ACTS CHAPTER 15 Meanwhile back in Jerusalem

Chapter 15 located at 1:30:50

Introduction

Acts 14: 26-28

26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished.  27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report  all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.  28 And they spent a long time with the disciples. 

The Counsel at Jerusalem

1 Some men came down from Judea and began  teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (See also Gal 2)

 Galatians 2:4 describes “Some men” as false brethren,  men who subtly caused trouble.

The phrase “the custom” in Greek is ethos eth'-os from; a usage (prescribed by habit or law):--custom, manner, be wont. see GREEK for 1486 in Strongs.

The circumcision issue could not be settled by Paul and Barnabas, even though they were considered the leaders of the Antioch church.

2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

The Jews believed that new members of the church must become Jews and accept circumsision as a sign of the Jewish covenant with God.

Paul and Barnabas tried, without success, to convince them that salvation was through Jesus and not through Judaism.

The Christians decided to send Paul, Barnabas and others including Titus ( a companion and disciple of Paul refer to Gal 2 ) to Peter and the Apostles in Jerusalem to decide this question.

Peter had already faced this dilemma and was given the answer by God (Acts 10: 42-48)

3  Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were  passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

Paul and Barnabas stopped off at both Phoenicia and Samaria.

This journey would be 483 Kilometers or 300 miles.

The converts in Phoenicia and Samaria were Jews ( Ref to Acts 11:19 ).

They were happy about the new converts in Antioch, and apparently did not have a problem with converts, who were not circumcised being members of the church.

4  When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

This was Paul’s third trip to Jerusalem after his conversion.

During each trip Paul reported back to Jerusalem giving an accounting of God’s work in his journey and their visits to the new churches formed in Jesus’ name.

Although Paul’s reason for this trip was to settle the circumcision controversy, he also gave an accounting of Gods work in newly planted churches.

5  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” (Gen 17: 9-10)

Although these Pharisees believed Jesus to be the Messiah they remained firm insisting the newly converted Gentiles be circumcised in accordance with the law of Abraham.

The Pharisees were all about the law and rules governing the Jewish religion.

Although Paul was a Pharisee and knew these laws and rules, he was changed when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3,4), and after this encounter he no longer believed as a Pharisee.

We must remember we can not gain salvation through the law but only through Christ may salvation be attained.

6 The apostles and the  elders came together to look into this matter.   7  After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the  early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Peter had witnessed the Holy Spirit descended on the gentiles just as with the Jew. (ref Acts 10: 44&45)

We are not told how many of the apostles were involved in the decision concerning Gentile circumcision, only that the elders were included to their numbers.

Had the decision been to force circumcision on the Gentile it could have divided the church.

8  “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Peter relates his experience at Cesaria with Cornelius and how the Holy Spirit descended upon the uncircumcised.

All are the same in God’s eye Gentile and Jew alike; all people who would believe on the Christ Jesus receive salvation.

10  “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

The yoke spoken about hear is the burden of the law.

The Jew believed that by following the law their salvation was assured.

Over the years the law became so difficult that not even the fathers of the nation of Israel could obey it.

In Galatians 5:1-6 Paul warns the people about the yolk of submitting ones self to circumcision. 

In Galatians 2:4 Paul describes this acceptance as bondage.

As Christians our salvation is in Christ; for it this faith which is the foundation of our belief.

11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the  same way as they also are.” 

Salvation is neither deserved nor can it be earned.

Salvation is a gift given by Jesus the only man who satisfied both the law and prophesy.

A gift is not deserved or earned it is freely given.

There is but one eternal gift and that is given by the Lamb of God, Jesus.

12  All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they  were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Once again we see miracles used to give proof to the listeners that God Himself pronounced the Gentile as converts without circumcision. 

The listeners both Gentile and Jew did not interrupt Paul or Barnabas; but instead listened with an open heart and mind.

This a lesson we could all learn from.

I like to use the illustration of: man was formed with two ears and one tongue.  Which is telling us we should listen, I mean really listen to our brethren’s opinion and respect them enough not to interrupt.

James’ Judgment

13  After they had  stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14  “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about  taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.

James the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3) was the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem. (ref to Acts 12:17 & Acts 21:18).

In verse 14 we see Peter’s Hebrew name being used as James calls attention to the calling of Gentiles by God (ref to Acts 15:7).

