Acts 14:1-7. Having left Antioch in Pasidia for Iconium, Paul and Barnabas repeat their game plan. They go to the synagogue in Iconium and speak so well that a great number of both Jews and Greeks come to believe. But the unbelieving Jews once again stir up opposition to them, this time coming from the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas remain in Iconium a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, and the Lord supports their efforts by causing signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the division in the city remains, And when Paul and Barnabas learn of a plot to stone them, they leave for Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding country "and there they preached the gospel."

This is pretty much the same story as in Antioch in Pisidia. Paul and Barnabas arrive, they preach in the synagogue, they have great success, and, because of their success, some of the Jews oppose them and opposition is stirred up against them, eventually forcing them to leave. This time, though, Paul and Barnabas were able to stay in the city for a long time, preaching and performing signs and wonders. I am sure the signs and wonders only further inflamed the opposition - often, once we set ourselves on a path of a vocal opposition, it is very hard for us to change gears and admit we were wrong. The signs and wonders, being proof that Paul and Barnabas are speaking the truth, are probably making the opposition dig in their heels even more. The opposition therefore grows, to the point of there being a plot to stone the two men. Paul and Barnabas keep preaching even as they know opposition to them is growing. As long as they can do so safely, they continue to spread the Word. When the opposition becomes so intense that their lives are actually threatened, God looks out for them and lets them know of the plan so they are able to get out of town.

Paul and Barnabas certainly had to have their wits about them as they went about evangelizing! The danger they knew could come did not stop them, but they stayed alert and aware to know when to move on. This is a lesson for all of us, we are not to keep our mouth shut, even when we are inflaming the opposition. We are always to preach with charity and truth, and trust that God sees and knows what we are doing, and will let us know when to move on, as long as we are alert to His prompts. We must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, as a wise God-man once said.