In Acts 14 we find Paul and Barnabas in Iconium speaking in the synagogue of the Jews. They proclaimed the gospel which is the power of God to save (Romans 1:16). The gospel message contains the terms of salvation, that which we must believe and what we must do, in order to be saved. Verse one tells us that they so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and Greeks believed.

As we have noted before, the terms “believed” and “believer” are a figure of speech, a synecdoche, in which a part of God’s plan of salvation is given for the whole. It was not that they just believed, believed only, are only believed, as is taught by so many. God has never blessed anyone on the basis of his or her belief alone, but only when his or her faith was expressed in obedience to His word.

The Lord’s brother, James, tells us that those who believe only have a dead faith, which cannot save. He also tells us the kind of faith (belief) that saves. It is an obedient faith (James 2:14-26). James is not talking about works of the Law of Moses, or works that we can boast about, works of merit; no one can earn salvation by such works. But faith alone is faith that is without the acts of obedience that Jesus commands. Repentance and immersion for the forgiveness of sins complete the process.

Satan used the unbelieving Jews to poison the minds of many but God bore witness to the word they preached, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands (Acts 14:2, 3). The purpose of the signs and wonders was to confirm that the word they preached was from God. God does not confirm His word in such a manner today. That is why those who claim that He does cannot confirm their claims. They can only make the claim.

But Satan divided the city and Paul and Barnabas had to leave Iconium and go to Lystra, Derbe and the surrounding region. In Lystra a man who was born crippled and had never walked heard Paul’s preaching. When Paul saw that this crippled man had faith, he healed him. Read this magnificent story (Acts 14:8-10). If people who claim the power to heal or that God still works miracles today were right, we would still be seeing miracles such as this today, and also, people being raised from the dead! Read all of the scriptures given in their context.