The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 22
Acts 14:8-28
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 22
Acts 14:8-28
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June 22 ~ Acts 14:8-28
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Amazing, awesome and powerful was this healing miracle!!! You have to admit it, this is one of those kinds of miracles written in the Bible that makes you to say WOW!!! I mean, here’s a man crippled in his feet from the day he was born. Barnabas and Paul show up in this town and began preaching the gospel publicly. Obviously, they were lifting up Jesus Christ and declaring his life of miracles and how he was crucified, buried and raised from the dead the third day according to the prophetic promises of God with the power to save and heal. Suddenly Paul discerned that a man listening to him believed so he capitalized on this moment, this window of opportunity when he saw faith arising in this man’s heart. This was truly the working of miracles in operation. Paul quickly said to him arise and stand on your feet! The Bible says that this crippled man leapt to his feet and began to walk!
This miracle is similar to what happened when Jesus encountered a man that had been sick for 38 years next to the pool of Bethesda. The Lord asked him do you want to be made well? He gave the excuse that no one could get him to the water on time to be healed when the angel came down and stirred it. There was this tradition that an angel came down once a year and stirred the pool and whoever got into the water first was instantly healed. The poor crippled could not get into the water on time but the healer himself Jesus Christ came to where he was. Jesus commanded: “Pick up your bed and go home” and he was instantly healed. Remember what Jesus promised us? Whoever believes in me the works that I do he will do also and greater works because I go to the Father? I don’t fully understand all the ways that God heals but I do know that sometimes supernatural gifts of healing and miracles happen!
Paul explains this in his letter to the Corinthians when he wrote to them:
1 Corinthians 12:9-10…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles…” I wish we could use these gifts of the Spirit like a light switch you know just to turn them on and off and make them happen anytime at our will but obviously we can’t do this because if we could then someone who had a gift of miracles or healings could just go into the local hospital and heal all the sick people. The Scriptures teach that it’s only by the working of the Holy Spirit that the supernatural gifts of healing and miracles can happen: 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. Amplified Bible. What was the result of this mighty miracle that happened while Paul was preaching?
First, the crowd went crazy and believed that the Greek gods were manifesting themselves through Barnabas and Paul because they said: “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” In other words, these people acknowledged the supernatural power of God but they were attributing it to Greek gods and the priest of Zeus was bringing out a bull to sacrifice and wreaths to Paul and Barnabas to worship them which they totally resisted and redirected the crowd to worship Yahweh the living God who made heaven and earth!
The Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the crowd to turn against Paul and Barnabas. It’s amazing how easily this crowd changed their minds and began to persecute Paul and Barnabas. It says that they stoned Paul and thought that they had killed him so they dragged him outside of the city gates. The disciples gathered around him and he was raised up by the power of God and went back into the city. Now that’s boldness! The apostles did not let anything stop them when it came to preaching the gospel, making disciples, planting churches and ordaining elders and neither should we!
PRAYER:
Father make us sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit and give us faith to testify and preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Help us Lord to believe in your power to perform miracles and healings today to convince people to believe in you as the Savior. Help us to do all the works you have called us to do. Set us free from any fears to go to the mission field weather in our city or around the world. Use us like you used the apostles and give us courage and boldness to do everything that you have called us to do. Be glorified through us and we give you all the praise when you do start working through us in powerful ways that like Paul and Barnabas we refuse to take your glory because without you we can do nothing. In the name of Jesus we pray and receive the answers by faith, Amen!
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Amazing, awesome and powerful was this healing miracle!!! You have to admit it, this is one of those kinds of miracles written in the Bible that makes you to say WOW!!! I mean, here’s a man crippled in his feet from the day he was born. Barnabas and Paul show up in this town and began preaching the gospel publicly. Obviously, they were lifting up Jesus Christ and declaring his life of miracles and how he was crucified, buried and raised from the dead the third day according to the prophetic promises of God with the power to save and heal. Suddenly Paul discerned that a man listening to him believed so he capitalized on this moment, this window of opportunity when he saw faith arising in this man’s heart. This was truly the working of miracles in operation. Paul quickly said to him arise and stand on your feet! The Bible says that this crippled man leapt to his feet and began to walk!
This miracle is similar to what happened when Jesus encountered a man that had been sick for 38 years next to the pool of Bethesda. The Lord asked him do you want to be made well? He gave the excuse that no one could get him to the water on time to be healed when the angel came down and stirred it. There was this tradition that an angel came down once a year and stirred the pool and whoever got into the water first was instantly healed. The poor crippled could not get into the water on time but the healer himself Jesus Christ came to where he was. Jesus commanded: “Pick up your bed and go home” and he was instantly healed. Remember what Jesus promised us? Whoever believes in me the works that I do he will do also and greater works because I go to the Father? I don’t fully understand all the ways that God heals but I do know that sometimes supernatural gifts of healing and miracles happen!
Paul explains this in his letter to the Corinthians when he wrote to them:
1 Corinthians 12:9-10…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles…” I wish we could use these gifts of the Spirit like a light switch you know just to turn them on and off and make them happen anytime at our will but obviously we can’t do this because if we could then someone who had a gift of miracles or healings could just go into the local hospital and heal all the sick people. The Scriptures teach that it’s only by the working of the Holy Spirit that the supernatural gifts of healing and miracles can happen: 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. Amplified Bible. What was the result of this mighty miracle that happened while Paul was preaching?
First, the crowd went crazy and believed that the Greek gods were manifesting themselves through Barnabas and Paul because they said: “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” In other words, these people acknowledged the supernatural power of God but they were attributing it to Greek gods and the priest of Zeus was bringing out a bull to sacrifice and wreaths to Paul and Barnabas to worship them which they totally resisted and redirected the crowd to worship Yahweh the living God who made heaven and earth!
The Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the crowd to turn against Paul and Barnabas. It’s amazing how easily this crowd changed their minds and began to persecute Paul and Barnabas. It says that they stoned Paul and thought that they had killed him so they dragged him outside of the city gates. The disciples gathered around him and he was raised up by the power of God and went back into the city. Now that’s boldness! The apostles did not let anything stop them when it came to preaching the gospel, making disciples, planting churches and ordaining elders and neither should we!
PRAYER:
Father make us sensitive to the working of the Holy Spirit and give us faith to testify and preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Help us Lord to believe in your power to perform miracles and healings today to convince people to believe in you as the Savior. Help us to do all the works you have called us to do. Set us free from any fears to go to the mission field weather in our city or around the world. Use us like you used the apostles and give us courage and boldness to do everything that you have called us to do. Be glorified through us and we give you all the praise when you do start working through us in powerful ways that like Paul and Barnabas we refuse to take your glory because without you we can do nothing. In the name of Jesus we pray and receive the answers by faith, Amen!
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll