Acts 14:1-7

1At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7where they continued to preach the good news.

Questions to consider:

• What circumstances lead Paul to decide to remain a long time at Iconium?
• What is the source of the opposition?
• What specific help does God give Paul and Barnabas at Iconium?
• How do the people of the city respond to the miraculous?

Possibilities for prayer:

Even when we’re doing the right things, saying the right things...things don’t always go as we’d like them to. Let’s ask God to give us the perseverance to keep pushing into good things, even when the response from those around us is not always the most encouraging.