TRV
Translation
King James Version
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba remained for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord, who bore witness to the message about his love and kindness by enabling them to perform signs and miracles.
Berean Standard Bible
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
American Standard Version
Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
World English Bible Messianic
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Geneva Bible (1599)
So therefore they abode there a long time, and spake boldly in the Lord, which gaue testimonie vnto the woord of his grace, and caused signes and woders to be done by their hands.
Young's Literal Translation
long time, indeed, therefore, did they abide speaking boldly in the Lord, who is testifying to the word of His grace, and granting signs and wonders to come to pass through their hands.
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In the KJVVerse 27,418 of 31,102
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Commentary on Acts 14 verses 1–7
1 ¶ 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.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
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,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
In these verses we have,
I. The preaching of the gospel in Iconium, whither the apostles were forced to retire from Antioch. As the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the church, so the banishment of the confessors has helped to scatter that seed. Observe, 1. How they made the first offer of the gospel to the Jews in their synagogues; thither they went, not only as to a place of meeting, but as to a place of meeting with them, to whom, wherever they came, they were to apply themselves in the first place. Though the Jews at Antioch had used them barbarously, yet they did not therefore decline preaching the gospel to the Jews at Iconium, who perhaps might be better disposed. Let not those of any denomination be condemned in the gross, nor some suffer for others' faults; but let us do good to those who have done evil to us. Though the blood-thirsty hate the upright, yet the just seek their soul (Pro 29:10), seek the salvation of it. 2. How the apostles concurred herein. Notice is taken of this, that they went both together into the synagogue, to testify their unanimity and mutual affection, that people might say, See how they love one another, and might think the better of Christianity, and that they might strengthen one another's hands and confirm one another's testimony, and out of the mouth of two witnesses every word might be established. They did not go one one day and another another, nor one go at the beginning and the other some time after; but they went in both together.
II. The success of their preaching there: They so spoke that a great multitude, some hundreds perhaps, if not thousands, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, that is the Gentiles, believed. Observe here, 1. That the gospel was now preached to Jews and Gentiles together, and those of each denomination that believed came together into the church. In the close of the foregoing chapter it was preached first to the Jews, and some of them believed, and then to the Gentiles, and some of them believed; but here they are put together, being put upon the same level. The Jews have not so lost their preference as to be thrown behind, only the Gentiles are brought to stand upon even terms with them; both are reconciled to God in one body (Eph 2:16), and both together admitted into the church without distinction. 2. There seems to have been something remarkable in the manner of the apostles' preaching here, which contributed to their success: They so spoke that a great multitude believed - so plainly, so convincingly, with such an evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, and with such power; they so spoke, so warmly, so affectionately, and with such a manifest concern for the souls of men, that one might perceive they were not only convinced, but filled, with the things they spoke of, and that what they spoke came from the heart and therefore was likely to reach to the heart; they so spoke, so earnestly and so seriously, so boldly and courageously, that those who heard them could not but say that God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be attributed to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God, who made use of that means.
III. The opposition that their preaching met with there, and the trouble that was created them; lest they should be puffed up with the multitude of their converts, there was given them this thorn in the flesh. 1. Unbelieving Jews were the first spring of their trouble here, as elsewhere (Act 14:2): they stirred up the Gentiles. The influence which the gospel had upon many of the Gentiles, and their embracing it, as it provoked some of the Jews to a holy jealousy and stirred them up to receive the gospel too (Rom 11:14), so it provoked others of them to a wicked jealousy, and exasperated them against the gospel. Thus as good instructions, so good examples, which to some are a savour of life unto life, to others are a savour of death unto death. See Co2 2:15, Co2 2:16. 2. Disaffected Gentiles, irritated by the unbelieving Jews, were likely to be the instruments of their trouble. The Jews, by false suggestions, which they were continually buzzing in the ears of the Gentiles, made their minds evil affected against the brethren, whom of themselves they were inclined to think favourably of. They not only took occasion in all companies, as it came in their way, but made it their business to go purposely to such as they had any acquaintance with, and said all that their wit or malice could invent to beget in them not only a mean but an ill opinion of Christianity, telling them how destructive it would certainly be to their pagan theology and worship; and, for their parts, they would rather be Gentiles than Christians. Thus they soured and embittered their spirits against both the converters and the converted. The old serpent did, by their poisonous tongues, infuse his venom against the seed of the woman into the minds of these Gentiles, and this was a root of bitterness in them, bearing gall and wormwood. It is no wonder if those who are ill affected towards good people wish ill to them, speak ill of them, and contrive ill against them; it is all owing to ill will. Ekakōsan, they molested and vexed the minds of the Gentiles (so some of the critics take it); they were continually teasing them with their impertinent solicitations. The tools of persecutors have a dog's life, set on continually.
