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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur - The unhindered flow of the Holy Spirit's power through Paul resulted in a dramatic miracle. Although today's believers do not possess miraculous healing power as Paul did, the principle is instructive—God's power is absolutely necessary if His work is to be accomplished (Eph. 6:10; 1 Pet. 4:11). The power "to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) comes to all believers at salvation. The power of the Holy Spirit is released in believers' lives as they walk moment by moment in obedience to the truth. That enables them to be used as agents through whom no physical healing occurs, but rather the transformation of the soul in salvation and sanctification.Along with power and results in service for Christ comes the temptation of pride. It is often difficult to acknowledge that the results stem from God's power, not human ingenuity and ability.Peter wrote of the centrality of humility in 1 Peter 5:5-6. James echoed those thoughts in James 4:6, 10. Humility is the supreme spiritual virtue because it gives God His rightful place. Paul's understanding of the reality of humility is best seen in his words to the Corinthians in (2 Cor. 12:9-10) (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 49) Andrews rightly reminds us that "God’s commands are not easy they are impossible without Divine intervention! Have you heard God’s command to you to arise up out of your spiritual deadness and dryness and spiritual lameness?" (Expository Sermons) Stand up (aorist imperative = Do it now!)(450)(anistemi from ana = up, again + histemi = stand, to cause to stand) means literally to get up, to stand up. Paul had used this very word in his first sermon in Antioch Pisidian to describe the rising up of Jesus (Acts 13:33, 34). In a somewhat paradoxical way the standing up of this lame man set in motion a series of events that got Paul stoned from which he then got up (anistemi)(Acts 14:20). Luke's uses of anistemi in Acts where it is clearly a "key word"... Acts 1:15; Acts 2:24; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:22; Acts 3:26; Acts 5:6; Acts 5:17; Acts 5:34; Acts 5:36; Acts 5:37; Acts 6:9; Acts 7:18; Acts 7:37; Acts 8:26; Acts 8:27; Acts 9:6; Acts 9:11; Acts 9:18; Acts 9:34; Acts 9:39; Acts 9:40; Acts 9:41; Acts 10:13; Acts 10:20; Acts 10:23; Acts 10:26; Acts 10:41; Acts 11:7; Acts 11:28; Acts 12:7; Acts 13:16; Acts 13:33; Acts 13:34; Acts 14:10; Acts 14:20; Acts 15:7; Acts 17:3; Acts 17:31; Acts 20:30; Acts 22:10; Acts 22:16; Acts 23:9; Acts 26:16; Acts 26:30 Upright (3717)(ortho - "orthopedics) means "(1) of direction; literally straight, in a straight line; figuratively, of persevering on a correct course of life toward a goal straight, right (Heb 12.13); (2) literally, of a standing position upright, erect (Acts 14.10)." (Friberg)
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MacArthur wrote, “Boldness is that essential quality without which nothing significant can be accomplished for the gospel.” (Of course I agree with Dr MacArthur, but again would emphasize that this "boldness" must be supernaturally endued, not naturally pursued.) Boldly (3955)(parrhesiazomai rom parrhesia = boldiness, freedom in speaking with confidence <> pas = all + rhesis = speech) means literally speaking out every word and conveys the idea of freedom to say all and thus means to speak freely, openly, boldly, fearlessly, without constraint. The Greeks used this word for speaking in a democratic assembly. Parrhesiazomai describes the fearless and frank speaking of Paul and Barnabas even in the face of opposition. It is notable that bold speaking characterized Paul from the very inception of his ministry, Luke recording "at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus," (Acts 9:27) and later he was "moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord." (Acts 9:28+) This is the same word used to describe Paul and Barnabas issuing a strong warning to those in Antioch who reject the Gospel... Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46+) Parrhesiazomai characterized Paul at Thessalonica where he writes "after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God amid much opposition." (1 Th 2:2+). Parrhesiazomai also described Apollos in Acts 18:26 where "he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue (IN EPHESUS)" and later Paul who entered the synagogue (IN EPHESUS) and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8+) Given the numerous times we see Paul speaking bolding, it is fascinating that in his epistle to the letter (in AD 62 roughly 14 years after his first visit to Iconium) he asks the saints at Ephesus for prayer for boldness! Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness (parrhesia) the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly (parrhesiazomai), as I ought (dei = must, am under obligation) to speak. (Eph 6:19-20+) THOUGHT - In Acts 4:31+ the church prayed "and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." And in Ephesians 6 we see the greatest preacher of the Gospel asking for prayer for boldness to present the Gospel. If Paul felt the need for prayer for boldness, we also should surely confess a similar need. And so if we are somewhat shy about sharing our Savior, perhaps some supplication for Spirit enabled boldness is in order. When was the last time you specifically, expectantly ask God to give you boldness to share the Gospel? John writes "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will (SHARING HIS SON IS SURELY IN HIS WILL), He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 Jn 5:14,15+). As James 4:2KJV says "ye have not, because ye ask not." God grant us a desire to ask, for Jesus' sake. Amen Who was testifying - Is this not fascinating? Who was actually doing the speaking, God or the missionaries? The missionaries were speaking boldly and yet Luke says it is as if God Himself was testifying! They were functioning in essence as God's "Gospel mouthpieces," and so should we beloved! God testified through their (Spirit enabled) WORK and His WORD! They were ready and able! One is reminded of Paul's words to Timothy that whoever "cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready (hetoimazo in perfect tense = in a state of preparedness, ready) for every good ("God") work." (2Ti 2:21ESV+) Are you ready? To the word of His grace - The word of His grace is a beautiful description of the the Gospel, which Paul later describes as "the Gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24+). Recall that from their home church at Antioch (Syria) "they had been commended to the grace of God for the work" which would be accomplished by the Gospel of the grace of God." This plethora of grace reminds us of John's words that "of His (Christ's) fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." (Jn 1:16) And so the missionaries preached a grace based message. They preached of God's unmerited favor which was manifest as power to convert a sinner, granting them forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt (justification - past tense salvation) and the supernatural power to daily live out the Gospel (progressive sanctification - present tense salvation). It was the word of His grace which undoubtedly upset the Jews who rejected that word in lieu of the word of His Law. And of course the problem was that grace opened the door to the hated Gentiles. Grace was God's unmerited favor, the absolute antithesis of keeping of the Law as a means of meriting God's favor (which of course it never could merit!). It was not the "word of works" but of grace. And so naturally these Jewish Law lovers were implacable Grace haters! And they hated anyone who proclaimed the Gospel of the grace of Christ. As Merida says the "scandalous message of grace enrages self-righteous legalists." (Listen to Scandal of Grace) Apparently their "toxic" influence continued after the church was founded Iconium (see Judaizers). Their unrelenting legalistic influence is one of the problems that prompted Paul's epistle to the Galatians (See Swindoll's "What's the Big Idea"; see also MacArthur's Intro). It is notable that at the very opening of his epistle to the Galatians Paul alluded to grace, penning words that likely were later read in Iconium... I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different Gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. (Gal 1:6-7+) Jack Andrews comments that "When the gospel is preached He still honors His word, draws men and women, comforts the afflicted, afflicts the comfortable, and saves souls through His word of grace." (Expository Sermons) Grace (favor) (5485) (charis from from chairo = to rejoice. English = charity. Beggars need "charity" even as sinners need grace, for we are all spiritual paupers outside of Christ, but "God gives where he finds empty hands"-Augustine [cp Mt 5:3+]) in simple terms is God's unmerited favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation and for daily sanctification. Grace is everything for nothing to those who don't deserve anything. Grace is what every man needs, what none can earn and what God Alone can and does freely give (cf Ro 8:32+ where "freely give" is charizomai from charis = a grace gift!). Grace addresses man's sin, while mercy addresses man's misery. The Gospel of the grace of God makes men fit for salvation, miraculously making separated strangers into God's beloved sons (1Th 1:4+, 1Jn 3:1+, 1Jn 3:2+, 1Jn 3:3+). Testifying (3140) (martureo from mártus = witness = one who has information or knowledge of something and can bring to light or confirm something. English = martyr) in its most basic sense refers to a legal witness. Thus the verb martureo means to be a witness, to testify, to give evidence, to give testimony, to bear record, to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something. And how was God "testifying" or giving evidence of the Word of His grace? God was giving evidence of the validity of His word of grace by lives that had been transformed by that grace! Does your changed