Paul's First Missionary Journey - In Iconium; Acts 14:1–7 Part 2

Church History: There was opposition to their preaching, and trouble created by it. They could not get puffed up with the multitude of their converts, because of this thorn in the side. Unbelieving Jews were the first spring of their trouble here, as elsewhere they stirred up the Gentiles. The influence which the gospel had upon many of the Gentiles, and their embracing it, provoked some of the Jews to a holy jealousy and stirred them up to receive the gospel also (Romans 11:14). It provoked other Jews to a wicked jealousy, and exasperated them against the gospel.
They continued in their work there, in spite of this opposition. The apostles worked for Christ, faithfully and diligently, according to the trust committed to them. Because the minds of some of the Gentiles were turned against them, one would think that therefore they should have withdrawn, or, if they had preached, should have preached cautiously, for fear of giving further provocation to those who were already enraged. No, on the contrary, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The more they perceived the spite and rancor of the town against the new converts, the more they were animated to go on in their work, and the more necessary they saw it to continue among them, to confirm them in the faith, and to comfort them. They spoke boldly, and were not afraid of giving offence to the unbelieving Jews. What God said to the prophet, with reference to the unbelieving Jews in his day, was now made good to the apostles: “I have made thy face strong against their faces”, (Ezekiel 3:7-9).
The multitude of the city was divided into two parties, and both active and vigorous. Among the rulers and persons of rank, and among the common people, there were some that held with the unbelieving Jews, and others that held with the apostles. Barnabas is here recognized as an apostle, though not one of the twelve. He was not called in the extra-ordinary manner that Paul was. He was not set apart by special designation of the Holy Spirit to the service of the Gentiles. It seems this business of the preaching of the gospel was so universally known, that every person among the multitude of the city, was either for it or against it; none were neutral.
The apostles must not be blamed for coming to Iconium, although before they came the city was united, and now it was divided. It is better that part of the city go to heaven than the entire city go to hell. We must take the measures of our expectations; let us not think it’s strange if the preaching of the gospel causes division, or be offended by it; it is better to be reproached and persecuted as dividers for swimming against the stream than yield ourselves to be carried down the stream that leads to destruction. Let us hold with the apostles, and not fear those that hold with the Jews.