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  COMMENTARY ON ACTS 14-15
  by Chuck Smith
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Paul and Barnabas, in carrying the Gospel, have come into the uncharted
territories as far as the Gospel is concerned into Asia Minor. They came
from Cyprus to the area that is now known as Turkey. They did not remain
in the coastal plains of Pamphylia. It is thought that Paul probably got
malaria fever. It was a very prevalent thing around the coastal plains
of Pamphylia at that time.

And later on when Paul wrote to the Galatians and he spoke to them of
how sick he was when he was there with them. So the fact that Paul did
not stay in Pamphyliam, but immediately moved into the upper plateau
country of Pisidia to the city of Antioch, that he was going up there
for actually health reasons as much as anything else. Coming into the
area of Galatia.

There in Antioch they went into the synagogue. They preached Jesus
Christ, and there was a tremendous response the following week.
Practically the whole town came out to listen to them, which created a
jealousy in the hearts of the Jews in the synagogues, and they turned
the people against Paul and Barnabas. So Paul and Barnabas left Antioch,
and as we come into chapter 14, they went from Antioch about fifty miles
away to Iconium.

And so when they came into Iconium, [as was their procedure] they went
into the synagogue again on the sabbath day, and they again spoke, and a
great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But
the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil
affected against Paul and Barnabas and those who had believed. And so
they remained there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave
testimony unto the word of his grace, and the Lord granted signs and
wonders to be done by their hands (Act 14:1-3).

So they were facing opposition in Iconium. And rather than fleeing from
the opposition, they stayed there a long time in order that they might
really root and ground those who believed in the faith. I think that one
of the weaknesses of modern day evangelism is the lack of follow up. It
is rather tragic to bring people to a birth in Jesus Christ, but don\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/commentary-on-acts-14-15/
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