"Itinerary"
Overview
Four Marks of a Faithful Witness: Lessons from Paul's First Missionary Journey
The closing scenes of Paul's first missionary journey Acts 14:19-28 move dramatically from crowds wanting to worship Paul as a god to crowds wanting him dead. Jews from Antioch and Iconium followed him to Lystra, won the crowd over, and stoned him—dragging his body outside the city, presuming him dead. Yet the very next day, Paul rose and walked roughly forty miles to Derbe to keep preaching Christ. From this remarkable account, four marks of apostolic faithfulness emerge for us to embrace.
Persistence. Paul refused to waste a single day in glorifying Jesus. His faith was not compartmentalized to a Sunday hour; it was the whole reason he drew breath. Near the end of his life he could write, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7. His catalog of beatings, shipwrecks, dangers, and sleepless nights in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 shows what "all in for Jesus Christ" actually looks like.
Proclamation. In Derbe, Paul and Barnabas "proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples" Acts 14:21. Acts of kindness, love, and presence are bridges over which the Word travels—but it is the Word itself, not our kindness, that converts the heart. We are not responsible for the conversion; we are responsible for the proclamation. As Paul later wrote, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" 1 Corinthians 3:6.
Provision. Paul and Barnabas returned to the very cities where they had been persecuted—Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch—"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" Acts 14:22. Souls are strengthened only through God's Word Psalm 119:28; the good times of life are precisely when we fortify ourselves for the difficult ones. They also appointed elders in every church with prayer and fasting, providing ongoing pastoral care. This care is not the work of clergy alone—every believer is called to encourage, bless, and spiritually provide for the neighbor, equipping the saints for the work of ministry Ephesians 4:12.
Pointing to God. When Paul and Barnabas finally returned to Antioch, they did not boast of their achievements. They "declared all that God had done with them" Acts 14:27. Humility is a defining mark of the Christian: every blink of the eye and beat of the heart is a gift from God's hand. We so easily fall short of all four of these marks—punting instead of persisting, going silent instead of proclaiming, looking after ourselves instead of providing, glorifying self instead of pointing to God. But at the intersection of our failures we meet the grace of God in the cross and empty tomb of Jesus Christ. His Word of absolution raises us up and sends us out again—on our own itineraries this week—to persist, to proclaim, to provide, and to point.
Transcript
As we come to the conclusion of the 14th chapter of Acts, we come really to a transition point in the book of Acts. 0s
This marks the end of what is called Paul's first missionary journey. 8s
The first missionary journey is recorded in chapter 13 and 14 of the book of Acts. 14s
We're going to see in the chapter's head we're going to see two more missionary journeys on the part of Paul. 20s
You recall where we were last week, we were called where we were in Lystra. 29s
There had been a healing of a man that had been born lame. 34s
People got all excited. 38s
They thought that Zeus and Hermes had come. 40s
They wanted to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. 43s
So Paul and Barnabas were dealing with that. 46s
But they go from this adulation of the crowd to the exact... 50s
opposite. 58s
We're going to follow today the conclusion of the itinerary of Paul's first missionary journey. 60s
And as we've been studying Acts, what Pastor Melancholy and I pray that use a congregation will embrace in an even greater way. 70s
Is the passion of the early apostles? 81s
What it was they were about? 85s
How they spoke about the gospel? 87s
How they deal with difficulties in their lives? 89s
And so I want you to notice that this morning. 94s
And especially I'm going to lift up four different points of emphasis that we see in the life of Paul that by God's grace may it be manifest in our life. 97s
So to lie straight we go, but only for a moment. 111s
And notice now the reaction to the apostles. 117s
Let's begin, please. 123s
Verse 19 of chapter 14. 126s
But Zeus came there from Antioch and Iconium and one over the crowds. 130s
You have to be really hated. 140s
