father, so that's the gospel, there is a possibility, to receive, sins forgiven, through the person, and the work, of Yeshua, the Messiah, so this, brothers and sisters, verses one to seven, the preaching, in the city, of Iconium, verses one, to seven, now,

they move on, and here, you notice, in verses eight, to twenty, there is again, the preaching, but this time, in a different city, it is also again, in the province, of Galatia, and this city, is called, Lystra, in Hebrew, we call it, Lystra, Lystra, is that city, as well, and it's happened to be, interesting, that in the city, of Lystra, there was no, synagogue, because we don't read, of the apostle Paul, and the apostle, Barnabas, going to the synagogue, in the city, of Lystra, because there was, no synagogue there, again, to remind you, in order to, we have a synagogue, you have to have, ten men, above the age, of thirteen, years old, to form,

what is known, to be, minyan, which makes it, ability for, publicly, to gather together, and to pray, collectively, this is something, that the rabbis, over the years, introduced, in order to have, a public gathering, of the saints, you know, it is interesting, that Yeshua said, in Matthew 18, and verse 20, where two, or three, are gathered together, unto my name, there am I, in the midst of them, interesting, that he said this, already, among his people, Israel, and he used the word, two, or three, not ten, we don't have, to wait for ten, and he doesn't, even say two, or three, males, above the age, of thirteen, in Matthew 18, in verse 20, but even,

if there are two, or three, believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, he promised, to be, in their midst, you don't need, to wait, for ten, to have minyan, to have a collective, prayer now, we can simply, with two, or three, gather together, unto my name, the Lord, promised, to be, in their midst, so now, in verses eight, to twenty, we have the preaching, of the apostles, in the city, that is called, Lystra, where there was, no synagogue, and look, it says, first of all, in verses eight, nine, and ten, we read, of a disabled man, it's called here, an impotent man, his reaction, to the preaching, of the apostles, look, in verse eight, and there, a

certain man, at Lystra, impotent, in his feet, being a cripple, from his mother's womb, who never had walked, the same, heard Paul speak, who steadfastly, beholding him, and perceiving, that he had faith, to be healed, he says, with a loud voice, stand upright, on your feet, and he leaped, and he walked, we find, that man, and the scripture, described him, as an impotent, he was a cripple, he was a person, that was unable, to stand, and I would like, to make it spiritually, for you and I, brothers and sisters, you and I, are unable, spiritually, to stand right, before the Lord, we might have legs, and feet, walk, in this world, but spiritually, we are

depicted, here by this man, this man, is a picture, of all, that have sinned, that all have sinned, and come short, of the glory of God, just the same, like, if you remember, Mephibosheth, the one, that we read of him, in the Old Testament, where, David, Mephibosheth, was the son of Jonathan, of Yonatan, and David says, is there any son, anybody remain, from the family, of Yonatan, that he would come, to sit at my table, and you see, Yonatan, had a son, who called Mephibosheth, breathing shame, he couldn't stand, he was like this one, an impotent man, from his birth, he failed, when he was young, when he was four years old, he failed, and

then, he was lame, on both of his feet, you know, what a sad state, to live like that, all your life, now this man, he's longing, for someone, to meet his need, and so Paul, and Barnabas, in Iconium, came, and they were speaking, the word of God, they were preaching, about Yeshua, the love of God, and the grace of God, and can you imagine, he's looking at them, and he's listening, to the word of God, the word of God, it says here, when he heard, Paul speak, who steadfastly, beholding him, now imagine, that when you are in need, then there's no one, to help you, and you look up, and you want some mercy, and

some grace, and here come one, like the apostle Paul, and preaching, the message, of the grace of God, of the gospel, and he's looking, at Paul, listening to the word of God, those are the people, usually in general, that are in desperate need, that they are the one, who are ready, to listen to the things, of God, see people, those of us, who have, we are wearing suit, and ties, and everything is fine, things are fine, in our life, we have no problem, we don't need God, in our life, we think we don't, but here's a man, that recognizes his need, and Paul perceives, that he has faith, to be healed, in other words, he

