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. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 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. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.

I think of firefighters and their steel-faced resolve to enter the fire and save those who are trapped inside. In the same way, Paul and Barnabas went into Iconium, preached in the synagogue, and went face-to-face with the Jews and their leaders. We see here again that, over time, those who did not believe wanted to kill them. Why such an extreme reaction? Because the truth is a light that shines in the darkness and exposes sin. This is written about in the gospel of John: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬-‭21‬) And so we have this great divide of those attracted to the truth and those repulsed by it playing out in Iconium.

Paul and Barnabas had seen this before and they were not deterred, but steel-faced as they walked into the danger. They were called to rescue souls from darkness. And so, like firefighters going into the fire, they walked into spiritual darkness and danger to rescue souls from the flames of evil into God’s grace! They also stayed for a while to build up the faith of the disciples and encourage them. And to model for them a life sold out to Jesus in the midst of persecution.

Lord, keep my mind and heart set firmly on the mission to save souls into eternity. You open the heart-doors and prepare the way. No matter the personal cost, I commit to be on mission every day for you.