A Close Call for Paul & Barnabas in Iconium
Paul reported in 2 Corinthians 11:25 that "once I was stoned." Stoning was used as a form of capital punishment in ancient times. It was often done with the sanction of religious or political authorities. Other times execution by stoning was performed by angry mobs. During missionary work in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were nearly stoned. In Lystra, they were not fortunate enough to avoid the punishment.
From 37 - 57 A.D., Paul traveled extensively as he worked to spread the Gospel. During this period, his first missionary journey (about 46-48 A.D.) took him from Antioch, to Seleucia, to the Island of Cyprus, up to Antioch, east to Iconium, and through Lystra and Derbe, as displayed on the map. This journey is described in Acts chapters 13 and 14. During the Journey, Paul and Barnabas found themselves in the city of Iconium, preaching in the Jewish synagogue. They converted many Jews and Greeks to Christianity during that time. But, as always happened for Paul, there were problems: "The people of the city were divided: some of them were with the Jews; others, with the apostles. When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone them, they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued to proclaim the good news" (Acts 14:4-7).
After fleeing the stone-wielding mobs in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went to Lystra and continued their ministry. While preaching in Lystra, Paul encountered a crippled man who "had the faith to be healed." Paul thus healed him in front of the crowds (Acts 14:9). Astonished by this fact, the people declared that Paul and Barnabas were gods: "And the priest of Zeus ... brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice" to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:13). As Jewish Christians, Paul and Barnabas were strongly opposed to pagan worship and sacrifice, especially sacrifice offered to themselves. The two men strongly protested the sacrifice: "The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.' In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts. Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. However, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead" (Acts 14:14-19).