One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers | Apr 13 | Acts Chapter 14: Confirming Faith and Giving Glory to God 

🦌 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, peace be with you in the Lord!

Welcome to Day 103 of our reading journey! Today, we are walking through Acts Chapter 14 together.

In your personal life or spiritual walk, have you ever experienced a moment when your good intentions were misunderstood, or where you faced sudden adversity? Or conversely, when facing lavish praise and worldly approval, have you found it challenging to stay grounded?

Let's pause and take a quiet moment. Bringing our real-life struggles and our desire for inner strength, let's step into today's scripture together. Let's see how Paul and Barnabas remained humble amidst applause, courageous amidst persecution, and committed to strengthening believers along the way.

📖 Context Snapshot 

Where are we today?

Acts Chapter 14 details the intense second half of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey:

1. Preaching at Iconium (Acts 14:1–7): They spoke boldly in the Lord, who confirmed His word with signs and wonders. Despite a divided city and plot to stone them, they fled wisely and continued sharing the gospel.

2. Miracle and Mob at Lystra (Acts 14:8–20): After Paul healed a man crippled from birth, the crowds mistook them for gods and tried to offer sacrifices to them. Paul tore his clothes to stop them, directing their praise to the living God. However, hostile opposers turned the crowd, who stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. Paul miraculously arose and departed to Derbe the next day.

3. Strengthening Disciples and Appointing Elders (Acts 14:21–28): They retraced their steps to encourage the disciples, reminding them that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." They ordained elders in every church and returned to Antioch, reporting all that God had done with them.

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - Acts 14

14 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7 And there they preached the gospel.

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

🌟Daily Heart-Check:  From "Seeking Praise" to "Anchored in Christ" 

• Refusing Human Glory: When the crowds at Lystra hailed Paul and Barnabas as gods, they refused to steal God's glory. Instead, they rushed into the crowd to point everyone toward the Creator of heaven and earth. In our lives, whenever approval or success comes our way, we are called to guard our hearts and direct all praise to God.

• Trials Refine Our Faith: The crowd's mood shifted overnight—from offering sacrifices to throwing stones. Yet Paul was not defeated by their rejection. After surviving the stoning, he got right back up and reminded the believers that tribulation is part of the path to God's kingdom. Hardships do not mean God has abandoned us; rather, they serve to refine our endurance and deepen our trust in Him.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving us Your word today as we read Acts Chapter 14.

When we read about Paul and Barnabas in Lystra, our hearts are deeply moved. We see how fickle human praise can be, yet Paul and Barnabas kept their eyes fixed entirely on You. When the crowd tried to worship them, they steadfastly refused to take Your glory. And when Paul was stoned and left for dead, he stood up again by Your grace to continue preaching the gospel. Forgive us for caring so much about the approval of others, getting puffed up by praise, or feeling shaken by criticism and setbacks. Grant us steadfast hearts like Paul's, so that in every circumstance we exalt Your name alone.

Lord, thank You for reminding us through Your word that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." We confess that we often shrink back from difficulty and struggle to understand why hardships happen. Give us patience and faith to realize that trials are not the end of our story, but the process by which You purify and strengthen our faith. Confirm our souls today so that no matter what challenges we face, we may continue firmly in the faith.

Lord, we pray for our friends and families today, especially those going through seasons of suffering or rejection. Be their refuge, heal their wounds, and give them the courage to stand strong again. Protect us as seekers and new believers, uniting us to encourage and support one another on this journey.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!