was ready, when he was listening, to the word, the spirit of God, that worked in his heart, and his conscience, and took the word of God, and appropriated, to his own heart, and conscience, he was ready, he had faith, to be healed, not only physically, but also spiritually, and so, Paul said to him, with a loud voice, just like Peter, in Acts chapter 3, to the impotent men, among the Jewish people, who sat by the temple, here's a Gentile, who's sitting in Lystra, both of them, were in need, and Paul is telling him, with a loud voice, stand upright, on thy feet, on thy feet, now he could have, tell him, Paul what's the matter,

with you, don't you see, I can't walk, don't you see, where I am, what are you telling me, stand on my feet, are you out of your mind, you know, it's mentioned here, being a cripple, from his mother's womb, who never had walked, well, Paul said to him, with a loud voice, stand upright, on thy feet, and can you imagine, a man, that all his life, was impotent, disabled, was lifting up himself, and he's able to stand, on his feet, and not only to stand, but he was not only walking, but he leaped, and he walked, the impotent man, in Acts chapter 3, praising God, as we read, in the book of Acts, in other

passages, how he was praising God, for what you have done, for him, and it must have been, an amazing sight to see, again, I want to remind you, what Yeshua said, to the disciples, at the end of the book, of Mark chapter 16, where he said, these signs, shall follow them, that believe, in my name, there will be those, that are sick, and they will recover, he was a man, who was recovered, and I would like to suggest, dear beloved brothers, and sisters, he was not only healed, physically, but he was healed, spiritually, he was healed, in that way, that he became, a believer, in Yeshua, his Messiah, the Savior, and the Redeemer, and so

here, in these verses, we see how, the work, of the preaching, of the gospel, in Lystra, led, an impotent man, to be healed, and to be saved, in the next verses, verse 11, to 13, look what, the people of Lystra's reaction, you know, they were pagans, they were from among the nations, the nations, they did not know, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they were pagans, they were idolaters, and because, there was no synagogue, there, there was no foundation, if you will, because the Jewish people, knew the God of the Bible, they had the scripture, in their synagogue, but here we see, from the city of Lystra, there were paganism, look what they said,

the reaction of the people, to what happened, to this man, it says in verse 11, and when the people saw, what Paul have done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the Lyconia, the gods are come down to us, in the likeness of men, when they saw what happened, and they started to say, listen, the gods came down, in the likeness of men, and notice, the word for gods, is with a small g, it's speaking about idols, the gods, plural, have come down, in the likeness of men, they come down to us, so, what did they want to do, in verse 12, the people gave names, to Paul and Barnabas, it says, that they called

Barnabas, his Hebrew name, is Barnaba, to Barnaba, they gave the name, Jupiter, Jupiter, is the Roman name, for Zeus, in the Greek, and Zeus, was the deity, of that city, so to Barnaba, they gave the name, Zeus, or Jupiter, and to Paul, they gave him, the name of, Mercurius, which is simply, the Greek name, is Hermes, or Hermes, in the way, the Hebrew is mentioned, those, are the two names, that they have given, to Barnabas, and Paul, they were assuming, that there were two gods, that came down, in the look of a man, in the appearance of man, and not only, they were ready, to give them names, of their idols, but they were ready,

to sacrifice, to them, in verse 13, you can see, that the priest, of Jupiter, of Zeus, apparently, they have their own, priesthood, and you notice, in the Gentile world, they are copying, what God, had given his people, Israel, they are copying, well, Israel have a God, well, the Gentile world, have many gods, Israel have a priest, and then, the Gentile world, with paganism, have priests, Israel offers, sacrifices, unto their God, well, they offer, sacrifices, unto their idols, in verse 13, the priest of Jupiter, which was before, their city, brought oxen, and garlands, unto the gates, and would, have done, sacrifice, with, their people, so they were ready, to offer sacrifices, unto, Paul, and Barnabas, now,

this is very tempting, because, if you would have been, Paul, or Barnabas, and somebody, going to come, and sacrifice, and say, oh, you are God, you might say, you know what, let them do this, for a while, it's kind of a nice thing, to experience, people sacrificing, to me, people adore me, as divine person, but you know, Paul, and Barnabas, were real servants, of the Lord, you know how, hard it is for us, sometimes, we like to get a tap, on the shoulder, we like somebody saying, oh, how great you are, we like somebody, to look at us, as we are some sort, of great men, this is very attractive, to the flesh, and yet,

