Acts 14:1-7: a reflection

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preach so that many believe; but when opposition arises, they do not fall silent, but stay long speaking boldly, and when finally driven out, continue preaching elsewhere. They stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, the account says; and when a violent attempt was made against them, they became aware of it and fled to other cities, and there they preached the Good News. Opposition rose against them: unbelievers stirred up others against them, the city was divided, and eventually a violent attempt was made to harm them. But opposition did not silence them. They stayed long, speaking boldly despite it; and when they finally had to flee, they did not give up the work, but continued preaching the good news in the next place. This shows persevering in God's work despite opposition, continuing faithfully. Persevere in God's work despite opposition; do not let it silence you. When driven from one place, continue faithfully in another. Opposition need not stop the work of God. Keep doing God's work, boldly and faithfully, through and beyond opposition.

Notice how Paul and Barnabas responded to opposition. Their preaching in Iconium bore fruit; many believed. But opposition rose against them: the unbelieving stirred up others and poisoned their minds; the city divided; and at last a violent attempt was made to mistreat and harm them. Faced with this, they did not simply fall silent or flee at the first sign of trouble. They stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord despite the opposition, continuing the work. And when the danger became such that they had to leave, they did not abandon the work in discouragement; they fled to other cities, and there they kept preaching the good news. Opposition slowed but did not silence them; driven from one place, they continued in another. This holds encouragement for us in doing God's work amid opposition. When we set out to do what God calls us to, we may meet opposition, resistance, hostility, even hostility that threatens. This can tempt us to fall silent, to give up, to abandon the work. But Paul and Barnabas show a better way: to persevere, speaking and working boldly despite opposition, and, when driven from one place, to continue faithfully in another, not letting opposition finally silence us or stop the work. We do well to persevere in God's work despite opposition, continuing faithfully even when driven from one place to another. Persevere in God's work despite opposition; do not let it silence you. When driven from one place, continue the work faithfully in another. Opposition may slow the work, but need not stop it. Keep speaking and doing God's work boldly, through and beyond resistance.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are to persevere in God's work despite opposition, continuing faithfully, as Paul and Barnabas stayed long speaking boldly and kept preaching even when driven out. We can fall silent or give up at opposition; but Paul and Barnabas persevered, speaking boldly despite it and continuing the work elsewhere when driven out. Persevere. When you meet opposition in God's work, do not let it silence you or make you give up; persevere, speaking and working boldly, and continue faithfully even if driven from one place to another. Persevere in God's work despite opposition, continuing faithfully even when driven from one place to another rather than letting opposition silence you, as in Iconium Paul and Barnabas preached so that many believed but when opposition arose did not fall silent but stayed long speaking boldly, and when finally driven out continued preaching elsewhere, since they stayed a long time speaking boldly in the Lord and when a violent attempt was made against them fled to other cities and there preached the Good News; for opposition rose against them as unbelievers stirred up others, the city divided, and a violent attempt was made to harm them, but opposition did not silence them, since they stayed long speaking boldly despite it and when they finally had to flee did not give up the work but continued preaching in the next place, which holds encouragement for us in doing God's work amid opposition, since when we set out to do what God calls us to we may meet resistance, hostility, and even danger that can tempt us to fall silent, give up, or abandon the work, but Paul and Barnabas show a better way, to persevere and speak and work boldly despite opposition and, when driven from one place, to continue faithfully in another, not letting opposition finally silence us or stop the work, so that we do well to persevere in God's work despite opposition.