Chapter 19 – Derbe

Narration

Acts 14:20-21
 

Derbe was yet another town where Paul could tell others about Jesus.  Many heard his message and quite a few became disciples of Jesus as Paul and Barnabas were.

And then it was time to move on again, going back over their path to board a ship and return to Seleucia.

Sketch 19.1

“I think I can see Lystra in the distance,” said Barnabas.  “Are you still determined to go and see the brothers there?”

“Of course,” said Paul, sounding a little puzzled by the question, given the strength of his assurance the last time it was asked.

“I know we’ve been through it before,” replied Barnabas, “but I have to make one last effort to convince you.  They stoned you in Lystra!  If they stoned you last time, do you think they’ll hesitate to do it again?  Can’t you see how risky it is?”

“Don’t worry, Barnabas.”  Paul stopped, and when Barnabas halted beside him, Paul put his hand on Barnabas’ shoulder.  Paul had a piercing eye when he wanted to make a point.  “I know just how risky it is, but there are some positives as well, and those are what convince me to do it.  Our brothers and sisters will be encouraged by seeing us.  They’ll be glad to know we’ve been to Derbe and left without being stoned or attacked in any way.  They’ll also be glad to hear that there are plenty of new believers in Derbe too, and that the word of Christ is spreading as it should.”

“That’s true, but what about the men who did their best to kill you?”

Paul began walking again.  His decision was made.  As far as he was concerned, further discussion was fine if it could help convince Barnabas, but it would not materially affect his own choice.  “We know many of them were men who’d followed us from other towns, and they won’t be in Lystra any more – after all, they thought they’d killed me.  Don’t worry, Barnabas, I’m sure we’ll be safe.  Anyway, I want to spend most of our time there with the believers, not preaching.  Any preaching we end up doing will be to Gentiles – the Jews have had their chance.”

“Don’t forget, there were Gentiles in that crowd too, Paul.  It wasn’t only Jews who threw stones at you!”

“No, but they were the ones who led the attack.  If they hadn’t been there, I doubt anyone would’ve attacked me.”

“You could be right, but I’m also a bit concerned that we’ll make life more difficult for the new believers if we stir up trouble in the town again.”

Paul patted Barnabas on the arm as they walked.  “Don’t worry, brother,” he said with a smile.  “If the Lord Jesus still wants us working for him, everything will be alright.  We take care of what we can take care of, and he’ll take care of the rest.”

“I suppose that’s true,” admitted Barnabas.  “He took plenty of risks himself with enemies who wanted to kill him.  Yet despite their best efforts, they couldn’t kill him until the time planned by the Father.”

“So then, let’s get on with it: head into Lystra and start encouraging our brothers straight away,” insisted Paul.

Barnabas gave up.

It wasn’t long before they reached the gate of Lystra.  No-one attacked them, no-one stopped them – indeed, no-one even seemed to recognise them, although Barnabas recognised two of the soldiers who stood on guard beside the gate.  They had been on guard when Paul was dragged out of the city, presumed dead, and had merely stepped aside and watched impassively.

Once inside, Paul and Barnabas eagerly made their way towards the house of one of the earliest believers.  The town streets were busy, however, and on one occasion, they even had to stand aside and wait as a cheering, chanting procession wended its way past them towards the city gate.

“What was that about?” breathed Barnabas to Paul as the tail of the procession passed by.

“I don’t really know, but I think they were heading towards the temple of Zeus outside the city.  I recognised some of the men and women from when they wanted to sacrifice to us.  Remember how they called you Zeus?” laughed Paul.

“Yes, and you Hermes.  Ah well, it looks as if our attempts to steer them away from idolatry failed.  They’re still wedded to it.”

“Perhaps it didn’t work for them, but it did work for brother Quintus, so let’s get to his house as quickly as we can.”

Hurrying through the streets, they reached the door they sought and Barnabas knocked.  Knowing the volume of Paul’s ordinary knock, he had made sure that he got there first.  He wanted a quieter alternative that didn’t announce their presence to everyone within earshot!

A murmur of animated voices had been audible from within, but a sudden silence followed his tap, as if the people inside were somehow hoping to avoid detection.  He looked worriedly at Paul and took a step back.  Paul immediately stepped forward, waited a few seconds and rapped loudly on the door.

Barnabas rolled his eyes.  So much for arriving quietly!

A window shutter opened next door and a woman looked out at them suspiciously.  “Who are you?”

“We are followers of Jesus, the Christ,” announced Paul, “and we have come to meet our fellow believers.”