we see, Paul and Barnabas, a real, servants, of the Lord, they didn't want, to take the glory, from the Lord, they didn't want, to take it, to themselves, and so, in verses, 14, to 20, the apostles, react, to what, the people, of Lystra, wanted, to do, for them, and look, how beautiful, the first thing, that we find out, is that, Paul and Barnabas, rent, their, clothes, and they, cried out, can you imagine, they could have, taken the opportunity, and have people, sacrificing to them, and glorifying them, but instead, in verse 14, when the apostles, and notice, the plural word, apostles, is not only the apostle, because we often, look at Paul, as an apostle, but

not at Barnabas, as an apostle, but apparently, look what it said, which, when the apostles, plural, Barnabas, and Paul, heard, of, they, rent, their clothes, and ran, among the people, and they were, crying out, to the people, the first thing, that they have done, they ripped their clothes, because you know what, they understood, that only worship, should be, addressed, to God, God, worship, is addressed, to the, divine person, God, the son, God, the father, to the, God, of the bible, not to them, and so the first thing, we find, them so beautifully, is renting their clothes, and they running, among the people, and they, are crying, out, I want you here, for a moment, if

you turn in your bible, to first Thessalonian, with me, please, turn there, for a second, in chapter two, and read with me, what the apostle, Paul wrote, to the Thessalonians, how he, was serving, without seeking, glory, for himself, first Thessalonian, chapter, two, and the verse, that I'm reading, verse one, for yourself, brother, know, our entrance, in unto you, that it was not, in vain, but even, after that, we had, suffered, before, and were, shamefully, entreated, and you know, at Philippi, we were, bold, in our God, to speak, unto you, the gospel of God, with much, contention, for our, exhortation, was not, of, deceit, nor, of, uncleanness, nor, in guile, but, as, we were, allowed, of

God, to be, put, in trust, with the gospel, even, so, we speak, not, as, pleasing men, but, God, which, trieth our hearts, for neither, at any time, used we, flattering words, as, ye know, nor, a cloak, of, covetousness, God, is, witness, you know, Paul, and, Barnabas, did not, play, game, with the gospel, they didn't, seek, glory, for themselves, with the message, of the gospel, it's not, their message, it is God's message, it's not, for their glory, it's for the glory, of Yeshua, the Messiah, it's not for their gain, but it is for the gain, of men, that will become believers, in Yeshua, that's the reason, why they preached the gospel, gospel, and he's saying to

them, listen, we did not preach, the message, of the gospel, in deceit, or in uncleanness, or in guile, no, we did not want, to please men, but we wanted, to please God, which trieth our hearts, and you know, God, does test us, he sees, a time, in our hearts, a desire, for glory, for ourselves, he knows, our failure, our weakness, and he tests us, and he knows, that our hearts, is sinful, but he wants us, to serve him, for his glory, he wants us, to serve him, for the benefit, of mankind, you know, rewards, gonna come, in the presence, of God, he will give rewards, to those, who serve him, but here, and now, he

desire us, to give the glory, to himself, and so, Paul, and Barnabas, rent their clothes, and they cry out, to the people, in verse 14, and now, notice, Paul, directing, the message, the whole thing, he directs, to the living God, notice that, and underline that, in your scripture, if you will, it says here, in verse 15, and they said, sirs, why do you, these things?

we also are men, of like passion, with you, and preach, unto you, that ye, should, turn from, these, vanities, unto the living God, which made, heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things, that are there in, you see, they direct, the people, of Lystra, to the living God, the creator, this is important, because, there is no, synagogue there, they didn't have, any place, any foundation, about the God, of the Bible, so, they're directing, the Gentile, people of Lystra, to the creator God, and they call him, the living God, so beautiful, you know, people today, think that God, that died, but he's the living God, and so, they say, listen, he says, we are, like

men, we are, a man, of like passion, just like, you, we are no different, sinners, Jewish, sinners, you are, Gentile, sinners, we are Jewish, sinners, we need a salvation, as well, don't worship us, don't offer sacrifices, to us, we are only human beings, men like you, take you, and they direct them, to the living God, and you notice, how they say the word, to turn, in verse 15b, and preach unto you, that ye should turn, from these vanities, that is idolatry, to the living God, bear with me, and turn again, to first Thessalonians, chapter one, this time, in verse nine, let me read to you, another verse, that is very important, when the apostle, mentioned