15  “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as written, 16  ‘After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it, 17  So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’ 18  Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

James quotes the Prophesy of  (Amos 9:11)

Christians believe Amos’ Prophesy, as stated in verse 16, is of Christ's second coming.

Within this prophesy (Amos 9:13)  Amos states all nations (Gentile and Jew) who are called by My Name (Christians).

James was stating that Gentiles also were God’s people making no distinction between Gentile and Jew as the Gentiles’ were brought into the family of God through the blood of Christ.

19  “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20  but that we write to them that they  abstain from things contaminated by Idols, and fornication, and from what is strangled and from blood.

James continues in verses 19 & 20 by giving parameters.

1.  Do not trouble the new Gentile converts by demands of circumcision. 

The Gentiles do not have to become Jews to be members of the new church.

2.  Warnings to the Gentiles to abstain from eating meat contaminated by idols.  (1 Cor 8:10)

We learned in Acts 14:13 how the Gentiles in Lyconium sacrificed to their gods.

The Lyconium’s would often sell meat from sacrificed animals for human consumption.

2.  And from what is strangled and from blood

Strangulation was a common way used by Lyconians to kill animals for sacrifice such as birds.

The meat of these animals would still have blood in them.

•The blood of sacrificed animals in the Jewish culture was used by the priests to atone for sin.

Therefore to eat an animal with blood still in the meat of animals would be offensive to the Jew.

3.  and from fornication.

Often times in heathen cultures people would engage in sexual acts while worshiping their gods.

Such actions would be an offense to the Jews.

As you can see these warnings were to insure compliance with the Jewish law and also to not offend their Jewish brethren. Genesis 2:24 states Gods desire for human sexual conduct; for husbands to have sex with only their wives and for wives to have sex only with their husbands.

James laid these rules out not for salvation but rather avoid actions and situations which would offend the Jew and thereby hinder or perhaps nullify unification between Gentile and Jew.

21  “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 

Because the laws handed down by Moses were read allowed each Sabbath it was extremely important the Gentile be mindful of the law.

22  Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

Judas surname Barsabas--therefore not the apostle "Judas the brother of James" (Acts 1:13 ), surnamed "Thaddeus" ( Matthew 10:3 ); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas" ( Acts 1:23 ).....”, “and Silas--the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles. He became Paul's companion on his second missionary journey ( Acts 15:40 ).” [2]

Chief men among the brethren--selected purposely as such, to express the honor in which they held the church at Antioch, and the deputies they had sent to the council, and, as the matter affected all Gentile converts, to give weight to the written decision of this important assembly.” [2]

They were seen as "prophets,"  by the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:32).

24  “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed  you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25  it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26     men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice that Barnabas appears first in verse 25.

He was named first because of former superior position in the Jerusalem church prior to Saul’s becoming a follower of Jesus. (Refer to Acts 9:27 , 11:22)

The credentials of both Barnabas and Paul were well known however the phrase found in V 26 added weight to these credentials.

This was stated so that Judas and Silas, acting as deputies could say those things about Barnabas and Paul; those things they would not say about themselves, as we will see in the next verse.

27  “Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28  “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29  that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves from such things, you will do well.  Farewell.”

James explained in the main body of the letter  exactly what, as Christians, they should refrain from.

Once again James was not stating these things as a condition of salvation, but rather how to conduct themselves as Christians and avoid offending their Jewish brethren.

30  So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation, they delivered the letter. 31  When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 

The letter was joyfully received by the churches.

As you can well imagine this letter was a great relief to the new converts.

The newly converted Gentiles were very pleased by the decision of the Jerusalem church; it would settle the tension within the congregations.

32  Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encourage and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.

Prophets were Gods spokesmen, they delivered the very word of God.

Normally lengthy messages are not well received,

however these two men were gifted with words of encouragement. 

I believe the churches receiving this letter accepted the decision of the council, and would abide by the rules set down by James; there were no arguments by either Jew or Gentile.

33  After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out.

At first glance you might think being sent out have negative connotations.

They were sent out with love and prayers for a safe journey.

The word peace here means freedom from metal or spiritual troubles as well as safety on their journey.

They had delivered the message God had laid upon their hearts and it was time to leave. 

34  [But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.]  35  But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.

