Cross Reference Radio

Christianity would have been absorbed in to Judaism as a sect and perished had it not been for this beloved Jewish Christian named Paul. God wanted Paul to settle this question at Jerusalem once and for all: “Must converts to Christ become Jewish (by circumcision) in order to be Christians and be saved?” The answer Paul fiercely upheld was, “Absolutely not!” Then the Holy Spirit who moved Peter and James to fully support this doctrine and they did it with reason, witnesses, facts and Scripture. Then they gave guidelines to the Gentile Christians to be sensitive to the conscience and upbringing of Jewish Christians.

As Paul, Barnabas and others were teaching God’s word in the flourishing church in Antioch Syria, men came from Jerusalem, men who wrongfully believed that Gentiles had to become Jewish before they could benefit from the salvation of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. These men brought nothing but conflict and one lesson is “Don’t be them.” Don’t repeat their mistakes in doctrine and as troublemaking. Paul and Barnabas resisted them but the matter had to be brought to the apostles in Jerusalem and to Jerusalem they went.

As Paul, Barnabas and others were teaching God’s word in the flourishing church in Antioch Syria, men came from Jerusalem, men who wrongfully believed that Gentiles had to become Jewish before they could benefit from the salvation of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. These men brought nothing but conflict and one lesson is “Don’t be them.” Don’t repeat their mistakes in doctrine and as troublemaking. Paul and Barnabas resisted them but the matter had to be brought to the apostles in Jerusalem and to Jerusalem they went.

After Paul had been stoned and dragged from the city of Lystra, miraculously he got up and went back into that city. The next day he and Barnabas departed and went to Derbe where we are told they made many disciples. Then they returned to the places they had established churches and were also chased from. In spite of the hostilities they did their job as disciples of Jesus Christ and made more disciples, even in perilous times.

After Paul had been stoned and dragged from the city of Lystra, miraculously he got up and went back into that city. The next day he and Barnabas departed and went to Derbe where we are told they made many disciples. Then they returned to the places they had established churches and were also chased from. In spite of the hostilities they did their job as disciples of Jesus Christ and made more disciples, even in perilous times.

Arriving in Lystra, the disciples go to work preaching the Gospel. Paul, in the midst of his sermon discerns a man in the congregation who has faith to be healed from a lifelong handicap. This results in his healing, but witnesses attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas, but they insisted against such worshiped. Satan failed to corrupt the church with false worship, then stirred the Jews from Antioch and Iconium to come to Lystra, instigating the Gentiles to stone Paul to death. But Paul recovered, determined to resist Satan, went back into the city, then headed to another city, determined to preach Christ.

Arriving in Lystra, the disciples go to work preaching the Gospel. Paul, in the midst of his sermon discerns a man in the congregation who has faith to be healed from a lifelong handicap. This results in his healing, but witnesses attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas, but they insisted against such worshiped. Satan failed to corrupt the church with false worship, then stirred the Jews from Antioch and Iconium to come to Lystra, instigating the Gentiles to stone Paul to death. But Paul recovered, determined to resist Satan, went back into the city, then headed to another city, determined to preach Christ.

Those who opposed the gospel in Antioch Pisidia expelled Paul and Barnabas from their city. The two arrived in Iconium, some 80 miles west. There they made new converts to Christ amongst the Jews and Gentiles. Then, it was discovered that those opposed to the gospel in Iconium plotted violence against Paul and Barnabas so they fled to Lystra. But the opposition was tireless and will follow them there too.

Those who opposed the gospel in Antioch Pisidia expelled Paul and Barnabas from their city. The two arrived in Iconium, some 80 miles west. There they made new converts to Christ amongst the Jews and Gentiles. Then, it was discovered that those opposed to the gospel in Iconium plotted violence against Paul and Barnabas so they fled to Lystra. But the opposition was tireless and will follow them there too.

After Paul had preached that Jesus is the Messiah, from the Scriptures, and many Jews, and Gentile converts to Judaism had responded positively, eager to hear the Word of God. However, as interest from the Gentiles grew, so did the envy of most of the Jews, these stirred up the city against Paul and Barnabas, expelling them from the city, but the converts were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit nonetheless.