A transforming smile spread across the woman’s face, and her eager voice was no longer suspicious as she asked, “Are you Paul and Barnabas?”

“Yes,” answered Barnabas.  “This is Paul, and I am Barnabas.  Who are you?”

“I’m Chrysanthe, and I too am a follower of Jesus Christ – although only a very new one.  I’d be meeting with the other believers next door if my brother and his wife weren’t arriving this morning.”

“So how did you become a believer?  We didn’t meet you when we were in Lystra.”

“No, we didn’t hear about Jesus until after you left, unfortunately.  My husband just heard a report that some ‘trouble-making Jews’,” she smiled again to take the edge of her words, “were got rid of by a mob.”  She stopped and looked sympathetically at Paul.  “Have you recovered from your injuries?  The crowd was sure they’d killed you, but our neighbours said you were still alive – that they’d talked to you afterwards.”

“Yes, I’m much better,” said Paul.

“He took weeks to recover from the cuts and bruises,” offered Barnabas, “but with God’s blessing he kept walking and preaching.  He’s tough.”

“And now you’ve both come back here!  Well, we’ll do our best to look after you and keep your visit quiet.”

“I wish you every success, Chrysanthe, but don’t count on it too much,” grinned Barnabas.  “Paul doesn’t ‘keep quiet’ very well!”

“I don’t know why I’m talking through the window like this,” said Chrysanthe, suddenly.  “I’ll come outside to talk.”  She pulled in her head and they heard her moving towards the door.

“I thought you were meant to be encouraging people,” muttered Paul reproachfully as they waited for Chrysanthe to reappear, “not telling me off for doing what we came for!”

“Aren’t you afraid of being stoned again?” asked Chrysanthe when she joined them.

“Of course,” said Paul, “but Jesus warned me that I would suffer because of making his name known.  The suffering is worthwhile to please him.”

“Paul has a very real debt he wants to repay,” said Barnabas.  “He persecuted believers up and down Judea and the neighbouring countries, yet Jesus was willing to forgive him.  Naturally, he feels a need to tell others about Jesus and take whatever suffering comes as a result.”

“I made others suffer for their beliefs, and now I’m suffering for the same beliefs.  That feels fair,” said Paul.  “Anyway, however much I suffer, I can’t ever repay Jesus for what he did for me.”

“I suppose so,” acknowledged Chrysanthe, “but I’m not sure I could face it myself.”

“Of course you could,” said Barnabas, shrewdly.  “After all, you became a follower of Jesus despite knowing exactly what had happened to Paul in your own home town.”

“Oh, that’s different,” she said, waving it aside.  “Anyway, Jesus is worth any sacrifice, don’t you think?  And I’ll never be a leader they’re trying to get rid of.”

“I hope you never have to make such a sacrifice,” said Paul seriously, “but if you do, it is worth it.  Words can’t describe how much I admire Jesus, and appreciate his willingness to welcome me as his servant despite my past behaviour.  I’m running a race for him and I’m desperate to finish it well – just as he did.  Jesus is coming back soon, and everyone in the world needs to know about it.  So we’ve got to tell them!”

“As you see, Chrysanthe, brother Paul doesn’t have small goals,” laughed Barnabas.

In the joy of explanations and new acquaintance, they had forgotten about the door on which Paul had rapped so insistently.  Now it opened silently and a doubtful face peered cautiously out at them.  A wordless double take wiped away the doubt and opened the eyes wide, a broad smile transforming the face.

“Paul!  I didn’t think we’d ever see you again.  Welcome!  And Barnabas too!”

“Quintus!  It’s marvellous to see you,” said Paul.  “We’ve just been getting to know your neighbour, Chrysanthe.  Another new believer, we hear.”

“Indeed.  Your stoning and sudden departure slowed us down for a while, but they also gave us lots of opportunities to contrast the generosity of God with the viciousness of your enemies.  We all talked to our neighbours, and many of them have seen just how attractive the gift of God is.”

“We’re so glad to hear it,” said Barnabas.  “I was a little concerned that you might have been frightened, and perhaps…”

“We thought we should come back and visit you,” interrupted Paul.  “As you know, Barnabas is very good at encouraging, so here we are.”

“Why don’t you come in?” asked Quintus, opening the door wide.

“Are you coming in too, Chrysanthe?” asked Barnabas.  “You don’t get to hear a preacher like Paul very often.  We’ll all try to listen for any knocks on your door should your brother arrive.”

“Oh, yes, of course!  I wouldn’t miss it for the world – and if my brother comes soon, maybe he can join us too.”