If you're going to have people follow you to another town to disrupt things in your ministry. 145s
Exactly what happens. 155s
Jump back, please, to chapter 13, verse 50. 156s
Here at this point, there in Antioch. 161s
And verse 50 of chapter 13 says, but the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region. 165s
Jump now to verse 2, please, chapter 14. 184s
Now the local is Iconium. 188s
The scripture says, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their mind against the brothers. 191s
Okay, jump now back to verse 19. 204s
But Jews came there and noticed the local from Antioch, remember these stirred things up there. 207s
And Iconium, remember these stirred things up there. 214s
And now they've followed them all the way to Lystra and one over the crowds, what was the result, second part of verse 19. 217s
Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 231s
Stoning people was a means of execution in ancient day. 242s
The stones that they would have thrown would not have been little rocks. 248s
They would have been stones that could inflict harm. 254s
That indeed the weight of the stones you get enough of them and it will kill you. 258s
And that's what they think they have done to Paul. 263s
Finally, they have gotten rid of the trouble maker, they have killed him and they drag him out of the city. 266s
But notice, verse 20. 277s
But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. 281s
He wasn't there, he was unconscious. 288s
The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derby. 291s
Let's wrap our arms around that. 300s
There has been an attempt on Paul's life. 304s
The rocks have pelted him. 307s
They were so confident that he was dead, that he was dragged outside of the city. 310s
And the scripture says, the next day he gets up. 317s
And the trip to Derby is 40 miles. 327s
So his body has been pelted with the rocks. 331s
To the point that they thought they had killed him, the very next day he gets up and he starts walking for the 40 miles. 335s
This is one who will not waste a day in glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. 345s
This is one who will not waste a day in proclaiming Christ. 353s
Here's the first aspect I want to lift up to you here. 359s
Here is a persistence, right? 362s
A persistence in understanding that his whole reason for being was to be a believer. 366s
And to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. 374s
And so the very next day after having his body pumbled with rocks, he gets up and he walks the 40 miles to the next city. 378s
To do what? 388s
To proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ. 389s
That's persistence, isn't it? 392s
That's somebody who's all in for Jesus Christ. 394s
That's somebody who's all in. 399s
That's somebody who doesn't compartmentalize his faith. 401s
That isn't somebody who says it's Sunday now. 404s
It's time to be a Christian. 407s
That's somebody who understands that his whole reason for being is as long as he has breath to glorify Jesus persistence. 409s
I think of what he writes in 2 Timothy 4. 423s
He knows his life is about coming to an end at this point. 428s
And here I it's this. 432s
I fought the good fight. 435s
I've finished the race. 439s
That's what mattered to him. 447s
That's what mattered to him. 450s
That indeed he understood that life this sight of heaven as a Christian is going to be challenging. 452s
And yet there was a persistence. 463s
He writes in 2 Timothy or 2 Corinthians, the 11th chapter. 467s
He writes this. 472s
Five times I've received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one. 475s
Three times I was beaten with rods once I received a stone ink. 479s
Well, we know what that happened. 485s
Three times I've been shipwrecked for a night and a day I was a drift at sea on frequent journeys and danger from rivers. 487s
Danger from bandits danger from my own people danger from Gentiles danger in the city danger in the wilderness. 495s
Danger at sea danger from false brothers and sisters in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night. 501s
Hungry and thirsty often without food cold and naked and beside other things I'm under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all of the churches. 509s
That's persistence isn't it. 522s
That's persistence. 526s
That's one who says by the grace of God, I will persist in this process. 530s
That's a good explanation as long as I have friends. 539s
How inspiring is that? 544s
What's spiring is that? 546s
First aspect that I want to lift up is persistence. 550s
