While the story of Paul's commencement as a disciple for Jesus Christ starts in Acts 9, we see two overarching themes throughout the Bible. The first is that God uses ordinary men to do extraordinary things; he stretches the faith in each, which allows them to complete the tasks that God requires to advance His kingdom. In Acts, specifically, the book provides a beginning for the early church, uses Paul as a vessel as he will write letters and plant churches in the next fourteen books, and do extraordinary things while facing huge hurdles along the way; all in faith for the glory of God in his mission to spread the gospel.
Toward the end of Acts, we see in Acts 9:31 where Paul is once again taken by believers to Caesarea and then sent to Tarsus, as the Jews were again conspiring to kill Paul.
Paul continues despite conflict everywhere he travels. Caesarea, Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus. Most of the travel from place to place was by sailing at sea. It continues on for several chapters, with Saul joined by Barnabas. Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium. All of these places just mentioned, around the islands near Cyprus and Greece, is presented entirely in Acts 13. He was on a mission. Teaching in the synagogues and public forums, reaching the Jews and the Gentiles.
In Acts 14:5, we see both Paul and Barnabas in danger. Starting in Acts 14:4, "The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel."
During this time, God gave Paul the ability to do His work in the form of miracles. He identifies those in opposition, speaks boldly and in using miracles that the Jews and Gentiles can see with their own eyes, performs them in their presence; validating his position and unwavering belief in the good news.
In Acts 13:9-12, we see the first example. "Then Saul, also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."
Also look at Acts 14:8-11. "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "the gods have come down to us in human form!"
Notice they shout to gods. Not God. They instead offer sacrifices to the "gods", despite seeing what Paul did in the name of the Lord.
None of these acts and the ones that follow could not have been performed without divine authority. Paul was guided and "filled" with the Holy Spirit. His mission from the Lord to spread the gospel.
More opposition. Acts 14:15-20 shows us that Paul faces disbelief, even in his preaching and urging for others to turn away from evil. "Friends, why are you doing this? We too, are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day, he and Barnabas left for Derbe."
It doesn't say it in verse 20, yet Paul, after being stoned to the point that the Jews thought he was dead, went back into the city and stayed until the next day before fleeing once again. Did he preach? We cannot know for sure, but despite being stoned, Paul went "back into the city." Why else would he stay? To present his position one more time, in his attempt to persuade the Jews before fleeing once again. What it does not say, is that Paul went back "into the city," to find a safe place where Barnabas could care for him before moving on. My guess - he preached once more before they left for Derbe, the next day.
At any rate, Paul was not going to waiver. His mission as a "Man on Fire," would be completed, just as Jesus completed his; saying, "It is finished."
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