¹In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.

From Pisidian Antioch, Paul and company traveled about eighty miles (as the crow flies) southeast to Iconium. This city was in the area called Asia Minor, which is part of present-day Turkey. Sometimes this region is referred to as Galatia, and many scholars believe the churches planted there were the intended recipients of a letter Paul wrote later to the “Galatians.” The variety of names should not surprise us; people today refer to a city like Rochester, New York (for example) as located in New York, in “upstate New York,” in the Finger-Lakes region, in the “Northeast.” Some might even suggest it is part of New England (debated), or western New York (again debated). So also, in the ancient world, various names are often attached to the same area.

At any rate, Paul sought out the Jewish synagogue as his initial platform for preaching the gospel. Again, the preliminary response was overwhelmingly positive. A “large number” believed, and this included both Jews and Gentiles. Luke refers to non-Jews as Greeks rather than Gentiles. The latter looks at the world through a Hebraic-Jewish point of view, where the world is divided into Jews and non-Jews, who are traditionally called Gentiles. But Luke uses the term “Greeks,” which reflected the prevailing sentiment of Jews who lived outside of Israel and lived as a minority in the larger Roman world. Why not refer to non-Jews as Romans then? The term “Romans” was used for Roman citizens and did not apply to all non-Jews. Rather, the Roman world was saturated with the culture of the Greeks, the previous world power that dominated the Mediterranean region. In fact, the Roman world held Greek culture in high regard, as something to be embraced, emulated, and promoted in the arenas of philosophy, the arts, and learning. This is like identifying people who live in the United States as “westerners” because they live in the Western Hemisphere.

Luke interestingly points to how Paul and company preached: they “spoke in such a manner.” We could wish he had included more of Paul’s preaching style and his homiletical skill, but instead Luke focuses on the results. This points to the idea that the way one presents the truth is important to how people receive it. The message of truth can be lost to a poor presentation. We must not let that happen. Our message must be clear, well-articulated, and understandable, even in our personal evangelism.

Lord, help me to proclaim Your message of grace clearly and persuasively.