Notice the brackets [ ] encasing the opening sentence of verse 34.

This most often means that the enclosed words were not found in the original text, and perhaps were added sometime afterwards.

These words may have been added to clarify Acts 15:40

“The Latin Silvanus, which means "of the forest," is always used by Paul and in the First Epistle of Peter . [4]

Silas stayed with Paul much of the time during Paul’s first mission journey, and formed a bond with Paul.

Secondary Mission

Verses 36-46 tell of dissension between Paul and Barnabas.

36  After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

Paul believed that the Lord wanted him to leave Antioch and revisit the churches which were planted on his first missionary journey.

Paul had a heart for these new converts and wanted once again to their progress.

This follow-up was and is vital to strengthen the new believer.

37  Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.  38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Paul did not think it was a good idea for Mark to accompany them.

Possibly Paul was still harboring resentment towards Mark. (Ref  Acts 13:13 )

Mark was the nephew of Barnabas and wanted him to be included on this trip. (Ref Colossians 4:10)

39  And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

No one is immune from harboring resentment.

I believe it was this resentment which led to the split between Paul and Barnabas.

As they seemed to have arrived at an impasse they decided to each go their own way.

Barnabas with feelings towards his cousin, and Paul believing Mark might desert them again.

On the surface it would appear that Paul was unwilling to been, however later events proved Barnabas was right and Paul was wrong.

It takes two to have a disagreement. In this case I believe they parted both believing they were right but held no animosity towards the other.  

40  But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

The phrase “committed by the brethren” may have been a formal going away blessing. Acts 13:3 ), as in Acts 14:26.

41  And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Both Barnabas and Paul went forward with visiting the churches and mentoring them. 

They may have agreed to divide the visitations into territories of responsibility. 

This agreement would have allowed more contact with more churches than if they were all traveling together.

CREDITS, LINKS, AND CITATION

[1] –scripture verses from Cross wire Study Bible

[2] -  commentaries by /Jamison-Fausset-brown

[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams

[4] – Wikipedia.org

ACTS CHAPTER 14 - Acceptance and Opposition

Summary of 

Acts 14:1-7

MEETING WITH SIMILAR SUCCESS AND SIMILAR OPPOSITION AT ICONIUM, PAUL AND BARNABAS FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES TO LYSTRA AND DERBE, AND PREACH THERE.

"After this detailed account of Paul's labors at Pisidian Antioch, Luke subjoins only brief notices of his further labors, partly because from the nature of the case his discourses must have embraced nearly the same topics, and partly because the consequences that resulted assumed quite a similar shape" [OLSHAUSEN]. [2]

I think Matthew Henry summed up the first seven verses the best:

Acts 14:1 1-7 The apostles spake so plainly, with such evidence and proof of the Spirit, and with such power; so warmly, and with such concern for the souls of men; that those who heard them could not but say, God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be reckoned to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God who used that means. Perseverance in doing good, amidst dangers and hardships, is a blessed evidence of grace. Wherever God's servants are driven, they should seek to declare the truth.

When they went on in Christ's name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. He has assured us it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, yet united against Christians. If the church's enemies join to destroy it, shall not its friends unite for its preservation? God has a shelter for his people in a storm; He is, and will be their Hiding-place. In times of persecution, believers may see cause to quit a spot, though they do not quit their Master's work.

1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul had assumed the role as prominent speaker, however both Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue.

This is indicated by the words “they” and “together”.

As a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas many Jews and gentiles were now proselytes (converted believers).

Matthew Henry writes this comment on Acts 14:1

…Let not those of any denomination be condemned in the gross, nor some suffer for others' faults; but let us do good to those who have done evil to us. Though the blood-thirsty hate the upright, yet the just seek their soul (Prov. xxix. 10), seek the salvation of it. [4]

... Notice is taken of this, that they went both together into the synagogue, to testify their unanimity and mutual affection, that people might say, See how they love one another, and might think the better of Christianity, and that they might strengthen one another's hands and confirm one another's testimony, and out of the mouth of two witnesses every word might be established. They did not go one day and another, nor one go at the beginning and the other some time after; but they went in both together.” [4]

I think we can easily see the application Matthew Henry points out in verse one.

2  But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

There were some Jews who were blinded to the truth being preached.

As a result of their disbelief, and believing they were the chosen people, they became jealous.

