Acts 14

Bearing Witness – Living Out Acts 14 Together

As we journey through Acts 14, we’re reminded that this chapter isn’t just a story from the past—it's a powerful reflection of what it means to live out our faith today. Paul and Barnabas are reaching the end of their first missionary journey, and as we follow them from city to city, we see what happens when the Word of God and the way we live our lives are in full alignment. This is about more than just reading Scripture; it's about becoming a living testimony of it.

Living a Life That Bears Witness

Right from the start in Iconium, we see Paul and Barnabas teaching boldly in the synagogue. Their message was so compelling that many Jews and Greeks believed. But what stood out to us was not just the miracles or even the preaching—it was how their lives bore witness to the message of grace. That phrase from the ESV translation struck us deeply: “their life bore witness to the word.”

This isn't just about what we say—it’s about how we live. How we treat people, handle stress, deal with conflict, and even how we end our day. Does it all reflect the truth we read in Scripture? If people were to look at our lives, would they see alignment with what we claim to believe?

This becomes especially important when we consider the spiritual confusion in our culture. Barna research shows that while many identify as Christians, only a small percentage live with what they call “resilient faith.” The gap between what we profess and how we live is confusing, not just to outsiders, but even within the Church.

But when our lives bear witness—when there’s consistency between our faith and our actions—it points people to Jesus in a way that preaching alone never could.

Faith That Sees and Is Seen

Later in the chapter, in Lystra, Paul encounters a man who had never walked. And in a moment that’s easy to skim over, Paul looks directly at him and sees that he has faith to be healed. That detail hit home for us.

Sometimes we look past people—maybe out of discomfort, fear, or just habit. But Paul didn't just see a need; he saw the person. He saw faith. There’s something powerful about being seen and seeing others with spiritual eyes. On one side, we’re asking, “Do I have faith to believe God can move in my life?” On the other, “Am I willing to look and really see those around me?”

We also talked about the mystery of how God invites us to participate in our own healing and freedom. It's not about earning it, but about engaging with Him. Do we want to be well? Are we leaning in? This is something we’ve seen in our own ministry—especially in the realm of deliverance—where real transformation only comes when a person wants the things of God more than the things they’re battling against.

It’s All About Who Gets the Glory

One cautionary tale from Acts 14 is how quickly people can misinterpret the work of God. In Lystra, after the healing, the crowd thinks Paul and Barnabas are gods. They start calling them Zeus and Hermes. And it’s such a reminder: if we don’t clearly point to Jesus in both word and action, people will give credit somewhere else—often to us.

The order matters: the Word of God should go before the work of God. That way, when miracles happen or lives are changed, there’s no confusion—it’s all by God, for God, and through God.

We live in a culture that loves personal glory. We're told to create our own truth, be our own gods. But the humble posture of a Christ-follower is the opposite. Chin up, eyes up—acknowledging we are not God, but pointing to the One who is.

Strengthened by Stories, Grounded in the Word

At the end of the chapter, Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch and begin strengthening the disciples by sharing their stories. That encouragement—to remain true to the faith—was rooted not just in doctrine, but in testimony. And we’ve seen this over and over again. Whether it's Jessica's story shared on Christmas Eve or the legacy of a faithful grandmother, testimonies have the power to strengthen souls.

This is why community matters. Why staying in the Word, pursuing accountability, and walking with others in faith is so essential. It might not always feel transformational in the moment, but like meals we don’t remember eating, it’s still nourishing us day after day.

Let’s be people whose lives bear witness. Let's live in a way that when others see us, they say, “That matches what I read in Scripture.” May the Word and work of God go hand in hand in our lives—and may Jesus get all the glory.

Stay faithful. Stay grounded. Stay aligned.