“…yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”
Acts 14:8–17
At first glance, in reading the earlier chapters, it is hard to imagine the hardship of traveling in those days, 20 to 50 or more miles between towns. This was during Paul’s first work in inner Asia-Minor accompanied by Barnabas. They were visiting the Iconium region, now Konya in Turkey, where legend said Hermes and Zeus had visited in human form. Despite earlier threats of stoning, the Apostles, to their dismay, were then greeted as those returning gods. They rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God …” “Because,” Paul said, God has left a witness “in doing good,” pointing to nature’s bounty and the spiritual food of joy. He seemed to respond to the polytheists, saying God has revealed himself through nature, yet the crowds still wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Then they turned on Paul, stoned him and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. What did he do? “He got up … the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe” more than 70 miles away, according to one commentary. These men believed so strongly that God was with them, they could handle any of man’s foibles, anger and violence and still go on to tell others about his goodness and love and the joy that can come with knowing Him. Why can't we do the same?
Val Hymes