Jealously most often breeds contempt; just as one un-confessed sin leads to another.

This jealousy and contempt led these Jews to spread lies among the Gentiles, turning these in an attempt to turn them away from Paul and Barnabas, and the truth they preached.

We will take a couple of minutes to discuss the following two points by Matthew Henry:

II. The success of their preaching there: They so spoke that a great multitude, some hundreds perhaps, if not thousands, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, that is the Gentiles, believed. Observe here,

 1. That the gospel was now preached to Jews and Gentiles together, and those of each denomination that believed came together into the church. In the close of the foregoing chapter it was preached first to the Jews, and some of them believed, and then to the Gentiles, and some of them believed; but here they are put together, being put upon the same level. The Jews have not so lost their preference as to be thrown behind, only the Gentiles are brought to stand upon even terms with them; both are reconciled to God in one body (Ephes. ii. 16), and both together admitted into the church without distinction.

2. There seems to have been something remarkable in the manner of the apostles' preaching here, which contributed to their success: They so spoke that a great multitude believed--so plainly, so convincingly, with such an evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, and with such power; they so spoke, so warmly, so affectionately, and with such a manifest concern for the souls of men, that one might perceive they were not only convinced, but filled, with the things they spoke of, and that what they spoke came from the heart and therefore was likely to reach to the heart; they so spoke, so earnestly and so seriously, so boldly and courageously, that those who heard them could not but say that God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be attributed to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God, who made use of that means. [4]

3 Therefore they Spent a long time there, speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord who was testifying to the word of his grace, granting the signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Paul and Barnabas were emboldened and not discouraged by the lies of the un-believers being spread about them and of the good news of Jesus.

They were emboldened because they saw “the Lord testifying to the word of His grace, granting them signs and wonders to be done by their hands”.

As with many people, “seeing is believing”.

Here we see the Lord giving testimony  to the word by granting His power to Paul and Barnabas as His apostles.

We too could see such signs and wonders.  If we were have faith, to trust, and rely solely on our Lord.

Matthew Henry writes this commentary on verse 3:

The opposition that their preaching met with there, and the trouble that was created them; lest they should be puffed up with the multitude of their converts, there was given them this thorn in the flesh.

1. Unbelieving Jews were the first spring of their trouble here, as elsewhere (v. 2): they stirred up the Gentiles. The influence which the gospel had upon many of the Gentiles, and their embracing it, as it provoked some of the Jews to a holy jealousy and stirred them up to receive the gospel too (Rom. xi. 14), so it provoked others of them to a wicked jealousy, and exasperated them against the gospel. Thus as good instructions, so good examples, which to some are a savour of life unto life, to others are a savour of death unto death. See 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.

2. Disaffected Gentiles, irritated by the unbelieving Jews, were likely to be the instruments of their trouble. The Jews, by false suggestions, which they were continually buzzing in the ears of the Gentiles, made their minds evil affected against the brethren, whom of themselves they were inclined to think favourably of. They not only took occasion in all companies, as it came in their way, but made it their business to go purposely to such as they had any acquaintance with, and said all that their wit or malice could invent to beget in them not only a mean but an ill opinion of Christianity, telling them how destructive it would certainly be to their pagan theology and worship; and, for their parts, they would rather be Gentiles than Christians. Thus they soured and embittered their spirits against both the converters and the converted. 

4  But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

The word Jews used here refers to those Jews who were spreading lies about Paul and Barnabas and what they taught.

They used these lies to divide the city into two theocratic factions.

In our country we have two main political parties, who often times use half truths and in some cases outright lies to turn people to their ideology. 

This action divides this country with two different political views on how this country should be run.

On verse 4 Matthew Henry writes:  Their continuance in their work there, notwithstanding this opposition, and God's owning them in it, v. 3. We have here,

1. The apostles working for Christ, faithfully and diligently, according to the trust committed to them. Because the minds of the Gentiles were evil affected against them, one would think that therefore they should have withdrawn, and hastened out of the way, or, if they had preached, should have preached cautiously, for fear of giving further provocation to those who were already enough enraged. No; on the contrary, therefore they abode there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The more they perceived the spite and rancour of the town against the new converts, the more they were animated to go on in their work, and the more needful 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, Ezek. iii. 7-9. But observe what it was that animated them: They spoke boldly in the Lord, in his strength, and trusting in him to bear them out; not depending upon any thing in themselves. They were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

2. Christ working with the apostles, according to his promise, Lo, I am with you always. When they went on in his name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. Note,

(1.) The gospel is a word of grace, the assurance of God's good will to us and the means of his good work in us. It is the word of Christ's grace, for it is in Him alone that we find favour with God.

