Determination Despite the Suffering



Acts 14:19-20
19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

I am currently doing a study of the book of Job with one of my small groups. There you find an epic story of struggle and pain allowed by . . . well, God. Yes, Satan causes Job’s pain but God gives him permission to do so. It is always an interesting conversation about why bad things happen to God’s people. In our reading for today we find that Paul is in an incredibly difficult place. He has been stoned, to the point (more about that later) of death! We are not given any of Paul’s thoughts or inner monologue while this terrible event is taking place but we do know that the next day he was up and moving on to Derbe. A little near death experience didn’t stop the mission from taking place.

I have often wondered about verses 19 and 20. 

“. . . they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up . . .”

Here the followers of Jesus have seen Paul stoned apparently to death. His body is dragged from the city and cast outside the gates. I confess that when I read this (between the lines) I assume that he was actually dead and the disciples prayed for his rescue. The Lord grants Paul a complete healing and he is good to go. Time to get on with the ministry! In the text it seems that so little is made of this situation and yet this is a huge miracle. At the very least, Paul is healed of some serious and life threatening injuries. In all likelihood he is raised from the dead! All in a day’s work for God. And here’s the final triumph. He goes back into the city to continue his ministry! Just imagine what the “stone throwers” must have thought when they saw him back in the city. Wish I had a picture of their faces.

This passage challenges us to face our struggles and continue to move in the direction God is leading. The temptation must have been present for Paul to slink away, just happy to be alive. But instead he follows God’s calling back into the enemy’s territory and finishes his work. As with all of Paul’s stories, it’s inspiring.

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