David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 14:19-28

But 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. 20 But 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. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening 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. 23 And 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.

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

No need to worry – if any of you thought the title was autobiographical. It is not. It is actually a purposeful misquote of the famous Mark Twain quote, “James Ross Clemens, a cousin of mine, was seriously ill two or three weeks ago in London, but is well now. The report of my illness grew out of his illness; the report of my death was an exaggeration.” The title above would be appropriately applied to Paul who was stoned and thought to be dead. But, better than the Energizer Bunny, Paul gets back up, goes back into the city, and after recovering went on about his mission in the next town. Having experienced success, challenge, persecution, again and again, Paul is not to be daunted. He will return to some of the same cities they had earlier visited before heading back to Antioch.

Not only is Paul not dead; he is not daunted in his task of preaching the word, living out the grace of God, and declaring all that God had done with them. His report was about how God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Remaining in Antioch for a time, Paul and Barnabas will go out again. But first there will be the matter of dealing with the new Gentile believers – and the first Church Council. Much hangs in the balance, and the fact that Paul doesn’t seem to make a big deal of his poor treatment, points us toward how significant his report is that God had opened a door of faith to the non-Jewish people.

This account reminds me of the events recorded in the book of Exodus, when twelve spies were sent to scout out the land that had been promised to the Jewish nation. Ten of the twelve brought back a report of huge obstacles, daunting challenges, and insurmountable opposition they would face if they tried to enter the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb, however, brought back a report of how good the land was, and how the Lord would surely grant them the land he had promised. (cf. Joshua 14:5-9)

The truth was that Paul and Barnabas had experienced grave opposition on the part of many people. But the greater and more important truth is that God’s kingdom is advancing and Paul recognized that as not only true, but the truest and most important truth. He saw his part of the story of God’s salvation as not only his own story, but as a story that God was writing for the whole world. He was thought to have been dead, but he was more alive in those times and moments than at any other time.

Paul is a truly unique individual. He did more to shape the expansion of the Christian Church than any other man than Jesus himself. We might be tempted to discard his example for that reason. Let’s not be too quick, however, to do so. It might be that we endure hardship because we believe and are called to share our faith in hostile situations. It might be that we go far and wide to share the message of Christ. But it must surely be that we recognize the greater and truer truth that God’s kingdom is at hand, and that we are most fully alive when we are purposefully living under Christ in his kingdom and serving him and our neighbor for the Kingdom’s cause: salvation and life through Jesus Christ. Now that’s something for which we can all be thankful!