life bear witness of the Word of His grace? Granting (present tense - continually) that signs and wonders be done (present tense - continually) by their hands - In context of the proclamation of the Gospel, the signs and wonders from God were their "credentials" serving to authenticate their message, and validate that Paul and Barnabas were indeed servants of the living God (cf Acts 15:12+, Gal 3:5+).. Men and women were not saved by belief in the signs and wonders but by belief in the Gospel. Luke described a similar "barrage" of signs and wonder with Peter and John (Acts 2:43+; Acts 4:29ff+.; Acts 5:12+; cf. Heb. 2:4+). I like the NET and CSB translations which say "through their hands," for this (in my opinion) more accurately pictures the meaning of the preposition dia. As wordsmith Marvin
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MacArthur adds that "It is important to realize at this point that nothing has ravaged gospel preaching to the untaught world more than the theory of evolution. Because it poses an explanation of the existence of everything without a Creator or moral lawgiver, people who accept it fail to see any need for God or a first cause. Thus they cut themselves off from all that creation, reason, conscience, and providence are designed to do—namely lead them to God." (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 51) Related Resources: How do beliefs about creation impact the rest of theology? How does creationism vs. evolution impact how a person views the world? What is evolutionism? What are some flaws in the theory of evolution? What does the Bible say about creation vs. evolution? What is theistic evolution? Is the similarity in human/chimp DNA evidence for evolution? Why do many Christians reject the theory of evolution? What was the Scopes Monkey Trial? WHO MADE - Paul says God is the Creator and now he does quote Scripture (even though the pagans would not recognize it as such). As
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MacArthur explains that "Since they did not know the Old Testament, he appealed to the universal, rational knowledge of the Creator, the first cause in a cause-and-effect world. As he was later to write to the Romans (see Romans 1:18-25 below) Paul later evangelized the pagans on Mars Hill in Athens from the same starting point—the need to explain the ultimate cause for the world and everything in it (cf. Acts 17:22-31+) (Acts 1-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary Two Volume Set) Tony Merida adds "Perhaps you’re thinking, I can’t use this approach because most people today believe in evolution. They don’t even believe in God. But we must remember that the reality of God’s existence is planted inside of every person (Rom 1). When you hear the statement, “Atheists don’t believe in God,” remember this: God doesn’t believe in atheists! When you talk to unbelievers, don’t feel you must prove to them the existence of God. Paul presupposes God’s existence in his preaching in Lystra. He starts with what is visible in creation and attributes it to God. (Exalting Jesus in Acts) THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM - Remember that there was no synagogue in Lystra (at least Luke makes no mention and does not say Paul entered a synagogue as was his typical practice), so this was undoubtedly a predominantly Gentile town. So how does one begin to witness to pagans? But speaking of the Creator and His creation for this is where they have common ground. This is an important truth because it addresses the frequent question/complaint "What about all the people who have never heard of Jesus?" The answer is that God will make sure they hear of Jesus (special revelation) if they respond with open hearts to His natural revelation. No one is saved by natural revelation but everyone receives this evidence that there is a God and all men are without excuse if they reject this knowledge. As an aside years ago Bullinger wrote a book claiming that the gospel was present in the stars, but sadly this is not true and is extremely misleading and deceptive (See lengthy assessment of this false belief). No, the Gospel is present in the Bible, so the heathen need to hear the Bible. Those heathen who are drawn to the living God by His handiwork in the heavens, will be given exposure to the Gospel as God's Spirit moves missionaries, etc to go to these people. Paul tells us sadly how most of humanity responds to the handiwork of God in the heavenlies in his letter to the Romans... For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress (actively, continually hold down revelation of) the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them (THE CONSCIENCE - cf Ro 2:15+). 