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.
Then some Jewish leaders from Antioch and Iconium showed up and turned the crowd against Paul and Barnabas. They got so worked up that they actually stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking they'd killed him.
Paul's enemies literally tried to stone him to death, ministry isn't always safe.
📚 Historical Context
During Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas, they were spreading the Gospel in cities like Antioch and Iconium in Asia Minor, where they encountered strong resistance from Jewish leaders who opposed their message. This opposition followed them to Lystra, where these Jews persuaded the local crowd to turn against Paul, leading to his violent stoning and being dragged out of the city, as the early church faced frequent persecution from both religious and civic authorities. This incident highlights the dangers apostles faced in establishing Christianity in pagan and Jewish communities.
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