SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/13/2018 9:23 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-4 “Boldness”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 14:1-7
Message of the verses: “1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.”
We begin today’s SD by looking at verse five which tells
us that the smoldering opposition to Paul and Barnabas eventually burst into
flames as both the Gentiles and the Jews were ready to mistreat them and to
stone them. John MacArthur writes
“Attempt translates horme, which
literally means ‘a rush’ or ‘an assault.’
The verb form of horme appears
in Acts 19:29, where it describes the assault on Paul’s companions by the mob
at Ephesus. No doubt a similar scene of
mob violence took place at Iconium. The attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas
proves that their Jewish opponents were the instigators. Stoning was a Jewish form of execution,
usually for blasphemy.”
We look at verse six to see that although Paul and
Barnabas were bold but they were not foolish and so they fled for the cities of
Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe and their surrounding reigons. We have to believe that there was nothing
more that they could do at Iconium and also that Paul would be praying for the
believers to be bold and strong for the cause of Christ.
John MacArthur quotes F. F. Bruch from his commentary on
the book of Acts to show that Paul had made a profound impression during his
stay at Iconium. That impression
“Is reflected in the
description of him preserved in the second-century Acts of Paul—a description so vigorous and unconventional that it
must surely rest upon a good local tradition of what Paul looked like. One Onesiphorus, a resident in Iconium, set
out to meet Paul, who is on his way to the city. ‘And he saw Paul approaching, a man small in
size, with meeting eyebrows, with a rather large nose, bald-headed, bowlegged,
strongly built, full of grace, for at times he looked like a man, and at times
he had the face of an angel.’”
MacArthur concludes “As
this tradition shows, the believers at Iconium did not think any less of him
for his flight.”
The cities that Paul and Barnabas were headed were in the
Roman province of Galatia, and when Paul writes to the Galatians you can see
some of the things that happened while Paul was there.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: As I have been
looking at these seven verses for the past four days I can see that the
boldness that both Paul and Barnabas experienced came from the Holy Spirit of
God yet both of them had to be bold as they were lead by the Spirit to speak
the things that He wanted them to speak.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust that the Lord will give me boldness to
speak the message of the gospel today, and every day that the Spirit brings
people into my lives to hear the gospel.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “The palm or handbreadth.”
Today’s Bible
question: “What stones were in the
second row of the priest’s breastplate?”
Answer in our next SD.
3/13/2018 9:50 AM
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