20+ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (BELOVED, THIS APPLIES TO EVERY PERSON EVERY CREATED WHEREVER THEY HAVE LIVED ON PLANET EARTH) 21 For (PAUL EXPLAINS THAT) even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man (LIKE THESE PEOPLE IN LYSTRA WHO WANT TO SACRIFICE TO MEN WHO THEY THINK ARE GODS!) and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a (LITERALLY "THE") lie (GOES BACK TO THE LIE IN THE GARDEN - Ge 3:5+), and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:18-25+) THOUGHT - This is one of the more important passages in chapter 1 of Romans as it helps us understand (and then make a defense concerning) why most of the world is the way it is - godless, immoral, corrupt, etc, etc. And see the "cherry on top" of this sad description in Ro 1:32+! Even though they are deceived by sin (Heb 3:13+), they know they are doing wrong and even APPROVE of doing wrong! Amazing! Only amazing Gospel of grace can rectify this wreck! Jack Arnold - Notice how Paul approached these pagan Gentiles. He did not start with the Bible as he always did with the Jews who believed in special revelation, but he began with general revelation. He started with nature and declared that God created the heavens, earth and all living things. He began where these pagan people were in their understanding. God has revealed Himself, to those who do not have written revelation, in nature. Men have light about God, but what light they do have they suppress and reject because they are sinners by nature. (Acts 14:1-20 Patterns in Evangelism) THOUGHT - Another pattern of evangelism is to start with a person where he is. When speaking to non-church people, begin with nature and their relationship to God, then move on to Christ and special revelation. Show them that nature has order, unity and beauty because of a Creator. Everything exists and functions because it is made and controlled by God, who is a living God and this God has revealed Himself in Christ which is special revelation. (Arnold) Holman Apologetics Commentary on the Bible – We only respond to God if we believe he is there and see ourselves as creatures accountable to a Creator. The more the world loses this link, the harder it is for the gospel to make sense. In the ancient world just about everyone thought of themselves as created beings. The fact that people believe differently today will have to inform our approach to sharing the gospel. Related Resources: What is natural revelation? What is general revelation and special revelation? Why does God allow natural disasters, i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis? Video - Why Does God Allow Natural Disasters? Ray
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MacArthur - Although He had revealed Himself in general revelation through reason and conscience, God in the generations gone by permitted all the nations to go their own ways. There was a tolerance on God's part toward sinners who did not have the full revelation of His holy will. (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 51) Related Resource: Ligonier article on Permissive Will. - This term can be very misleading. What is the difference between God’s sovereign will and God’s revealed will?
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MacArthur notes that "The predominant New Testament usage of nomizō argues that Paul was not dead, and the crowd's supposition was incorrect. Further, if Paul had died and been resurrected, why would Luke insert the word supposing? That would undermine the credibility of the miracle, since skeptics could argue that the crowd wrongly assumed that Paul was dead. Nor are miracles, especially resurrections, minimized in Acts. The resurrections of Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42) and Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12) are clearly and unambiguously presented as the raising of a dead person to life. If Paul had died and been resurrected, why relate the incident in such a vague, uncertain way? Throughout Acts, miracles are supernatural signs pointing men to the truth. A confusing sign, however, points nowhere. Finally, in 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul states that his third-heaven experience took place fourteen years before he wrote 2 Corinthians (a.d. 56 or 57). That dates the third-heaven experience at a.d. 42 or 43—an impossibly early date for Paul's stoning at Lystra on the first missionary journey." (ED: See ESV Timeline, Blueletterbible Timeline) (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 53) On the other hand we have men like Donald Grey Barnhouse who asks us to stretch our thinking just a bit further and consider whether Paul might have undergone a near death, out-of-body experience on this very occasion which he describes in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. Barnhouse writes... Paul there refers to himself in the third person—a man in Christ—who went to heaven and heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. This was more than a vision. It was a definite transport into heaven. I'm suggesting that it was at this point in his missionary career, described in Acts 14, that Paul went to heaven. The few moments during which his body laid inert on the ground and his friends stood by helplessly, thinking him dead and wondering what to do about the matter, he may well have left the body and