And they were preaching the gospel

And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.  – Acts 14.5-7

Things just got worse for Paul and Barnabas.  Now the Jews and Gentiles and there rulers attempted to use violence to stop the preaching. They wanted to abuse and stone them. We know for sure that Paul at least knew what stoning was. He was there when Stephen was there and even held the cloaks of the stoners.

Surely now these guys would shut up. Surely the threat of abuse and stoning would change their minds and send them home.

But no. Paul and Barnabas did leave the region where they were preaching and moved to another region. To hide and take cover?

No. 'And they were preaching the gospel there.'

I really don't know what more there is to say. We can make all the excuses we want. We can talk about different time and different cultures and the newness of the gospel and about any number of things, but under a death threat threat these guys just changed location and kept on preaching.

Jesus told the disciples in His last words ‘You shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.’

These disciples took that seriously. When they were run off from one place they went to another, but they kept going and they kept preaching.

Can anybody think of an out clause for us that excludes us from the same instruction?