Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Acts 14:1-7

By now we are familiar with the missional pattern: Paul and Barnabas arrive in such-and-such a place; they go to the synagogue and proclaim the Good News about Jesus; both Jews and Gentiles believe, but some oppose them; Paul and Barnabas move on to another location and the cycle begins again.

What’s different here is the escalation of the opposition. For the first time on their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas face the threat of death. This has happened to Paul before (Acts 9:29, his dispute against the Hellenists in Jerusalem) but not on the missionary journey. In Iconium, the crowd seeks to stone them — which is a bit of irony, given that Paul was present at the stoning of Stephen. This won’t be the last time Paul will endure this threat from those who oppose his work.

I think it’s notable that Luke ascribes the signs and wonders to the Lord (14:3). Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium for many days, speaking boldly for the Lord — who bore witness to their words by granting signs and wonders to be done. We’re reminded once more that Luke’s Gospel bears witness to all that Jesus “began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1), implying that the Acts of the Apostles is a sequel focused on all that Jesus continues to do among His people.

I greatly admire the steadfast devotion Paul and Barnabas have for their mission. Surely it was not easy to continue when your own brethren turn against you like this. How many of us could bear up under the threat of such physical harm? But Paul is persistent. He resolutely holds to this conviction that Jesus is the Messiah and the proclamation of His gospel is the Good News of eternal life for anyone who would believe. If you have the promise of eternal life coming from a risen Savior, even the threat of death won’t faze you. And Paul never wavers, never capitulates, never quits. I love that.

One final note of interest: v7, “…they continued to preach the gospel.” Literally, the text reads, “…and there they were gospeling.” Undeterred, Paul and Barnabas just keep on gospeling. Wherever they are, whatever the response, these two continue “gospeling” in faith. What an example!