ANOINTED HANDS (4)

“…the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting SIGNS and WONDERS to be DONE by their HANDS” – Act 14:3b

Bearing bold witness to God’s Word of Grace will activate ANOINTED HANDS to perform Signs and Wonders: “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting SIGNS and WONDERS to be DONE by their HANDS” (Acts 14:3). This was part of Paul’s first missionary journey. The leaders of the synagogue in Antioch had just expelled Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13: 49-52). Yet when they came to Iconium, they again began their evangelistic efforts by preaching in the synagogue. It was still a good way to start. Here in the city of Iconium, Paul and Barnabas experienced phenomenal evangelistic accomplishment as they, by custom, entered the synagogue of the Jews: “and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed” (v1).

Paul and Barnabas had good success among the Jews and the Greeks, presenting the same gospel to both. The fact that both groups believed confirms that Paul preached the same message to them: That salvation is in Jesus, and we appropriate it by our faith in Him. This success was refreshing, because they had just been kicked out of Pisidian Antioch, after much impact. On other occasions Paul was inclined to stay in a region for an extended period of time, strengthening the churches and working where evangelistic efforts had already borne fruit. Therefore, the persecution Paul had in Pisidian Antioch might have been God’s way of moving him on to Iconium and other places.

Successful ministry often breeds opposition. The devil, by nature, opposes the manifestations of anointed hands by brewing divisions and venom: “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the gentiles and poisoned their minds against their brethren” (v.2). Of course, it was not all the Jews of Iconium who reacted negatively; many others believed (v.1). Yet some not only rejected the message, but stirred up others to reject the message and the messengers! Despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas stayed as long as they could, and continued “speaking boldly in the Lord.” They were not afraid of the people to whom they were speaking. They left only when it was absolutely necessary. They persevered, knowing that these Christians in Iconium needed all the grounding they could get to stand strong in a city with much opposition.

As these faithful ministers bore witness to the Word of His Grace, God granted “signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” That is, He ensured that they touched others with the Power of Jesus! No minister – not even an apostle – can work a miracle or wrought any sign or wonder through self-effort, but by the Grace of God. The miraculous works done confirmed the message they preached – the Word of His Grace. That’s the only word by which both Jews and Gentiles could be saved on an equal basis. Grace is the subject matter of the Gospel! The Gospel is all about Grace. It is the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Grace.

Ultimately, because “the multitude of the city was divided” (v.4a), violent oppositions still forced Paul and Barnabas out of Iconium: “A violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them” (v.5). When forced to, Paul and Barnabas left Iconium for Lystra (20 miles away) and Derbe: “They became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there” (v.7). Their perseverance under the difficulty in Iconium didn’t mean that it was time for them to become martyrs. Much of the plans and purposes of God still lay ahead for them to fulfil. Wisdom demanded that they not die before their time. Rather, they must move on to new grounds, with unwavering boldness and unwaning commitment.