then returned following his experience of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. (Barnhouse) THOUGHT - Interesting to contemplate. One thing is certain - Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7-8) early in his ministry and if not on the first missionary journey, it preceded this journey. Here is the point - This "thorn" (whatever it was), was a gift of God to remind Paul all the remaining days of his ministry that it was not Paul's natural power but God's supernatural power (2 Cor 12:9+), that continually energized his ministry. Little wonder that God used him so mightily. We would all do well to meditate on the truths in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 so that we too might grasp that anything we do on this earth which is of eternal value will be done in God's power, not our power! Jesus words to Paul are for us "“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” He states the same principle in John 15:5 declaring "“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." And Paul "got it" for in 1 Cor 15:10+ he testified that "by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored (kopiao = to the point of weariness) even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." Are you are what you are by the grace of God? Are you abiding in the Vine as you minister for the glory of the Vine? Are you willing to truly and continually say that Jesus' "grace is sufficient?" Is the Spirit of Christ the Source of your adequacy (see 2 Cor 3:5, 6+)? And so we see that Paul gives us the "secret" for effective, eternity impacting, Christ exalting ministry! Thank You Jesus! Amen. All of the NT uses of nomizo Matt. 5:17; Matt. 10:34; Matt. 20:10; Lk. 2:44; Lk. 3:23; Acts 7:25; Acts 8:20; Acts 14:19; Acts 16:13; Acts 16:27; Acts 17:29; Acts 21:29; 1 Co. 7:26; 1 Co. 7:36; 1 Tim. 6:5 Habershon says, "We cannot tell whether Paul was really dead and was raised to life; probably he did not know himself, for it has been thought that he referred to this time when he wrote, 'Whether in the body, or out of the body I cannot tell: God knoweth.' As his body lay there in the midst of the sorrowing disciples, his spirit probably had been caught up into Paradise, where he heard unspeakable words that he was not permitted to utter." THOUGHT - God rarely asks Christians to seek physical abuse for the cause of the gospel, but in the providence of God. sometimes such abuse and persecution cannot be avoided. (Gangel) To be dead (2348)(thnesko) is only in the perfect tense (describes a permanent state of death) in the NT and refers to literal physical death (Mk 15:44; Lk 8:49; Jn 19:33; Ac 14:19) or to figurative death to refer to the loss of spiritual life or as BDAG says "lose one's relationship w. God" (1 Ti 5:6). Gilbrant on thnesko - This verb appears in classical Greek from the time of Homer (ca. Eighth Century B.C.), meaning “die” in either a literal or figurative sense. Josephus used thnēskō in a literal sense in his account of the last stand of the Jews in the fortress of Masada against the siege of the Roman army (Wars of the Jews 7.8.7). Several examples of its figurative use (e.g. of spiritual death) can be found in the works of Aelius Aristides and Philo (cf. Bauer). In the Septuagint thnēskō is most often used in the literal sense: of Jacob’s death (Genesis 50:15); of the death of the Egyptian firstborn sons (Exodus 12:30); of idolatrous Israelites (Numbers 25:9); of animals (Job 39:30); etc. However, there are a few instances of death in connection with spiritual judgment (cf. Proverbs 13:14; Isaiah 14:19; Jeremiah 16:7; 22:10). In the New Testament thnēskō is used only a few times (the word apothnēskō [594] is much more common). As in the Septuagint, thnēskō most often appears in the literal sense: of Jesus’ death (Mark 15:44); of the death of the synagogue ruler’s daughter (Luke 8:49); of Paul’s “supposed” death (Acts 14:19); etc. The only figurative use is at 1 Timothy 5:6 where Paul instructed Timothy on the proper care of widows. In contrast to the widow who devotes herself to prayer (1 Timothy 5:5), the other type of widow who devotes herself to her own pleasure is already “dead” in God’s sight (verse 6). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Thnesko - 9v - dead(7), died(2). - Matt. 2:20; Mk. 15:44; Lk. 7:12; Lk. 8:49; Jn. 11:44; Jn. 19:33; Acts 14:19; Acts 25:19; 1 Tim. 5:6 Thnesko in the Septuagint - Gen. 50:15; Exod. 4:19; Exod. 12:30; Exod. 14:30; Exod. 21:35; Lev. 11:31; Lev. 11:32; Num. 16:48; Num. 16:49; Num. 19:11; Num. 19:13; Num. 19:18; Num. 25:9; Num. 33:4; Deut. 25:5; Deut. 26:14; Jdg. 3:25; Jdg. 16:30; Jdg. 19:28; Ruth 1:8; Ruth 2:20; Ruth 4:5; Ruth 4:10; 1 Sam. 4:17; 1 Sam. 4:19; 1 Sam. 17:51; 1 Sam. 24:14; 1 Sam. 31:5; 1 Sam. 31:7; 2 Sam. 1:5; 2 Sam. 1:19; 2 Sam. 2:7; 2 Sam. 4:1; 2 Sam. 4:10; 2 Sam. 9:8; 2 Sam. 12:18; 2 Sam. 12:19; 2 Sam. 12:23; 2 Sam. 14:2; 2 Sam. 16:9; 1 Ki. 3:20; 1 Ki. 3:21; 1 Ki. 3:22; 1 Ki. 3:23; 1 Ki. 11:21; 1 Ki. 12:24; 1 Ki. 16:4; 1 Ki. 21:14; 1 Ki. 21:15; 1 Ki. 21:16; 1 Ki. 21:24; 1 Ki. 22:37; 2 Ki. 4:32; 2 Ki. 8:5; 2 Ki. 8:13; 2 Chr. 22:10; Job 39:30; Prov. 13:14; Eccl. 4:2; Isa. 14:19; Jer. 16:7; Jer. 22:10;
