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Acts 14:1–3. At Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way that a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. And the unbelieving Jews aroused and irritated the hearts of the pagans against their brothers. However, they stayed here for quite some time, boldly acting in the Lord, who, as a testimony to the word of His grace, performed signs and wonders with their hands. They did not become more fearful, but again “entered the Jewish synagogue together.” They usually addressed both Jews and Greeks. “The unbelieving Jews stirred up and irritated the hearts of the pagans against their brothers.” They also aroused the pagans, not content with rebelling themselves. But the apostles did not leave the synagogue, since they were not persecuted, but only competed with them. “However, they stayed here for quite some time, acting boldly.” Boldness came from the apostles’ devotion to the work of preaching. And the fact that those who heard them believed was a consequence of miracles, but this was somewhat facilitated by the very boldness of the apostles. Acts 14:4–7. Meanwhile, the people in the city were divided: some were on the side of the Jews, and others on the side of the Apostles. When the pagans and Jews with their leaders rushed to shame and stone them, they, having learned about this, withdrew to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and their surroundings, and preached the gospel there. What Christ spoke about happened: “Do not imagine that I came to bring peace to earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). “Having learned about this, they left.” There is nothing strange in the fact that the saints flee from people intending to perpetrate intrigues on them, and consider it best to avoid the battle, which they considered, according to the evidence given, to be prohibited to them. Acts 14:8–12. In Lystra a certain man, who could not use his legs, sat lame from his mother's womb, and had never walked. He listened to Paul speak, who, looking at him and seeing that he had faith to receive healing, said in a loud voice: I say to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: stand upright on your feet. And he immediately jumped up and began to walk. When the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in Lycaonian: The gods have come down to us in human form. And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermias, because he was in charge of the word. Why did Paul “speak with a loud voice!” So that the people will believe. As for the words “looking at him and seeing that he had faith to receive healing,” these words, it seems to me, express the idea that Paul penetrated into his soul, because it was possible only for a philosophical soul to listen to what Paul said. “And he immediately jumped up and began to walk.” That the lame man jumped up is proof of his perfect healing. “The people saw what Paul had done.” Notice, on the one hand, the innocence of the pagans, on the other, the deceit of the Jews. The former honored the apostles as gods, the latter persecuted them as destroyers of order. “And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermias.” You see how it was the custom of the Hellenes to make people gods. Remember the origin of idolatry so that you can give an answer when they ask where idolatry comes from. In exactly the same way, the Hellenes made gods and apostles out of people. And the devil at first tried in a similar way to introduce this wickedness into the world, saying: “You will be like gods” (Gen. 3:5). And since he did not succeed then, from then on he has been striving for this to this day, trying to introduce polytheism everywhere. Acts 14:13–18. The priest of the idol of Zeus, who was in front of their city, bringing oxen to the gate and bringing wreaths, wanted to make a sacrifice together with the people. But the Apostles Barnabas and Paul, hearing about this, tore their clothes and, rushing into the people, loudly said: men! what are you doing? And we are people like you, and we preach the gospel to you, so that you should turn from these false things to the living God, who created heaven and earth and the sea and everything that is in them; Who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways, although He did not cease to testify of Himself with good deeds, giving us rain and fruitful times from heaven and filling our hearts with food and joy. And, saying this, they barely convinced the people not to make sacrifices to them and everyone to go home. Meanwhile, while they remained there, they taught. Look: everywhere they are pure and free from vanity; Not only do they not seek glory, but they even reject it from themselves when glorification is given to them. So Peter said: “Why do you look at us, as if we had done by our own strength or piety that he walks” (Acts 3:12)? And these apostles say the same thing, but act with some vehemence: “they tore their clothes and, rushing into the people, said loudly: men! what are you doing? And we are people like you." We are people, they say, but we are above idols, because they are dead. Do you see how common it was among the Hellenes to make gods out of people? And in their books, where their ancient history is described, you will find that Zeus, being a man, made himself a god, saying that he is a god. In the same way, many of the Roman and Macedonian kings were called divine. Therefore, there is no reason not to believe the ancient legends that some of the nations were deceived and called some of the people gods, just as these people were deceived by Barnabas and Paul. And the inhabitants of Samaria called Simon the Magus the great power of God. "They tore their clothes." The Jews had a custom of tearing their clothes when they heard blasphemous words. So, when Christ said that He was the Son of God, Caiaphas tore his clothes, saying that Christ had blasphemed God. And since what happened now was in some way blasphemy, then, following Jewish custom, the apostles did the same. This custom was rejected because it was not a regulation of the law. And the Lord said to the Jews when they did this: “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments” (Joel 2:12-13). “Who in past generations suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.” “He allowed,” it is said, but the apostle does not yet say why he allowed, since he dwells primarily on what was urgently necessary, and nowhere else does he mention the name of Christ. “Although He did not cease to testify about Himself.” He says this because in each generation he did things that led people to the truth. Without forcing free will, the Lord allowed all people to walk according to their own discretion, but He Himself constantly performed such deeds from which they, as rational beings, could understand the Creator. The apostle even calls the annual rains His witnesses. Acts 14:19–28. Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and, when the Apostles preached boldly, they convinced the people to leave them, saying: they say nothing true, but they all lie. And, rousing the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, considering him dead. When the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the city, and the next day he withdrew with Barnabas to Derbe. Having preached the Gospel to this city and acquired quite a few disciples, they returned through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and teaching that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God. Having ordained them elders for each church, they prayed with fasting and commended them to the Lord in whom they believed. Then, passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And having preached the word of the Lord in Perga, they went down to Attalia; and from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they were committed to the grace of God for the work, which they completed. Arriving there and gathering the church, they told everything that God had done with them and how He opened the door of faith to the pagans. And they stayed there for a considerable time with the disciples. Look at the rage of the Jews: they infiltrated the people who had shown such honor to the apostles, and “convinced” them to stone Paul. And they dragged him out of the city because they were afraid. Moreover, they only tried to undermine the sermon. But do you see Paul's fiery jealousy? After he was thrown out of the city, he again came to the same city to show that if, in similar cases, he moved away, it was because he had to sow the word of God and that there was no need to incite anger... “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.” Look: no one is justified without labor and sorrow. Therefore, the Lord called the gates leading to the Kingdom of Heaven narrow and cramped (see Matt. 7:13), that is, full of constraints. But what brings one into the Kingdom of Heaven is not every kind of oppression or sorrow that one encounters, but sorrow because of faith in God. “Having ordained... them elders... they prayed with fasting.” They taught us to fast even during trials; fasting was also accompanied by consecrations. But they did not install elders in Cyprus, nor in Samaria, which was located near Jerusalem and the apostles, and in Antioch itself the word of God was strengthened. And here the new believers, and especially those of the pagans who needed edification, needed great support. But pay attention to the fact that Paul and Barnabas had the rank of bishop, because they ordained not only deacons, but also elders. “Arriving there” (to Antioch) “and having gathered the church, they told everything that God had done with them.” The apostle did not say: “What have they done,” but “What has God done to them?” “God... opened the door of faith to the pagans.” The opening of the door refers to the teaching that the pagans received through the apostles. “And they remained there for a considerable time with the disciples.” Since the city was large, there was a need for teachers. You might be interested in: