Will You Speak Boldly? - Acts 14

14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

This should sound familiar.  This just happened in Pisidian Antioch.  They go to the Jews first at the synagogue.  Some Jews and Gentiles believe.  Then the Jews who don’t oppose them.  Here “a great number” believe.

 ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

Just like at Pisidian Antioch, they speak boldly for the Lord whenever they are persecuted.  They do not apologize or back away from preaching and teaching the gospel.  Here it is said that they are also able to do signs and wonders.  The Spirit is with them in a powerful way.

 ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas have to leave to avoid getting stoned.  This is not a trip that would get the hashtag “#blessed” by the typical Christian.  The city is divided over the gospel.  Jesus said this would happen.  In Matthew 10:21-23, He is quoted as saying, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.”  This is what is happening to Paul and Barnabas and in the city.  So, they flee to another city.

I don't claim to be a prophet or to know the future, but I can certainly see similar problems for Christians on America's horizon.  A certain wing of society which has garnered a lot of support is actively working to make Christian principles and the Word declared "hate" speech.  To a Christian, this is hard to comprehend since the Word of God is God doing everything He can do to demonstrate love for man and guide him into the best life possible.  But for these others, they seethe that any authority would tell them something different than they want to do, their teeth gnash, and they set their hearts in hate against those who love God and who obey His Word.  The remarkable aspect is that the country has accepted it and not stood boldly against it.  It is the news narrative now and people seem to blindly follow and are unwilling to stand.

If this continues, Christians will be mistreated just as they were in this time.  In fact, it is already happening in many places across America.   Jesus says that because of His Word, brother will betray brother, father his child, children against parents - I have seen this firsthand already.  Today's Christian must learn to be bold, as Paul and Barnabas are here, and stand on God's Word regardless of who opposes them.  They will find that even weak self declared Christians will turn on them and hate them.  It will be a trying and difficult time for those who actively work to obey God and seek to follow Him closely.