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MacArthur says "Paul never willingly lost a day, however. Since the door for ministry was temporarily closed at Lystra, he simply moved on to minister somewhere else. Nothing daunted him, not even being stoned nearly to death." (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 54) It was events such as the stoning at Lystra which enabled Paul to later confidently write one of the most encouraging and most quoted (and on more coffee mugs!) passages in the New Testament. Unfortunately too many saints love the last sentence but miss the truth of how Paul was able to confidently state such an encouraging truth... Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens (endunamoo in present tense) me. (Php 4:11-13+) THOUGHT - Have you learned to be content? It does not come naturally, but is learned supernaturally! Have you learned the secret as you have traversed "through many tribulations" (Acts 14:22)? It is only through the trials and triumphs that you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18+) and come to experientially (as the Spirit works out this truth in your heart) know deep down that you can indeed do all things, trials and triumphs, through Jesus Christ, Whose sufficient (2 Cor 12:9+), empowering (2 Ti 2:1+) grace continually strengthens you. Related Resource: Christian Contentment With Barnabas to Derbe - Derbe is Lycaonian for "juniper tree". It is about 47 miles south and east from Lystra. This distance re-enforces the fact that Paul was miraculously healed for no man stoned almost to death could undertake a 47 mile trek which would take 2-3 days on foot! Derbe was near the Cilician Gates. which would not be that far removed from Paul's birthplace. Acts 14:21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, KJV Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, had made many disciples. Matthew 28:19 Acts 1,6,8,19; 13:14,51; 15:36; 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11 Red Line = Return from Derbe > Lystra > Iconium > Pisidian Antioch THE GOSPEL YIELDS MUCH FRUIT IN DERBE After they had preached the Gospel to that city - They "evangelized" the frontier town of Derbe. As was the case with Lystra Luke makes no mention of entrance into a synagogue suggesting that Derbe had a paucity of Jews and a plethora of pagans. No matter, as Paul had just "practiced" how to evangelize pagans in Lystra. Paul knew how to redeem the time! (cf Col 4:5,6+, Eph 5:16+) While he may have begun with a description of God in natural revelation, he clearly moved on to preach the special revelation of the Gospel without which no man is saved. Preached the gospel (2097) See note on euaggelizo/euangelizo (3x in Acts 14 - Acts 14:7, 15, 21) First word in the Greek sentence for emphasis. And had made many disciples - Luke does not tell us how many. These disciples were "made" by the Spirit taking the faithful proclamation of the Gospel by the missionaries and regeneration their sinful hearts as they believed in the Gospel. There was no apparent opposition or persecution in Derbe recorded by Luke. Similarly Paul does not include Derbe in the places he associates with persecution in 2 Ti 3:11+.. persecutions, and sufferings (NOTE BOTH IN THE PLURAL), such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; (NOTE NO MENTION OF DERBE WHICH WOULD BE THE NEXT TOWN THEY WENT TO IN ACTS 14) what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!. Made disciples (3100)(matheteuo) is the verb form of mathetes and is found 4 times in the NT. Intransitively, the verb means to be the disciple of another, to follow his precepts and instruction, to be a pupil of another implying one is an adherent of the teacher. A Chinese Proverb is very apropos regarding Jesus call to His disciples to go and make disciples… Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day; teach him to fish, and he eats for the rest of his life. 🙏 Comment: This is the very reason I strongly encourage you to learn and practice the discipline of inductive Bible study, for in so doing you will be equipped to "feed yourself" for the rest of your life on earth! They returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch - As noted above from Derbe to Lystra is about 47 miles. From Lystra to Iconium is about 24 miles. Then from Iconium to Pisidian Antioch is about 88 miles. Luke makes this statement with little "fanfare" but it is a clear reflection of the fearlessness and courageous hearts that drove these missionaries to go back through the very towns in which they had been persecuted and even stoned! Undoubtedly the Jews who had opposed the missionaries on their first trip through these cities were still implacably opposed to their Gospel of grace. But in spite of the potential danger to their lives, they reasoned it was far more dangerous to leave the new disciples in these hostile situations and equipped with only a basic understanding of the Gospel. And so they sought to strengthen, encourage, warn and appoint leaders for these fledgling flocks. Larkin makes an excellent point explaining that while "Paul focused on church planting (1 Cor 3:6), the goal of his labors was to "present everyone perfect in Christ" to the Lord at his coming (Col 1:28+; Ro 15:16; 1 Th 2:17-20). So today, an evangelist or church planter who does not make provision for discipleship is like a farmer who harvests well only to see the crop spoil because it is not properly stored." (See Acts - Page 215) Returned (5290)(hupostrepho from hupo = under + strepho = to turn, to change) means to turn back from or to return or go back to a location, in this case back-track from whence they had come.