(2.) Christ himself has attested this word of grace, who is the Amen, the faithful witness; he has assured us that it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. As it was said in general concerning the first preachers of the gospel that they had the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by signs following (Mark xvi. 20), so it is said particularly concerning the apostles here that the Lord confirmed their testimony, in granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands--in the miracles they wrought in the kingdom of nature--as well as the wonders done by their word, in the greater miracles wrought on men's minds by the power of divine grace. The Lord was with them, while they were with him, and abundance of good was done.

5  And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6  they became aware of it and fled to the  cities of Lycaonia,  Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region:  7  and there they continued to preach the gospel.

The punishment for blaspheming (insulting God) was death by stoning.

Reference to Acts 7:54-60? 

Stephen was stoned to death for preaching what the Jews called blaspheming, when Jesus said He had the same authority as God.

Stephen was sentenced at a trial where as with Paul and Barnabas their enemies incited the crowed to stone them.

Acts 14:8-21

Summary

At Lystra Paul healing a cripple, the people are scarce restrained from sacrificing to them as gods, but afterwards, their minds being poisoned, they stone Paul, leaving him for dead withdrawing to Derbe, they preached and teach there.

There being no mention of the synagogue at Lystra, it is probable there were too few Jews there to form one.

8  At Lystra a man was sitting who had No strength in his feet lame from his mother's who had never walked. 

Lystra was about 29 kilometers or 18 miles South West of Iconium.

Lystra was a Roman city.

Because Paul was a Roman citizen he may have felt safe in going there.

The lack of synagogue’s did not hinder Paul’s mission.

Paul preached the good news in the streets.

9  This man was listening to Paul as he Spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10

said with a loud voice, "stand upright on your feet." And he leaped up and began to walk.

The wonders spoken of in Verse 3 were still with Paul as he commanded a lame man to stand up.

The lame man was healed by the power of Jesus through which was granted to Paul by grace. See (V3).

Paul may have been led by the sight of this cripple to dwell on the Savior's miracles of healing, and His present power; and perceiving from the eagerness with which the patient drank in his words, that he was prepared to put his own case into the Redeemer's hands, the Spirit of the glorified Physician came all upon Paul,

and "with a loud voice" he bade him "stand upright upon his feet." The effect was instantaneous--he sprang to his feet "and walked.“ [3]

11  When the crowds saw what Paul had done , they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian  language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”

We can’t be certain about what the Lycaonian language is.

It could have been Greek or Greek mixed with another language.

They believed Paul and Barnabas to be gods.  A totally understandable misconception of them to believe Paul to be a god. 

For in their primitive culture they believed only a god could do such a miracle.

12  And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the  chief speaker.

These were names of Greek gods.

Zeus being the father of the gods

The crowds of Lycaonians were preparing to worship both Paul and Barnabas as gods

13  The priest of Zeus, Whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice the crowds.

 The people were very excited about the visit of Paul and Barnabas beleiving them to be Zues and Hermes, perhaps because of a story:

“Zeus and Hermes once visited the region. Those gods pretended to be human. They wanted a place to stay. But the people would not invite them into their homes. There was an old man who was poor. He and his wife had a small cottage. At last, that man and his wife let the gods stay in that cottage. The gods gave a reward to them. But the gods destroyed the other peoples’ homes.”

Paul in danger again, 14:14-20

14  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out  15  and saying, “Men, why are you Doing these things are also men of the same nature as you preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

The tearing of ones garments was a Jewish sign of displeasure and grief. 

jamieson-fausset-brown write this commentary on V14-18:

Verses 14-18. when . . . Barnabas and Paul heard—

Barnabas is put first here, apparently as having been styled the "Jupiter" of the company. 
they rent their clothes and ran in--rather (according to the true reading), "ran forth." 
among the people, crying out . . . Sirs, why do ye these things?—

This was something more than that abhorrence of idolatry which took possession of the Jews as a nation from the time of the Babylonish captivity: it was that delicate sensibility to everything which affects the honor of God which Christianity, giving us in God a reconciled Father, alone can produce; making the Christian instinctively feel himself to be wounded in all dishonor done to God, and filling him with mingled horror and grief when such gross insults as this are offered to him.

