Acts 14:20

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Howbeit {G1161}, as the disciples {G3101} stood round about {G2944} him {G846}, he rose up {G450}, and came {G1525} into {G1519} the city {G4172}: and {G2532} the next day {G1887} he departed {G1831} with {G4862} Barnabas {G921} to {G1519} Derbe {G1191}.

But as the talmidim gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day, he left with Bar-Nabba for Derbe.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.

Commentary

Acts 14:20 describes a pivotal moment in the ministry of the Apostle Paul, showcasing his miraculous recovery and unwavering commitment to the gospel after a severe persecution.

Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic account in Acts 14:19 where Paul, after being mistaken for a god and then rejected, was stoned by hostile Jews from Antioch and Iconium. They dragged him out of the city of Lystra, presuming him to be dead. The scene in Acts 14:20 depicts his astonishing recovery and immediate actions, witnessed by his faithful companions.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Protection and Miraculous Recovery: Paul's ability to "rose up" after such a brutal attack, having been left for dead, is a powerful testament to God's supernatural power and protection over His servants. It highlights that God's plan for Paul's ministry was far from complete.
  • Resilience and Perseverance in Ministry: Despite facing life-threatening persecution, Paul did not retreat in fear. His immediate return "into the city" where he was nearly killed demonstrates extraordinary courage and an unwavering commitment to the gospel message. This event powerfully illustrates Paul's later reflections on enduring many dangers for Christ's sake, including being stoned.
  • The Power of Discipleship and Community: The phrase "as the disciples stood round about him" suggests their deep concern, prayers, and possibly their witnessing the miracle. Their presence likely offered both comfort and support, underscoring the importance of Christian community in times of adversity.
  • Unwavering Commitment to the Gospel: Paul's departure "the next day... to Derbe" shows that even severe persecution did not deter him from his mission. He continued to preach the good news, moving to the next strategic location as part of the first missionary journey with Barnabas, demonstrating his steadfast dedication to spreading the Word.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "he rose up" is anastas (ἀναστὰς), which conveys an immediate and decisive action. It emphasizes the sudden and complete nature of Paul's recovery from a state of presumed death. This is not merely regaining consciousness but implies a divine empowerment that allowed him to continue his arduous journey without delay, highlighting the supernatural element of his survival.

Practical Application

Acts 14:20 offers profound encouragement for believers facing adversity. It reminds us that:

  • God is able to protect and sustain His people even in the most dire circumstances, and His purposes will prevail.
  • Persecution and hardship are often part of faithful service, but they do not negate God's plan or call.
  • We are called to perseverance, to continue serving God and proclaiming His truth even when it is difficult or dangerous.
  • The support of fellow believers ("the disciples stood round about him") is invaluable in times of trouble, reminding us of the strength found in Christian fellowship.

This verse stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of faith and the unstoppable advance of God's kingdom through dedicated servants like Paul, who remained faithful despite immense suffering.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 1:9

    But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 1:10

    Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

  • 2 Corinthians 6:9

    As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

  • Acts 16:40

    And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

  • Acts 20:1

    ΒΆ And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto [him] the disciples, and embraced [them], and departed for to go into Macedonia.

  • Acts 14:6

    They were ware of [it], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

  • Acts 20:9

    And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
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