Arriving in Iconium, they enter the Jewish synagogue, preach with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks are converted to the Christhood of Jesus; meanwhile “the disciples continued to be filled with joy and the Holy Ghost.” As usual, the unbelieving Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
_“Recognizing, they fled down into the cities of Lycaonia, i. e_., _Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding country; and there they were preaching the gospel.”_... [ Continue Reading ]
HEALING OF THE CRIPPLE AT LYSTRA 8-10. The imperfect tense here shows that they had been preaching some time at Lystra. Meanwhile this poor cripple, who, the Greek says, had no power to use his feet, and consequently had never walked, though now quite up in mature manhood, fortunately had friends to... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE TAKEN FOR GRECIAN GODS 11-18. All nations at the time of our Savior's advent were on tiptoe expecting a divine messenger from heaven to teach them the way of salvation. Hence the heathens were on the constant lookout for their gods to come among them in human form. When a stude... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL'S MARTYRDOM 19, 20. Behold the fickle caprice of frail mortality, which has been verified in all ages and nations! Now they are all clamorous to worship the apostles for gods. In one short hour they are all clamorous for their blood, and actually stone Paul! Millions, besides Paul, have passed... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the sorrowing Nazarenes gather around their murdered brother to bury him. To their joyful surprise, he jumps out of the rock-pile with a big shout, and walks with Barnabas to his next appointment at Derbe. Cheered with God's blessing on their labors, and witnessing many conversions, they come ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_“Establishing the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to abide in the faith, and that through many tribulations it behooveth us to enter into the kingdom of God.”_ Many of Paul's meetings were entirely on the sanctification line, making no converts, but establishing the saints. _“Kingdom of... [ Continue Reading ]
_“Electing unto them elders in every church.”_ Here is another case where the E. V. inserts _“ordaining”_ in order to sustain the authority of the Episcopal Church, of which the translators were members, there being no such a revelation in the Greek. The word translated “ordain” is _cheirotoneoo_, f... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the apostles take a circuitous route through Pisidia, Pamphylia and Italia, arriving back at Syrian Antioch, whence they set out on this great evangelistic tour. Convening the church, they are received with delight by all the saints, who are spellbound and electrified by their rehearsals of the... [ Continue Reading ]