Acts 14:19

¶ And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

And {G1161} there came thither {G1904} certain Jews {G2453} from {G575} Antioch {G490} and {G2532} Iconium {G2430}, who {G2532} persuaded {G3982} the people {G3793}, and {G2532}, having stoned {G3034} Paul {G3972}, drew {G4951} him out of {G1854} the city {G4172}, supposing {G3543} he {G846} had been dead {G2348}.

Then some unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won over the crowds, stoned Sha’ul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

Acts 14:19 records one of the most severe persecutions endured by the Apostle Paul during his first missionary journey. It vividly illustrates the intense opposition faced by early Christian missionaries and the miraculous protection of God.

Context

This verse takes place in Lystra, immediately following an extraordinary event where Paul healed a man lame from birth (Acts 14:8-10). The local populace, witnessing this miracle, mistakenly identified Paul and Barnabas as Greek gods, Hermes and Zeus, and attempted to offer sacrifices to them (Acts 14:11-18). However, their admiration quickly turned to hostility. "Certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium," cities where Paul had previously preached and faced significant resistance, followed him to Lystra. These persistent antagonists actively "persuaded the people" to turn against Paul, demonstrating the rapid and dangerous shift in public sentiment.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Persecution: The stoning of Paul was not merely an assault but an attempt at execution, a common form of capital punishment in that era, typically reserved for severe offenses like blasphemy. This highlights the intense hatred directed at the Gospel message.
  • Fickle Nature of Crowds: The Lystran crowd's swift transition from worshipful adoration to murderous intent underscores the instability of human opinion and the danger of relying on popular favor.
  • Divine Preservation: Despite being stoned and dragged outside the city, "supposing he had been dead," Paul miraculously survived. His recovery and subsequent departure for Derbe (Acts 14:20) testify to God's sovereign protection over His servants, often enabling them to endure immense suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
  • Cost of Discipleship: This event powerfully illustrates Jesus' warnings about the persecution believers would face (John 15:20). Paul himself would later reflect on his many sufferings for Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "stoned" is lithoboleō (λιθοβολέω), which literally means "to throw stones at." This action was a recognized form of execution, indicating the intent was to kill Paul. The phrase "supposing he had been dead" emphasizes the severity of the stoning and the apparent success of the attackers, making Paul's subsequent revival even more remarkable.

Practical Application

Acts 14:19 serves as a powerful reminder that following Christ often involves enduring hardship and opposition. It encourages believers to:

  • Persevere in Faith: Even in the face of life-threatening circumstances, God can sustain and deliver His faithful servants.
  • Trust in Divine Protection: Paul's survival highlights that God's purposes for an individual's life cannot be thwarted by human malice.
  • Be Prepared for Opposition: The Gospel message can provoke strong reactions, both positive and negative. True discipleship often requires courage and resilience.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:25

    Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

  • 2 Timothy 3:11

    Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me.

  • Acts 13:50

    But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

  • Acts 13:51

    But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

  • Acts 14:5

    And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use [them] despitefully, and to stone them,

  • Acts 13:45

    But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

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