Here's the second one. 554s
He proclaimed. 557s
He proclaimed. 558s
Back to our text verse 21. 561s
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples. 566s
So where are they now? 574s
They've gone the 40 miles right from Leistre to Derby. 576s
And what does he do here in Derby? 580s
But he proclaims the good news proclaims the good news. 583s
When we love other people, when we do acts of kindness toward other people, 590s
when we come around them in a difficult time, those are all good things to do. 601s
But it's only the word of the gospel that will convert their heart. 612s
See, when we love, when we're kind, when we come around them, etc. 619s
Those are those bridges over which the word crosses. 628s
But it's the word, not the act of kindness that changes. 633s
That just wins us in audience. 639s
That just wins us some ears. 642s
But it's the proclamation that changes the heart. 644s
Look with me again, at verse 21. 650s
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city, 653s
notice what is connected with proclamation and had made many disciples. 657s
You see, the proclamation is that which is connected with the making of disciples. 665s
It's as the proclamation goes forth that God uses the proclamation to transform the heart. 670s
And who is the one that makes the disciples? 678s
It's God, right? 681s
So when it says, after they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, 684s
they're not responsible for the conversion. 691s
They're responsible for the proclamation. 693s
Paul says this. 696s
First Corinthians 3, he says, I planted, planted what? 697s
Plant at the seed of the gospel. 702s
Apollos watered. 704s
But God gave the growth. 707s
God gave the growth. 709s
We don't convert anyone. 712s
We don't contribute to anyone's growth. 714s
Our role is to be used by God to plant the seeds. 716s
And when those seeds sprout, it's not us disciples who get the glow of the Lord. 721s
It's God. 727s
Because God is the one who is the one who gives the growth. 730s
Proclamation is what was emphasized in the life of the early disciples. 738s
That's why we've got three different workshops here in the congregation that have to do about witnessing. 747s
I hope every single person in this congregation will go through all three of those workshops. 755s
I think of the workshop, everyone, a missionary. 763s
Steve Burke, that deals with the who we are. 769s
We're all missionaries to the Lord Jesus Christ. 773s
We all are. 776s
I think a pastramalanx workshop, everyone has witnessed. 777s
That has to do about the how of it. 781s
So so what is it that we say as we witness to others? 784s
I think of Steve's workshop, everyday boldness. 790s
That has to do about the the doing of witnessing. 794s
Right? 798s
That indeed as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we are bold in our witness. 798s
It's it's three different workshops. 804s
It's who how and do when you break it down to its simplest component this week. 806s
You're going to get information in the mail about the start of our academy at Living Worth Lutheran Church. 813s
I know of no other congregation in the Metroplex in Texas or surrounding states even that is doing this. 819s
This is a mini seminary. 829s
Pastor Madelinex is going to teach in it. 833s
Steve Burke is going to teach in it. 835s
I'm going to teach in it. 837s
There's going to be a course in the fall and the winter of spring. 839s
Different courses for three years in addition to that. 842s
You've got these three different workshops. 845s
And all of it is for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry. 848s
That's Ephesians four. 853s
That's the role of leadership in the life of a congregation. 855s
The leaders are to equip the congregation for the work that they do as missionaries. 858s
I pray that every single person will go through this academy. 866s
We're opening it up to other churches. 870s
I hope that you'll bring friends with you. 873s
You can jump in at every time when you're done. 876s
You're going to get this certificate. 879s
It's a three year program. 881s
And all the courses have at its root apologetics. 883s
In other words, a defense for the faith. 886s
Why are we doing that? 888s
Because it's what they did in the early church. 890s
They were persistent in their call. 893s
And secondly, they proclaimed. 897s
Persistent? 903s
proclaim? 905s
Here's the third aspect. 908s
They provided. 911s
They provided. 913s
Look with me, please. 913s
At verse 21 again. 915s
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city. 920s
And had made many disciples. 924s
