VENGEFULNESS

We should include an important footnote with yesterday's description of what Paul and Barnabas experienced in Lystra.

You remember that while the Lystrans ultimately stoned Paul to near death, they had first worshiped him. Or at least attempted to.

Paul and Barnabas told these people to "turn from these worthless things" - meaning their devotion to Zeus - and that could not have gone over well. Calling out someone's religious beliefs as false? That's a tough sell.

But this wasn't the only hurdle in the disciples' path. 

In fact, even after Paul and Barnabas finish speaking Truth, they still "had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them". (Acts 14:18)

By the end of verse 19, the Lystrans are stoning Paul and dragging him outside the city, thinking he is dead.

What is the catalyst? Just look at the beginning of verse 19: "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over." 

These are the same leaders who chased Paul out of Antioch by stirring up the "God-fearing women" of the city (Acts 13:50) now teamed up with the leaders who "stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers" in Iconium (14:2).

It wasn't enough for these folks to chase Paul and Barnabas out of their towns, they were out to destroy them and their reputations.

They actually followed the disciples. Tracked them down. And they weren't satisfied until they had turned other people against the disciples. 

An important lesson that I pray Life never has occasion to teach you directly: Never underestimate the strength of vengefulness as a motivator. Or the destruction it leaves in its wake. 

It's not a lesson anyone ever needs to be taught twice.