Thus far in the Book of Acts we have seen a repeating pattern when it comes to the ministry of God’s Word. Witnesses arrive in a new town. They go to a synagogue or some other place which is appropriate for religious debate and discussion. They speak and testify to the work of Jesus Christ, and then they disciple those who are keen to learn more. As they do so, the unbelieving Jews begin to plot and plan. They are never content to just leave them alone. There is jealousy, there is anger, and it does not take long before the new preachers are forced to go elsewhere.

Admittedly there are some places where the opposition is much less prominent, where we do not read about it even (for example, Cyprus). But on the whole, this is the general pattern which we have seen quite a few times now, also in Acts 14.

Jews in Iconium plot to kill. Jews in Antioch make a round trip of more than 130 kilometres to kill. They try their very best to get rid of Paul and Barnabas—they really do not want to see the good news of Jesus spreading further. That is why we have the missionaries going to these two Gentile cities, Lystra and then Derbe. Two towns where there is a very small Jewish population if any; certainly there was no synagogue in either of them. But they are chosen because they are meant to be a safe haven from Jewish attack, a plan B so to speak, prompted by rejection. A place to rest and recover before making new plans for ministry.

For Lystra we know that the unbelieving Jews were still able to come and cause trouble, but Derbe seems to have been far enough away for them to give up the chase. Either that or they did not know that Paul was still alive. Whatever the case, we are given a clear picture of the risks that come with Gospel ministry. It is not a work which is necessarily safe and comfortable, certainly not when you are going into new places or challenging the religious elite. This is a dangerous calling, a life of trouble and hardship.