Remember, they're in Derby at this point. 926s
They returned to Lystra. 929s
Then on to Iconium. 933s
And Antioch. 937s
Now what had happened? 941s
In Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. 942s
Why did they leave? 947s
Because they were persecuted for the faith. 951s
And God used the persecution to push him out. 954s
And to expand the witness. 958s
God used that. 961s
Which is bad. 962s
Turned it into an element of good. 963s
So what are they doing now? 965s
They're going back to the very places. 966s
Where people hated them. 971s
Wanted to kill them. 975s
They're going back. 977s
And what do they do in these places? 979s
Look at verse 21, second part. 983s
They returned to Lystra. 986s
Then on to Iconium and Antioch. 987s
Here's the first thing they did. 989s
They strengthened the souls of the disciples. 992s
So they provide now for the strengthening of the disciples in those areas. 998s
Well, how is a soul strengthened? 1004s
A soul that's only strengthened through the Word of God. 1007s
That's how a person's encouraged. 1012s
Through the Word. 1014s
Scripture tells us in Psalm 119, 1015s
my soul melts away for sorrow. 1017s
Strengthen me according to your Word. 1021s
Do you know during the better times of your life? 1029s
That's when you prepare for the difficult times. 1035s
Because when the difficult times comes, 1040s
it is all the more difficult. 1044s
Do not prepare for it. 1047s
And so in the good times in life, 1050s
when we're tempted to forget God because times are good. 1052s
And we're tempted to turn back to God when times are bad. 1058s
It's during the times that are good. 1062s
May we fortify ourselves with the Word of God and be strengthened in our souls 1066s
for when the times aren't as good. 1071s
So they go back to the cities and they're going to strengthen now these new believers. 1076s
They strengthen them and how do they do it through the Word? 1083s
Through the Word. 1088s
They strengthen them by simply proclaiming the Word to them. 1089s
Here's the second aspect of how they provided for the disciples. 1094s
Second part of verse 22. 1100s
And encourage them to continue in the faith. 1104s
How they do that. 1110s
Saying it is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God. 1112s
How many people need someone to just encourage them today. 1121s
Here, here the encouragement had to do for being persecuted for the faith. 1130s
But Barnabas, his name means Son of encouragement. 1139s
Barnabas was known in the early church for being an encourager of other people. 1144s
Let me ask you this. 1149s
Who is it that you know that perhaps is being persecuted for standing for the truth of the faith that you need to encourage this week? 1151s
Let's broaden it. 1161s
Who is it that you know simply needs a Word of encouragement this week? 1163s
It can be as simple as the clerk in the store. 1171s
When we understand that they're not an extension of the cash register that they're a human being with joys and sorrows 1177s
and you engage them in conversation and you give some kind of encouragement to them. 1187s
Who is it that you can encourage today? 1194s
In fact, who is it that in every conversation you have, you can deposit a blessing? 1196s
A blessing with them. 1204s
So that when you leave and you both go on your separate things, that person feels better for having talks with you. 1208s
Those mean their troubles are lifted, but they know that they're prayed for, they know that they've been blessed, they've been encouraged. 1220s
It's not what they did in the early church. 1231s
They just kept encouraging one another. 1235s
Encouraging one another. 1238s
They provided by strengthening of the souls. 1241s
They provided by encouraging. 1244s
Here's the third aspect. 1246s
Verse 23. 1248s
And after they had appointed elders for them in each city with prayer and fasting, 1251s
they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. 1256s
Elderists synonymous with pastor. 1264s
It's synonymous with bishop. 1266s
They're all the same term. 1267s
Bishop elder pastor. 1270s
So what do they do? 1273s
They provided for spiritual care. 1273s
Well, that's not limited here to those called to serve a congregation in the ordained ministry. 1277s
That's all of our calling, right? 1283s
As we care for, as we spiritually provide for each other. 1285s
This Carol was talking about this morning. 1293s
It's with Sunday school. 1295s
It's spiritually providing. 1297s
If you're married with your spouse, as you share and pray with each other, 1300s