15. We . . . are men of like passions, &c.—

How unlike either imposture or enthusiasm is this, and how high above all self-seeking do these men of Christ show themselves to be! [2]
.

We can see in verse 15 where both Paul and Barnabas were disgusted by what the people were planning to do.

Not only did they show their discuss by renting their clothes but they also ran among them pleading with the people not to call them gods.

They both assured the people that they were not gods but rather served a living God; not make of flesh and blood as they were.

For like them they were men made of flesh and blood.

jamieson-fausset-brown continue with their commentary:

16  “In the generations gone by  he permitted all nations to go their own ways;   17  and yet he did not leave himself without witnesses, in that he did good gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

In other translation we read suffered instead of permitted.

This indicates to me that God allowed the nations to go their own was but was grieved to do so.

The phrase “in their own ways” means living apart from God and following other gods.

“Though the heinousness of idolatry is represented as so much less in the heathen, by how much they were outside the pale of revealed religion, he takes care to add that the heathen have divine "witness" enough to leave them ‘without excuse’.” [2]

God repaid evil with good, which was His witness by continued blessings.

unto the living God—

This is the most glorious and distinctive of all the names of God. It is the familiar phraseology of the Old Testament. which, in such contrast with all that is to be found within the literature of heathenism, is shown to be, with its sequel, the New Testament, the one Book of the true religion.

 
who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all . . . therein—

This idea of creation, utterly unknown alike to rude and to cultivated heathenism, would not only define what was meant by "the living God," but open up a new world to the more thoughtful part of the audience. [2]

Paul and Barnabas quickly realized these people were pagans knowing nothing of the prophets of the old testament.

They preached about the true living God the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that exists in them.

18  Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

Paul and Barnabas realizing the danger of these peoples actions did their level best to discourage the worship and sacrifice planned.

Paul and Barnabas knew how Peter reacted in a similar situation Acts 10:26. 

They also realized the danger of Idolatry incrementally slipping into the Christian church.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, based on Paul, dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

We do not know whether these Jews followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra with the intent to stop them or to conduct other business.

Lystra was noted as growing much corn.

Those Jews (Jewish leaders) did incite the crowds to kill Paul.

In fact Paul was stoned and was carried out of the city presumed to be dead.

20  But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

We don’t know what the physical condition was of Paul.

  All we know is scripture tells us:

1.  He was thought to be dead by those who stoned him.

2.  He was dragged out of the city.

3.  Those that stood around him were disciples who may have followed those who dragged Paul out of the city.

4.  Paul was badly injured by the stones and was near death but yet lived.

5.  Although the recovery could have been natural, even though this was not mentioned in scripture. I believe the disciples prayed, for Paul and he arose.

Acts 14:21-28 - Summary

Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch and Syria  

21  After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,  22  strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “through many tribulations of we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Paul and Barnabas’ mission in returning to these to Lystra and Iconium and to Antioch was not merely to return home by a familiar route,  but rather to follow up and encourage those recent converts.

Sometimes when a person accepts the Lord Jesus, they are left to their own devices.

Not in this case here Paul and Barnabas taught the new disciples answering their questions, and providing mentorship.

Our responsibility does not end with a persons salvation!

23  When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 

This verse we see the elders were selected, then appointed, and then ordained,

presumably by the laying on of hands as Peter did in Jerusalem.

We are not told here if Paul and Barnabas fasted and prayed before the selection process of elders.

24  They passed through Pisidia and  came into Pmphylia.

25  When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts 14:21-28 Summary

Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch and Syria  

26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had accomplished.

27  When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28  And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Notice here that Paul and Barnabas gave God all the glory for their successful mission.

They were home and needed to recharge. 

This was a time of reflection and rest for they had journeyed far and although their mission was a labor of love it was none the less physically and mentally exhausting.

CREDITS, LINKS, AND CITATION

[1] – Cross wire

[2] -  commentaries by /jamieson-fausset-brown

[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams

[4] – Commentaries by Matthew Henry -