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Iconium Was Divided - Acts 14
Iconium Was Divided - Acts 14
Paul and company entered into Iconium, a city that had never heard the gospel of Jesus. There ‘they spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed’, and this included both Jews and Gentiles (‘Greeks’). Such is the pattern throughout the book of Acts.
The gospel is preached and people respond in faith. Such faith comes by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). They believe “through the apostle’s word” (John 17:20). The hear words by which they can be saved (Acts 11:13-14). They are born again by (through the instrumentality of) the Word (1Pet. 1:23). Peter could state that “God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7). Some, like the Bereans, having heard the Word of the gospel examined the scriptures and THEREFORE many of them believed (Acts 17:11-12). The gospel is shown to be the ‘power of God unto salvation’ – but only to those who having heard, believe (Rom. 1:16-17).
In this we see the Spirit at work convicting the world by using the sword of the Spirit (John 16:8 and Eph. 6:17). Even with that, SOME REFUSED TO BELIEVE. The problem was not the weakness of the Spirit nor the weakness of the message, but the heart of the hearer (cp. The parable of the sower in Luke 8). With such unbelief, the city of Iconium was DIVIDED. Jesus said it would be like this! "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52).
This dividing of the world continues today. Everyone ends up on one side or the other, some side with the apostles and some oppose. Which side are you on?
Hugh DeLong
