“1 ¶  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 of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3  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. 4  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5  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, 6  They were ware of [it], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7  And there they preached the gospel. 8 ¶  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13  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. 14  [Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15  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: 16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17  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. 18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. 19 ¶  And there came thither [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. 20  Howbeit, 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.” (Acts 14:1-20 KJV)

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabus " so spoke that a great multitude believed . . . boldly in the Lord," so that He "granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands " (vv. 1-3).

Signs and wonders are not likely to be granted where the Word of God is so preached that a great multitude are put to sleep.

Preaching " boldly in the Lord "-not in the strength of our carnal wisdom and fleshly energy-will certainly be accompanied with the witness-bearing power of the wonder-working presence of God (Heb 2:4 ; Mark 16, 20

“God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Hebrews 2:4 KJV)

 “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20 KJV)

Wherever God grants signs and wonders to be done, you may look for persecutions (vv. 4-6). The rulers of darkness will always oppose a violent disturbance of their kingdom.

I. AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH.-

“8 ¶  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,” (Acts 14:8-9 KJV)

A. This man, who had been "a cripple from his mother's womb,"

1. was a picture of helplessness

2. He had never walked, and in all likelihood never hoped to walk.

3.  Such liberty and joy were not seemingly for him.

4. Have we ever thanked God for the use of our feet.

B. But this same man "heard Paul speak,"

1. That faith which "cometh by hearing" sprung up as a new-born faculty in the sorrowful soul of the cripple.

2. He hears, and he believes, that the Risen Saviour is able to heal him.

C. See, there is a new light in his eye,

1. it is the light of that new hope that is born of the Spirit of God,

2. through the preached Word.

D. He has "faith to be healed,"

1. and the Spirit-taught apostle is quick to perceive it,

2. He calls him to "Stand upright on thy feet 1 " (v. io).

“Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” (Acts 14:10 KJV)

E.  And he " leaped and walked."

1. He leaped before he walked,

2. not only for joy,

3. but perhaps also because he had never yet learned to walk.

F. This great change was none the less real because it came suddenly.

G. When a man get saved, convert, it should be expect that there will be excitement, and joy, but there will also be some instability.

1. When did a baby ever learn to walk in the fully coordinated manner with which an athlete moves and performs.

2. Every newborn babe needs to be trained, and help to move from baby steps to adult steps.

3. We expect a child to act like a child, so it is with the newborn babes.

II. AN EXAMPLE OF FOLLY

“11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13  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.” (Acts 14:11-13 KJV)

A. When these idolatrous Lycaonians saw the well-known cripple leaping and walking,

1. they foolishly supposed that their gods had come down in the likeness of Paul and Barnabas

2. The gods of idolaters are deaf and dumb and dead.

3. How could they heal a poor cripple, and where could they "come down" from ?

B. But from their blind enthusiasm, let us solemnly learn how possible it is for us to be very earnest over religious notions that are only imaginary and delusive.

C. How thankful we should be for the written Word of God,

1. which is as a light shining in darkness, whereunto we do well to take heed.

D. No amount of "oxen and garlands " will never make a wrong thing right.

1. They called Barnabas, Jupiter ; and Paul, Mercurius ;

2. but these heathen Galatians are Not the last of those who have attempted to adapt the things of God to their own idolatrous practices (Jude 4)

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 KJV)

3. The enemy does not come in waving flags and warnings that they are vile and wicked, they come in a little at a time,

a) deceiving the weakest of Christians.

b) Deceiving the proud, and

III. AN EXAMPLE OF FAITHFULNESS.

“14  [Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15  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: 16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17  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. 18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” (Acts 14:14-18 KJV)

A. It is possible that Paul and Barnabas may not have understood the people when they spake "in the speech of Lycaonia," but as soon as their purpose of sacrifice was known they were quick to make a vehement protest against all forms of man-worship.

B. They "rent their clothes " as an outward sign of inward horror-of hearts rent with agony at the thought.

C. So jealous were they of the honour of God, that nothing pained them so deeply as that they, as the servants of Christ, should have the place in their thoughts and minds that their Lord and Master alone should have.

D. The longing of their hearts and the object of their lives was to "turn them from these vanities unto the Living God" (vv. 14-18).

E. They were "men of like passions with themselves,"

1. but what a difference the grace of God had made.

2. Elijah was a man of like passions as we are, but how few of us can pray as he did

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” (James 5:17 KJV)

F. How differently Herod acted when the people worshipped him.

“22  And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” (Acts 12:22-23 KJV)

1. "He gave not God the glory,"

2. Immediately the angel of the Lord smote him.

G. Seek the honour that comes from God only (Dan. 4, 37).

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37 KJV)

H. The Lord is a Jealous God.

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;” (Exodus 20:5 KJV)

 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:” (Exodus 34:14 KJV)

 “For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV)

 “Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me,” (Deuteronomy 5:9 KJV)

 “(For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 6:15 KJV)

 “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he [is] an holy God; he [is] a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” (Joshua 24:19 KJV)

 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;” (Ezekiel 39:25 KJV)

 “Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.” (Joel 2:18 KJV)

 “God [is] jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and [is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.” (Nahum 1:2 KJV)

IV. AN EXAMPLE OF FICKLENESS.-

“And there came thither [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.” (Acts 14:19 KJV)

A. In a few days after they "stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead" (v. 19).

B. There is not much between the world's honours and its frowns, between its " garlands " and its stones.

C. To-day they cry," Hosanna! " to-morrow, " Crucify ! "

D. What a Friend we have in Jesus, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

1. Timothy may have first become aquainted with Paul

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 2 Timothy 3:10-11

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