The Journey From Antioch In Pisidia To Derbe JSS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

For his first missionary journey, Paul visited Derbe, a town in Turkey. There, he preached and gained many disciples, one of whom was Gaius, who later accompanied Paul on his missionary journey to Greece. It is important to note that Paul’s journey to Derbe happened after he was stoned in Iconium.

PAUL AND BARNABAS IN ICONIUM

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue, as usual. They preached eloquently to the crowd, performing signs and wonders. Many people—Jews and Gentiles—believed, but the few Jews that did not believe poisoned the minds of the Gentiles and stirred them up for violence. The crowd was divided, with some siding with Paul and others against him. They planned to stone him, but Paul and Barnabas fled in time, heading to **Lystra** and Derbe, and to neighboring countries where they continued to preach the gospel. They knew that there would be no giving up in spreading the gospel, despite the difficulties and persecutions they faced.

PAUL AND BARNABAS IN LYSTRA

Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Lystra when they noticed a crippled man who was listening to them attentively. He had been crippled from birth. Paul, seeing in his heart that the man had faith, called him out with a loud voice, commanding him to “Stand up!” Immediately, the man jumped to his feet and began walking. The crowd was amazed and, speaking in their dialects, said that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form. They identified Barnabas as the Greek god Zeus, while Paul was called Hermes since he was the speaker.

Immediately, the priest of the temple of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gate to offer sacrifices to the apostles. When Paul and Barnabas learned of this, they tore their clothes and ran to the crowd, saying, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are humans just like you. We have come to bring you good news, to turn you from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and everything.”

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, winning and poisoning the minds of the crowd. They finally convinced the people to stone Paul. After Paul was severely stoned and assumed to be dead, he was dragged out of the town. However, when other Christians gathered around him and prayed, he got up and went back into the town. The next day, Paul and Barnabas departed for Derbe.

MORAL LESSONS

1. Opposition to the gospel can’t stop its spread.
2. The glory of God shouldn’t be shared with man. Give all the glory to God.
3. Be honest and humble; don’t feel like a god just because you have done great things.
4. Caution people when they try to give you praise that belongs to God.

EVALUATION

1. Narrate the incident that preceded the stoning of Paul and Barnabas.