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MacArthur writes that strengthening the souls "should be the goal of every pastor (cf. Eph. 4:11-16+; Col. 4:12-13+), and is done by the teaching of the Word (Acts 20:31-32+; 1 John 2:14+)." ("should be the goal of every pastor (Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary) William Larkin writes that "The ruins of ancient religious temples, whether in the Peruvian highlands or the Cambodian jungle, are mute testimony to the assertion "A religious faith is always one generation from extinction." What can guard Christianity from extinction? Paul's example, at the end of the first missionary journey, of strengthening the just-planted churches through confirmation, consolidation and communication shows us the way." (See Acts - Page 215) Strengthening (present tense - continually)(1991)(episterizo from epí = intensifies + sterízo = strengthen, support) means literally to place firmly upon and so to make firm, to prop up, to support, to uphold. In the present passage what is it what the missionaries would be making firm or strengthening? Surely it would be their faith, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ, which were undoubtedly words the missionaries spoke to the newly "minted" disciples (cf Ro 10:17). The root verb (histemi) means to stand. BDAG - "to cause someone to become stronger or more firm in our lit. of believers in connection with their commitment and resolve to remain true, esp. in the face of troubles:" (BDAG) This verb is used only 3 times in the NT, all in Acts and all in the context of the missionary journeys. The second and third uses are during the second missionary journey. In Acts 15:32+ Luke records that "Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message (logos)." In Acts 15:41+ Luke describes Paul "traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening (present tense) the churches." Souls (5590)(psuche) describes the point of contact between man's bodily and spiritual nature, the inner life of a person. It refers to the thoughts, will, affections. This is that part of man which is God-oriented. Disciples (3101)(mathetes) is properly a learner, but more than just a learner as it is also a follower of Christ who learns and grows by being fed the Word and then lives out the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit and then seeks to make disciples. Disciples is used four times to describe the believers encountered on this first missionary journey - Acts 13:52 Acts 14:20 Acts 14:22 Acts 14:28 Encouraging them to continue in the faith - By physically re-visiting the cities, Paul and Barnabas were coming alongside (the essence of parakaleo - it's difficult to encourage someone if you don't come alongside them!) the disciples. And recall that Barnabas' name meant son of encouragement, making him aptly suited for this important task. And so their souls were strengthened with teaching and supplemented with exhortation (communication intended to urge or persuade the disciples to take action) to live out the truth they were taught in the power of the Spirit (cf James 1:22-25+) As John MacArthur says... "Exhortation is teaching's inseparable companion." Stedman makes an excellent point about how the apostles would have encouraged the disciples to continue in the faith - This is usually done by an appeal to example. They went back over the Old Testament record and pointed out how men and women of God had been living by faith for years, and how God had blessed and strengthened them. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is a mighty testimony of this sort." (Acts 14:1-28 Counterattack) Paul presents a great pattern for every pastor and disciple maker, writing to the new believers in Thessalonica (who experienced "much tribulation" - 1 Th 1:6+) "you know how we were exhorting (parakaleo) and encouraging (paramutheomai) and imploring (marturomai) each one (EACH AND EVERY ONE) of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy (axíōs) of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Th 2:11, 12+) Encouraging (exhorting, comforting) (present tense - continually)(3870)(parakaleo from para = side of, alongside, beside + kaleo = call) means literally to call one alongside which is a great picture of what was transpiring between the missionaries and the disciples. Here is the point - the essence of the verb parakaleo necessitates that one be "alongside" another in order to encourage, etc. They had not texting or email capability, so it had to be face to face, side by side, which is why they had to backtrack on their journey even in face of the possibility of more violence from the Jewish protagonists. Kent