here, about people, who became believers, in Thessalonica, he says in verse nine, for they themselves, show of us, what manner of entering, in we had unto you, and listen to this, speaking about the Thessalonians, and how you turn, to God, from idols, to serve the living, and the true God, true God, you notice the order, turning to God, and turning from idols, you know, before man, is able to turn, from something, he or she, need to turn, to God, first of all, because it is God, that enables us, to leave the idols, behind, so the order, is turning to God, God, and leaving, these idols, aside, that's what, the apostle Paul, and Barnabas, were saying,

to the people, of Lystra, he says, look at this, he says, you turn from, these vanities, these idols, unto the living God, and then, he present God, as the creator, the verses, that are here, are very precious, because he says here, in verse 15b, he made heaven, that's the first thing, then he made earth, that's the second, the thirdly, he made the sea, the fourthly, he made all things, that are, around, verse 16, he continues, and he says, who in time past, have suffered all nations, to walk, in their own ways, verse 17, nevertheless, he left not himself, without witness, in that he did good, and he gave us rain, from heaven, and fruitful seasons,

filling our hearts, with food, and gladness, in other words, the apostle Paul, sharing here, with the people, of Lystra, is saying to them, that God, is the one, that in the time past, he suffered all nations, to walk, in their own ways, you know, God is so, gracious, he had the right, to destroy this world, because men have gone, in their own ways, but it says here, that he has suffered, he condoned it, for a season, for a time, he allowed the nations, to walk, in their own ways, in their own ways, and he always, had a witness, to him, you know, there is nobody, in the world, that have an excuse, when he or

she, are going to stand, before God, and they are going to say, God, I never knew, that you have existed, you know what God, is going to say, listen, I am going to show you, that you had, many opportunities, to come to know me, as your Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah, to know me, as the creator, but you rejected, because God, had never, left himself, without a witness, whether it is, in the human realm, you know, our people Israel, we read, in Isaiah 43, where God said, to our nation Israel, ye are my witnesses, but not only that, look at creation, the sun, the moon, the star, the heavens, declares, the glory, glory, of

the Lord, just look around, and you see, that the creation, itself, bear witness, that there is, a living God, that's why he says, he left not himself, without a witness, and you know, brothers and sisters, in every generation, there are those, that God, have left here, in this world, to be his witnesses, witnesses, Yeshua said, in Acts 1, verse 8, that ye shall be, my witnesses, unto the end of the earth, in other words, the early disciples, were to be witnesses, of the Messiahship, of Yeshua, the Messiah, of Jesus, the Messiah, to this world, and you and I, are to be his witnesses, and so, he never left himself, without a witness, and in the

human realm, as well as in the creation, because he said, immediately, in the second half, of verse 17, in that, he did good, he gave us rain, from heaven, he gave us, a fruitful seasons, filling our hearts, with food, and gladness, don't you understand, Paul is saying, to these people, of Israel, who wanted to offer, sacrifices to them, and thought, that they were, gods, idols, you know, and he says, look, what idols can do, but God, the living God, he provided, good, God, he had given us, rain, you know, every time, when we have rain, coming down, in these areas, how grateful, we have to be, for the rain, that God provides, for us, because,

in the rain, it shows us, that there is, a living God, the creator, who provides for us, the sun, the moon, the star, and the good, that he provides, the fruitful season, that he had given to us, filling our hearts, with food, and with gladness, that should move, anyone's heart, to say, I'm so thankful, for the living God, well, Paul and Barnabas, directed them to God, and notice that, Paul and Barnabas, restrained the people, in verse 18, and with this saying, scarce restrained they, the people, that they had not done, sacrifice unto them, they stopped them, from bringing those sacrifice, to Paul, and to Barnabas, in verse 19, look what happened, to the apostle Paul,

there came, certain Jewish people, from Antioch, and Iconium, these are the, earlier cities, and they persuaded, the people, and having, stoned, Paul, they drew him, out of the city, supposing, that he had been, dead, now here, imagine, they influenced, the people, the people should not, have been influenced, if they recognized, what Paul was preaching, but the people now, stoned, Paul, now again, I would like to emphasize, brothers and sisters, can you imagine, what it means, to be stoned, to have stone, thrown at you, from every hand, from the mob, just look at, what happened to Stephen, in Acts chapter 7, how he was stoned, and he died, well here, they stoned, Paul, and it says

here, they stoned him, they drew him, out of the city, of Lystra, and they thought, or suppose, that he had been, dead, now let me mention here, there are various, views, on what happened, to Paul here, some believe, that Paul, really didn't die, because it says, it doesn't say, that he died, it said that they, supposed, that he, had been, dead, there are others, on the other hand, who believe, that he actually, died, that Paul, actually, died, here, in verse 19, and when he, had actually, died, he have, had, this, special, experience, that is found, in 2nd, Corinthians, chapter 12, that he record, this, to us, please, turn with me, to 2nd, Corinthians, chapter 12,

