Acts 14:19-23. The Jews from Antioch and Iconium catch up with Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. They persuade the people against Paul and Barnabas and they stone Paul. Presuming him dead, they drag him out of the city, but when the disciples gather around him, he rises and goes back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas go on to Derby. There they preach the Gospel and make many disciples. Then they return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch "strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the truth, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." They appoint elders in each place to lead the churches there, they pray and they fast for them, and they commend them all to God.

So Paul has made the kind of enemies that hunt him down and convince the people where he is to turn against him and stone him! Those are some determined enemies! We can tell Paul is being effective when his enemies will go to such great lengths to silence him. Paul himself was like this before his conversion- an enemy of the Christians who hunted them down and imprisoned or killed them, so he knows how the enemy thinks. That gives him somewhat of an advantage in knowing how to continue his mission. 

It was clearly not yet Paul's time to die, he just pops back up after being stoned and goes back to all the places where his enemies are! The man has no fear! That comes from faith - Paul knows he is doing God's will and that God will keep him going until he has "run the race." The people who stoned him think that he is dead, so that is another advantage Paul has, they are not looking for him upon his return. Being presumed dead gives cover like nothing else can! Thus Paul is able to go back to all of the new converts and strengthen them without being sought after. He and Barnabas exhort and strengthen these new Christians, praying, fasting and commending them to God, and then they move on.

The lesson I am taking from this today is to try to have less fear of repurcussions or of offending people. I must always speak with truth and in charity, and I must not try to offend people, but I also must speak when God wants me to, and not worry about what people think of me. As long as I'm doing God's will He will protect me. Even if I die (not that I think it likely right now;), it is my time to go, and all shall be well. What freedom we have when we do His will!