it's spiritually providing for the neighbor where we understand ourselves as all being 1306s
pastors. 1314s
To care for others and to provide for their spiritual needs. 1317s
Equip Ephesians 4. 1322s
The Saints for the work of ministry is persistent. 1325s
He proclaimed. 1339s
He's been persistent. 1340s
Third, he provided. 1342s
And fourth, he pointed. 1347s
He pointed. 1351s
Go on into verse 24. 1353s
Then they passed through Pesidia and came to Pamphilia. 1355s
On the Ed spoke in the word in purger, they went down to Italian. 1360s
From there they sailed back to Antioch, 1364s
where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. 1368s
When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them. 1374s
And how we opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 1385s
And they stayed there with the disciples for some time. 1389s
You see, as they complete the itinerary here, 1398s
that God had birthed for them in the first missionary journey. 1401s
What do they do? 1407s
But they don't come back and say, 1409s
look at what we accomplished. 1413s
They say, 1416s
look what God did. 1418s
Look what God did. 1421s
A defining characteristic of the Christian is humility. 1424s
To humility. 1429s
It's understanding that the good that occurs in life comes from God. 1432s
That the blink of our eye and the beat of our heart is totally in the hand of God. 1440s
We hear so much in our culture today of people who say, 1447s
you can establish your own destiny and make your own dreams come true. 1452s
Beloved, nothing happens unless it is a blessing from the hand of God. 1460s
In any kind of understanding of our own accomplishments, 1469s
we had a repent because it is the blessing of God Almighty. 1475s
They came back and they pointed to God because glory belongs to God in other cells. 1481s
They were persistent. 1502s
They proclaimed. 1505s
They provided. 1507s
They pointed. 1510s
As we reflect on our own lives, so often we fall short of that, don't we? 1516s
In fact, every single day. 1522s
Instead of being persistent, we can pun. 1526s
Instead of proclaiming sometimes there's an area of peep from us. 1532s
Instead of providing, we can indeed perpetuate our own needs. 1542s
Instead of pointing to God, we can pull back and glorify the self. 1549s
And as God brings that to our understanding, he brings us to that point of repentance. 1558s
And there at the intersection of our failures, we meet the grace of God. 1565s
And indeed, our sinfulness has been a tone for by the cross of Jesus Christ, 1574s
the tomb is empty, the sacrifice is accepted, 1579s
and indeed, God's Word of App solution goes forth, 1584s
raising us up and empowering us for the new of the day. 1588s
Because we're all in for Jesus Christ. 1597s
And we're raised by His Word of forgiveness. 1603s
And we see life as simply the vehicle to bring him glory. 1608s
I came across, and this quote this week, 1618s
The author is unknown. 1624s
Person wrote this, I'm at a disciple of Jesus Christ. 1628s
The diesmen cast. 1635s
I've stepped over the line. 1637s
The decisions been made. 1640s
I'm at a disciple of Jesus Christ. 1641s
I will not look up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. 1647s
I no longer need. 1654s
Preeminence, prosperity, positions, promotions, or popularity. 1657s
I do not have to be right. 1665s
First, tops, recognized, praised, or rewarded. 1667s
My paces set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven. 1674s
My road is narrow, my way is rough. 1678s
My companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. 1684s
I cannot be bought, compromised, the toured, 1693s
lured away, back down, diluted, or delayed. 1699s
I will not give up, back up, let up, or shut up, until I have preached up, 1706s
prayed up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. 1714s
I must go until he returns. 1721s
I must give, until I drop. 1723s
I must preach until all know. 1726s
I must work until he comes. 1729s
And when he comes back to get his own, he'll have no problem recognizing me. 1732s
My colors will be nailed to the mast. 1739s
My colors will be flying, and will be clear. 1742s
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. 1747s
That's the book of Acts. 1756s
And so, out in our own itineraries, we go this week. 1761s
Out in our own, missionary journeys, we go this week. 1771s
May God use us to his glory as we go out, and we persist, and we proclaim, 1779s
and we provide, and we point. 1792s
So, out we go, because we're all in, aren't we? 1799s
We're all in for Jesus Christ. 1808s
Out we go. 1816s
Thank you. 1837s