Strange Occurrences When Preaching the Gospel in Remote Areas
Preaching the Gospel in remote areas has historically been associated with unusual occurrences, often involving challenging circumstances for the evangelist and unexpected responses from the audience. The Apostle Paul, for instance, frequently journeyed through various regions to spread the Gospel, encountering "perils of waters" and "perils of robbers," as well as dangers from his own countrymen [9]. These accounts highlight the physical risks and opposition faced by those carrying the Christian message to new territories.
The concept of preaching in "regions beyond" is noted in Paul's letters, where he expresses a desire to extend the Gospel into distant parts of the world where Christ had not yet been named [4, 7]. This missionary impulse often led evangelists into unfamiliar and sometimes hostile environments. For example, Jesus himself was described as being "outside in deserted places" while people came to him from every direction [1]. Adam Clarke interprets a passage in Mark as suggesting Jesus was in a "savage part of the desert" with "wild beasts," which he views as emblematic of the "savage and brutal cruelty" he would face from Jews and Gentiles [6].
Sometimes, these "strange occurrences" involve divine intervention or unusual protection. When Jesus's opponents attempted to seize him in Nazareth, he "passing through the midst of them" escaped their grasp [8]. Adam Clarke suggests this could mean Jesus either supernaturally obscured himself from their sight or overawed them with his power, rendering them unable to act on their murderous intent. He draws a parallel to missionaries who are "immortal till their work is done," implying divine protection in dangerous situations [8].
The reception of the Gospel in remote or previously unreached areas could also be marked by unusual events. The book of Acts records Peter's vision in Joppa, where he saw a "great sheet let down from heaven" containing various animals, which prepared him to preach to Gentiles [2]. This vision was a significant departure from traditional Jewish dietary laws and customs, illustrating a divine intervention to broaden the scope of the Gospel. Similarly, the Samaritans, who were often viewed as distinct from Jews, received the Gospel after Christ commanded his disciples to preach there [3]. John Calvin notes that the Law and Prophets offered only a "foretaste" of wisdom, but where Christ is present, "the kingdom of God is manifested," suggesting a direct and powerful encounter with divine truth in new contexts [5].
Sources
- Mark “Mark 1:45 (LITV) — But going out he began to proclaim much, and to spread about the matter, so that He no longer could openly enter into a city. But He was outside in deserted places. And they came to Him from every quarter.”
- Acts ““I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. -- Acts 11:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Samaria, Modern — Situated between Judea and Galilee -- Lu 17:11; Joh 4:3,4. Had many cities -- Mt 10:5; Lu 9:52. Cities of, mentioned in scripture Samaria. -- Ac 8:5. Sychar. -- Joh 4:5. Antipatris. -- Ac 23:31. Christ preached in -- Joh 4:39-42. Christ at first forbade his disciples to visit -- Mt 10:5. Christ after his resurrection commanded the gospel to be preached in -- Ac 1:8. Inhabitants of Their true descent. -- 2Ki 17:24; Ezr 4:9,10. Boasted descent from Jacob. -- Joh 4:12. Professed to worship God. -- Ezr 4:2. Their religion mixed with idolatry. -- 2Ki 17:”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:14: To preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you,.... Here the apostle clearly expresses what he hoped for, and explains what he meant by being enlarged according to rule; namely, that he should be at liberty to preach the Gospel elsewhere; and hoped he should be directed by the providence of God, to carry it into the more remote and distant parts of the world, where as yet Christ had not been named: and not to boast in another man's line: or enter into another man's province, glory in other men's labours, as did the false apostles: and boast of things made ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 47: John, that from that time the gospel of the kingdom was preached ( Mt. 11:13 ). What did the Law and the Prophets deliver to the men of their time? They gave a foretaste of that wisdom which was one day to be clearly manifested, and showed it afar off. But where Christ can be pointed to with the finger, there the kingdom of God is manifested. In him are contained all the treasures of wisdom and understanding, and by these we penetrate almost to the very shrine of heaven. 6. There is nothing contrary to this in the fact, that in the”
- Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 1:13: With the wild beasts - This is a curious circumstance, which is mentioned by none of the other evangelists; and seems to intimate that he was in the most remote, unfrequented, and savage part of the desert; which, together with the diabolic influence, tended to render the whole scene the more horrid. Perhaps this very circumstance is mentioned, as emblematical of that savage and brutal cruelty with which he was persecuted to death by the Jews and Gentiles, instigated thereto by the malice of Satan.”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 10:16: To preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you - He probably refers to those parts of the Morea, such as Sparta, etc., that lay southward of them; and to Italy, which lay on the west; for it does not appear that he considered his measure or province to extend to Libya, or any part of Africa. See the Introduction, Section 12. Not to boast in another man's line - So very scrupulous was the apostle not to build on another man's foundation, that he would not even go to those places where other apostles were labouring. He appears to think that every apostle had ”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 4:30: Passing through the midst of them - Either he shut their eyes so that they could not see him; or he so overawed them by his power as to leave them no strength to perform their murderous purpose. The man Christ Jesus was immortal till his time came; and all his messengers are immortal till their work is done. The following relation of a fact presents a scene something similar to what I suppose passed on this occasion: A missionary, who had been sent to a strange land to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and who had passed through many hardships, and was often ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:25: In journeying often,.... Through several countries and kingdoms to preach the Gospel, as he did from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum: in perils of waters; by the floods being out, which made it very troublesome and dangerous travelling, especially to persons on foot, as was the case of our apostle: in perils of robbers; for though he had seldom much to lose, yet was in danger of being ill used, and of his life being taken away by such ruffians: in perils by my own countrymen; the Jews, who bore an implacable hatred to him, because of the doctrines of ”