SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2018 MORNING ACTS 14:14-20
Acts 14:14-20 New International Version (NIV)
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Here we read some of the challenges which Paul and Barnabas faced when they started to preach the Gospel to Gentiles. After they had performed a miracle of healing a disabled man the crowd wanted to worship them as gods.
Later some Jews stirred up opposition to them and they were nearly killed. Let us thank God for faithful Evangelists and Missionaries throughout the ages who have risked their lives to preach the Gospel and to plant churches.
JUMAMOSI TAREHE 27 OKTOBA 2018 ASUBUHI MATENDO 14:14-20
Matendo 14:14-20
14 Walakini mitume Barnaba na Paulo, walipopata habari, wakararua nguo zao, wakaenda mbio wakaingia katika makutano, wakipiga kelele,
15 wakisema, Akina bwana, mbona mnafanya haya? Sisi nasi tu wanadamu hali moja na ninyi; twawahubiri habari njema, ili mgeuke na kuyaacha mambo haya ya ubatili na kumwelekea Mungu aliye hai, aliyeumba mbingu na nchi na bahari na vitu vyote vilivyomo;
16 ambaye zamani zilizopita aliwaacha mataifa yote waende katika njia zao wenyewe.
17 Lakini hakujiacha pasipo ushuhuda, kwa kuwa alitenda mema, akiwapeni mvua kutoka mbinguni, na nyakati za mavuno, akiwashibisha mioyo yenu chakula na furaha.
18 Na kwa maneno hayo wakawazuia makutano kwa shida, wasiwatolee dhabihu.
19 Lakini Wayahudi wakafika toka Antiokia na Ikonio, wakawashawishi makutano hata wakampiga kwa mawe Paulo, wakamburuta nje ya mji, wakidhania ya kuwa amekwisha kufa.
20 Lakini wanafunzi walipokuwa wakimzunguka pande zote, akasimama, akaingia ndani ya mji; na siku ya pili yake akatoka, akaenda zake pamoja na Barnaba mpaka Derbe.
Hapo juu tunasoma changamoto walizozipata Paulo na Barnaba wakihuburi Injili kwa watu wa mataifa. Baada ya kumponya Kiwete watu walitaka kuwabudu Paulo na Barnaba kama miungu. Baadaye walitishiwa kuwawa.
Tumshukuru Mungu kwa watumishi wa Mungu katika vizazi vyote ambayo walihubiri Injili na kupanda Makanisa bila kuumbishwa na changamoto na vitisho walivyopata.