The Art of Persuasion

“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.” Acts 14:1

Paul and Barnabas were travelling from one city to the next, preaching the gospel and starting new churches. In every city, they went to the Jewish people first to tell them the good news that the Messiah had come. In spite of the many prophesies concerning the Messiah that had been fulfilled by Jesus, the message of Paul and Barnabas was usually met with great resistance among the Jewish people. Most of the Jews simply did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. When they came to the city of Iconium, they entered the synagogue where the Jews met and “so spake” that a great multitude believed. They spoke in such a way that convinced their listeners that what they had to say was true. What made them so persuasive? It seems likely that there were several things about Paul and Barnabas that contributed to their effectiveness. By the time they reached Iconium, Paul and Barnabas had engaged in many long discussions with other Jewish people. They had spent hours studying the scriptures, found more fulfilled prophecies, and developed better arguments proving that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Christ of God. This kind of preparation goes a long way towards making one more persuasive. These men had a tremendous burden for the Jews, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. No wonder their words were so powerful!