Their missionary labours continue in Iconium with the same opposition from
the Jews who, incapable themselves of the work, stir up the Gentiles
against those who are performing it. As long as it was only opposition, it
was but a motive for perseverance; but, being warned in time of an assault
that was planned against them, they depart to Lystra and Derbe. There,
having healed a cripple, they excite the idolatrous respect of these poor
pagans; but, filled with horror, they turn them from their error by the
energy of the Holy Ghost-faithful to the testimony of their God. Hither
also the Jews follow them. Now, if man will not ally himself with the
idolatry of the heart, and accept exaltation from men, the power of his
testimony, which they began by admiring as long as they thought they could
elevate man and acquire importance through their flatteries being accepted,
ends by exciting the hatred of their hearts. The Jews bring this hatred
into action and stir up the people, who leave Paul for dead. But he rises
up and re-enters the city, remaining tranquilly there another day, and on
the morrow he goes with Barnabas to Derbe.
Afterwards they revisit the cities through which they had passed, and at
Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they confirm the disciples in the faith, and
teach them that they must pass through tribulation to inherit the kingdom.
They choose elders for them; and passing through some other cities to the
place where they had disembarked, they return to Antioch, from whence they
had been commended to God for the work, causing great joy to the disciples
there in that the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. This is the
first formal mission among the Gentiles where assemblies are formed, elders
appointed by the apostles, and the hostility of the Jews to the grace of
God, outside their nation and independently of their law, is distinctly
marked. The word assumes a positive character among the Gentiles, and the
energy of the Holy Ghost displays itself to this end, constituting and
forming them into assemblies, establishing local rulers in them, outside
and independently of the action of the apostles and assembly at Jerusalem,
and the obligation of the law which was still maintained there.
A question concerning this (that is, whether it could be allowed) is soon
raised at Antioch. It is no longer the opposition of the Jews hostile to
the gospel, but the bigotry of those who had embraced it, desiring to
impose the law on the converted Gentiles. But the grace of God provides for
this difficulty also.