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MacArthur observes that the if "does not imply that the believers are in danger of losing their salvation, but it is a warning against non–saving faith. So a clearer rendering would be, “… if you hold fast what I preached to you, unless your faith is worthless or unless you believed without effect.” The Corinthians’ holding fast to what Paul had preached was the result of and an evidence of their genuine salvation, just as their salvation and new life were an evidence of the power of Christ’s resurrection. (1 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 399) Related Resources: Perseverance of the Saints - is it biblical? How can I keep the faith? The faith - To what does this refer? Does it refer to the subjective aspect of faith (our act of believing, their trust or belief in the Gospel) or it refer to the objective aspect of faith (the body of apostolic truth in which we place our faith, especially the Gospel)? This passage would seem to favor the objective aspect (see the faith), much like Jude's use "....I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." (Jude 1:3+) Of course it does take continuing (subjective) faith to continue in the faith, so the subjective sense of faith (believing) is obviously related to the objective sense of faith ("the faith"). 🙏 THOUGHT - Given the fact that objective faith still needs subjective faith, one of the prayers I frequently pray for disciples is based on a passage from Peter's letter. And so I pause now to pray for you (as you are reading these notes on Acts) that you would by the Spirit and the Word continually "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2Pe 3:18+) Tony Merida on the faith - The phrase the faith indicates they were in possession of a body of doctrine already developed (cf. Jude 3-4). Paul ensured that these new believers understood the basic biblical doctrines. In establishing these doctrines he not only fortified the church against heresy, but he also encouraged the hearts of believers, reminding the kingdom citizens of the inevitability of facing “many hardships” for holding these beliefs. Later, in his letters, he could expand on the basics. (Exalting Jesus in Acts) G Campbell
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MacArthur writes that "Thlipsis (tribulations) has the underlying meaning of being under pressure and was used of squeezing olives in a press in order to extract the oil and of squeezing grapes to extract the juice… In Scripture the word thlipsis is perhaps most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress." (Romans 1-8 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 281) Figuratively thlipsis pictures one being "crushed" by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulation, all press hard on one's soul. Thlipsis does not refer to mild discomfort but to great difficulty. In Scripture the thlipsis is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress and sorrows which "weighs down" a man’s spirit like the sorrows and burden his heart. Thlipsis then includes the disappointments which can "crush the life" out of the one who is afflicted. The English word "tribulation" is derived from the Latin word tribulum (literally a thing with teeth that tears), which was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the corn or grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it separated the wheat from the chaff. As believers experience the "tribulum" of tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials purify us and rid us of the chaff. God has never promised that we would miss the storm, but He has promised that we would make the harbor! Paul could preach the message that disciples should expect many tribulations because he had lived that message as he summarized in 2 Cor 11:23-33 Are they servants of Christ?–I speak as if insane–I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned (LYSTRA), three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands. The necessity of tribulations reminds us of the words in 1 Peter... In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary (THE ARE NECESSARY), you have been distressed by various trials,so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:6, 7+) Erwin Lutzer reminds us that "God often puts us in situations that are too much for us so that we will learn that no situation is too much for Him." Samuel Rutherford emphasizes the certainty of trials writing that "You will not get leave to steal quietly to heaven without a conflict and a cross." The Puritan Thomas Watson agreed writing "Though Christ died to take away the curse from us, yet not to take away the cross from us."