They Preached The Gospel

Although Iconium was a trouble spot for the Apostle Paul and his traveling companion Barnabas, it was just a speed-bump compared to what was coming.  If you must face danger, you might as well go ahead and walk right on into the lion's den.  In this case it would be the synagogue of the Jews.

Paul and Barnabas were on a mission.  It didn't matter to them if the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and turned their minds against them.  They came to do one thing ... they preached the Gospel.

Iconium was a prosperous town, but much smaller than towns like Ephesus or Smyrna with their urban culture being more Greco-Roman.  Small towns were most likely to have a more rural society.  And of course, being smaller, Paul and Barnabas would undoubtedly have drawn more attention preaching the Gospel than in a larger city.

They came to preach the Gospel, the good news about Jesus to anyone who would hear; and evidently many heard and believed, both Jews and Gentiles which caused the people in town to be divided over their preaching.  (Acts 14:1-4)

Under law, city magistrates could only quell disturbances by legally banning Paul and Barnabas from the city.  But the Jewish and Gentile rulers together formed a plot to stone them to death before they were banned from town.  As long as it was only opposition to their preaching, they would stay ... but death was another thing. 

Being made aware of the situation, they made their escape to Lystra, a neighboring town ... where more trouble awaited them. 

"And there they preached the Gospel."  (Acts 14:7)

The Gospel ... many who hear the good news find only salvation ... which is of all things considered, the utmost of importance.  But when Paul preached the "the Gospel" here in Lystra ...

Acts 14: 8-10 ... "There sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.  The same heard Paul speak; Paul stedfastly beholding him, perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet,' and he leaped and walked."

This may have been in a marketplace or just a street corner as was the custom of speakers and philosophers to gather listeners wherever they could.  The scripture doesn't say if this was a place the lame man may have been brought each day to beg, as was the case of the lame man that was healed at the temple gate with Peter and John. 

Let's look at this a little closer.

Here's a man who "sat" ... meaning his usual posture, because his feet were useless to him, a cripple from birth, entirely deprived of the use of his feet.  He was totally helpless to walk under his own power.  His spiritual condition is not mentioned ... other than, he had faith to be healed.

Where did this man's faith come from?  When we think of preaching the Gospel, usually salvation, the forgiveness of sin through the death of Jesus on the cross comes to mind.  But here ... salvation isn't even mentioned.

Is there a truth in the preaching of the Gospel that many believers miss by only receiving salvation?  What else is in the Gospel?

This lame man heard Paul speak, and while speaking, Paul "stedfastly beheld him" or steadily watched the lame man.  Was it the man's attention in hearing, or perhaps any gestures he made towards Paul ... or as the Arabic version adds to this scripture ... "he cried unto Paul" ... that allowed Paul to perceive he had faith to be healed.

It's my opinion that the Holy Spirit was at work in Paul's life.  Secondly ... it is also my opinion that Paul didn't speak only about salvation in the Gospel that he preached.

The Apostle Paul preached life, and life more abundantly in Jesus.  What did Jesus do more than anything else during His ministry?  He healed people.  Paul made healing part of the "Gospel" he presented to this lame man.  Then Paul perceived that ... "he had faith" ... or possessed faith in his heart and soul to be healed.

Where did this faith for healing come from?  Faith comes by hearing the Word, so healing must have been talked about by Paul as much as salvation.  This man needed healing.

Healing, like salvation should be part of the Gospel.  Jesus always responded with ... "I will" ... when answering those who asked Him for healing. 

So, if healing is not for today ... when did the Gospel change?

Paul's disciples believed in prayer and healing.  Certain Jews from Antioch and Icomium, who had tried to stone Paul earlier, followed him to Lystra; and this time actually stoned him to death, and then dragged his body out of the city and dumped him there as a dead man.  (Acts 14:19)

After they left, Paul's followers gathered around him, prayed over him the prayer of faith, and "he rose up" and came into the city, but left the next day.  (Acts 14:20)

Paul and Barnabas were on a mission.   They came to do one thing ... they preached the Gospel.

The whole Gospel ... including the power to heal.






Note ... In 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul speaks of where he was during the period of time he was lying dead after the stoning.  (I posted "Paul's Thorn in the Flesh" which covers this event, if you are interested.  Check the Blog Archive ... July 2011.)


Blessings ...