I'll read quickly, those verses, that you will have it, before us, the apostle, is now speaking, to the Corinthians, and he said to them, in verse 1, 2nd, Corinthians 12, 1, it is not expedient, for me, doubtless, to glory, I will come, to visions, and revelations, of the Lord, and then he says, in verse 2, I knew a man, in Messiah, whether in the body, I cannot tell, whether out of the body, I cannot tell, God knows, such an one, was caught up, unto the third heaven, and I knew, such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knows, verse 4, how that he was caught up, into

paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful, for a man, to utter, of such a one, will I glory, yet of myself, I will not glory, but in mine infirmities, for though, I would desire, to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say, the truth, but now, I forbear, lest any man, should think of me, above that, which he, seemeth me to be, or that, he heareth of me, and lest I, should be exalted, above measure, through the abundance, of the revelation, there was given unto me, a thorn in the flesh, the messengers of Satan, to buffet me, lest I, should be exalted, above measure, for these things, I besought

the Lord, three times, that it might depart, from me, and he said unto me, my grace, is sufficient, for thee, for my strength, is made perfect, in weakness, most gladly, therefore, will I rather, glory, in my infirmities, that the power, of Messiah, may rest, upon me, therefore, I take pleasure, in infirmities, and reproaches, in necessity, and persecution, in distress, for Mashiach's sake, for Christ's sake, for when, I am weak, then, I am strong, as well, some suggest, that it may be, at that time, when he was, in Lystra, there, when he was, stoned, and taken, for dead, taken out, of the city, that he may, experience, this revelation, that he had received, from the Lord,

to be taken, to paradise, to the third heaven, and there, to see, things, as he called them, unspeakable things, which cannot, be uttered, and, it had been, again, suggested, that out, of this experience, in Lystra, is where, he received, a thorn, in the flesh, that thorn, that he mentioned, in 2nd, Corinthians, chapter 12, is more, than just, a little thorn, that come, into our finger, it's actually, something, that happened, to him, in his body, that affected him, the rest of his life, I don't think, any of us, going to come out, of a stoning, without some, damage, to the body, which some, could be, eyesight, some suggest, all kind of, affecting his life, in his

body, that he could, no longer function, normally, and that is, what, had been suggested, now quickly, let's conclude here, with this message, this ministry, now, he was stoned, he was drawn, out of the city, supposed to be dead, look at verse 20, the action of the disciples, the believers, it says in verse 20, however, as the disciples, stood round about him, he rose up, and he came, into the city, the next day, and he departed, with Barnabas, to Derbe, so, here's the conclusion, of his ministry, in the city of Lystra, after he was, stoned by the mob, there, by the many people, taken to be dead, then he rose up, and then he went, out

of the city, into another town, called Derbe, now it's very possible, that he had died, I do not know, but he did have, that experience, that he mentioned, in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 12, he's taken up, to paradise, to see, these things, that are not, to be uttered, these marvelous things, look now, in the final passage, of this chapter, in verses, 21, to 28, we have, the preaching, in the city of Derbe, and his return, to Antioch, which is in Syria, in Syria, from which, he was sent, at the beginning, verse 21, we read, that he preached, in, and he taught, in Derbe, it says here, when they, this is Paul, and Barnabas, preach, the gospel,

in that city, this is Derbe, and had taught, many, they return again, to Lystra, and Econium, and Antioch, he went, he went, to Derbe, he was preaching, the message, of the gospel, he was teaching, the believers, but then, they went back, to the very cities, that we read about, earlier, Econium, from verse 1, notice that, and then Lystra, which we read, from verse 8 on, and then, even, previous to that, in the city, that is called, Antioch, of Pisidia, he went, to preach, the message, again, there, it is amazing, and, the boldness, that Paul, and Barnabas, had, as they were going, back, to those cities, then, in verse 22, we read, that they confirmed, and

they were exhorted, the disciples, to continue, look at that, and he confirmed, the souls, of the disciples, exhorting them, to continue, in the faith, and that we must, through much tribulation, enter, into the kingdom, of God, brothers and sisters, let me tell you, every preacher, will tell you today, that if there is anything, that we fail, in so much, in the preaching, of the word, is to make disciples, we are all very capable, to preach, and to tell people, about the love of Jesus, the love of the Messiah, but what we find out, in the ministry, that discipleship, to continue on, on, in the life, of following the Messiah, is lacking, in our lives, so

much, oh yeah, we like the gift, of salvation, we like to go to heaven, we like to be assured, that we are going to be, in heaven one day, but to make disciples, to continue on, it is, another story, isn't it, it's, not easy, to continue on, when there are trials, and problems, and rejection, and family, misunderstanding, and the people, around us, we have a hard time, in continuing on, but Paul, and Barnabas, when they went, to those, Lystra, Antioch, they encouraged, the disciples, to confirm, the souls, and exhort them, to continue on, you know, the first Jewish disciples, in the city of Jerusalem, they continue, steadfastly, daily, they continue, together, to follow, after the

Lord, they gather, themselves together, they continue, in the teaching, of the word of God, in instruction, of the things, of the Lord, they continue on, and it's so important, for us, to continue on, it's not only, when brother, so and so, and sister, so and so, if they are going, to meetings, and I'll go to the meeting, if they're going, to read the Bible, if they're going to pray, I'm going to pray, no, it is a responsibility, that every individual, has, before the Lord, whether he or she, go, or whether he or she, follow, they're continuing, to follow, the Lord, Yeshua said to Peter, when Peter says, what about him, he says, what is it

to you, you follow me, don't you look, at John, and tell me, what about John, and what about this, no, you, are responsible, to follow me, what is it to you, whether he follow, or not, you make sure, that you, are following, continuing, to follow, the Lord, and, here is the final, the conclusion, of this chapter 14, verses 23, to verse 25, they set, things, in order, and when they have, ordained them, elders, in every church, and had prayed, with fasting, they commended them, to the Lord, on whom they believed, and after, they had passed, through Pisidia, and they came, to Pampiglia, and when they had, preached the word, in Peria, they went, down, into

Atalia, notice that, they set, things, in order, they ordained, elders, now again, we have to be careful here, you and I, cannot, ordain anybody, those who are apostles, those who are, the immediate, servants, of the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, they could, ordain, elders, but they look around, and they saw, those who had, the qualification, to be elders, in the midst, of the saints, you and I, could recognize, elders, we cannot, ordain anybody, we can recognize, elders, but they, ordain, elders, and finally, in verses 26, to 28, they returned, to their home assembly, and they told them, what God, have done, in verse 26, and from thence, they sailed to Antioch, this is back to Antioch,

in Syria, found in chapter 13, verses 1 to 4, and from whence, they had been recommended, to the grace of God, to the work, which they fulfilled, and when they were come, and they gathered, the church together, they rehearsed, all that God, had done, with them, and how that he, had opened, the door of faith, unto the Gentiles, and there, they abode, long time, with, the disciples, they came back, to the brethren, the first missionary journey, was ended, they come back, to the local assembly, in the city of Antioch, and they said to them, look, not look, what we have done, but notice, all that God, have done, with us, or through us, not what

we have done, but what God, have done, and how he opened, the door, of faith, to many, of the Gentiles, it's so beautiful, to see, from the Goyim, from the nations, of the world, where people, come to believe, in the God, of the Bible, in a Messiah, that was promised, years ago, to the nation, of Israel, and the many, of the Gentile people, coming to faith, in Yeshua HaMashiach, and Jesus, the Messiah, and become part, of the assembly, of the body, of our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, this is so precious, brothers and sisters, it is such an encouragement, to see, the ongoing, faithfulness, of Paul, and Barnabas, in the preaching, of the Gospel, in spite,

of opposition, may the Lord, use us, as well, in some small measure, in order to further, the message, of the Gospel, of the Gospel, in this world today, can you say, Amen to that?

Amen.