IV. Their continuance in their work there, notwithstanding this opposition, and God's owning them in it, Act 14:3. We have here, 1. The apostles working for Christ, faithfully and diligently, according to the trust committed to them. Because the minds of the Gentiles were evil affected against them, one would think that therefore they should have withdrawn, and hastened out of the way, or, if they had preached, should have preached cautiously, for fear of giving further provocation to those who were already enough enraged. No; on the contrary, therefore they abode there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The more they perceived the spite and rancour of the town against the new converts, the more they were animated to go on in their work, and the more needful they saw it to continue among them, to confirm them in the faith, and to comfort them. They spoke boldly, and were not afraid of giving offence to the unbelieving Jews. What God said to the prophet, with reference to the unbelieving Jews in his day, was now made good to the apostles: I have made thy face strong against their faces, Eze 3:7-9. But observe what it was that animated them: They spoke boldly in the Lord, in his strength, and trusting in him to bear them out; not depending upon any thing in themselves. They were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 2. Christ working with the apostles, according to his promise, Lo, I am with you always. When they went on in his name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. Note, (1.) The gospel is a word of grace, the assurance of God's good will to us and the means of his good work in us. It is the word of Christ's grace, for it is in him alone that we find favour with God. (2.) Christ himself has attested this word of grace, who is the Amen, the faithful witness; he has assured us that it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. As it was said in general concerning the first preachers of the gospel that they had the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by signs following (Mar 16:20), so it is said particularly concerning the apostles here that the Lord confirmed their testimony, in granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands - in the miracles they wrought in the kingdom of nature - as well as the wonders done by their word, in the greater miracles wrought on men's minds by the power of divine grace. The Lord was with them, while they were with him, and abundance of good was done.
V. The division which this occasioned in the city (Act 14:4): The multitude of the city was divided into two parties, and both active and vigorous. Among the rulers and persons of rank, and among the common people, there were some that held with the unbelieving Jews, and others that held with the apostles. Barnabas is here reckoned an apostle, though not one of the twelve, nor called in the extra-ordinary manner that Paul was, because set apart by special designation of the Holy Ghost to the service of the Gentiles. It seems, this business of the preaching of the gospel was so universally taken notice of with concern that every person, even of the multitude of the city, was either for it or against it; none stood neuter. "Either for us or for our adversaries, for God or Baal, for Christ or Beelzebub." 1. We may here see the meaning of Christ's prediction that he came not to send peace upon earth, but rather division, Luk 12:51-53. If all would have given in unanimously into his measures, there would have been universal concord; and, could men have agreed in this, there would have been no dangerous discord nor disagreement in other things; but, disagreeing here, the breach was wide as the sea. Yet the apostles must not be blamed for coming to Iconium, although before they came the city was united, and now it was divided; for it is better that part of the city go to heaven than all to hell. 2. We may here take the measures of our expectations; let us not think it strange if the preaching of the gospel occasion division, nor be offended at it; it is better to be reproached and persecuted as dividers for swimming against the stream than yield ourselves to be carried down the stream that leads to destruction. Let us hold with the apostles, and not fear those that hold with the Jews.
VI. The attempt made upon the apostles by their enemies. Their evil affection against them broke out at length into violent outrages, Act 14:5. Observe, 1. Who the plotters were: Both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, and yet united against Christians, like Herod and Pilate, Sadducees and Pharisees, against Christ; and like Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, of old, against Israel. If the church's enemies can thus unite for its destruction, shall not its friends, laying aside all personal feuds, unite for its preservation? 2. What the plot was. Having now got the rulers on their side, they doubted not but to carry their point, and their design was to use the apostles despitefully, to expose them to disgrace, and then to stone them, to put them to death; and thus they hoped to sink their cause. They aimed to take away both their reputation and their life, and this was all they had to lose which men could take from them, for they had neither lands nor goods.
VII. The deliverance of the apostles out of the hands of those wicked and unreasonable men, Act 14:6, Act 14:7. They got away, upon notice given them of the design against them, or the beginning of the attempt upon them, of which they were soon aware, and they made an honourable retreat (for it was not an inglorious flight) to Lystra and Derbe; and there, 1. They found safety. Their persecutors in Iconium were for the present satisfied that they were thrust out of their borders, and pursued them no further. God has shelters for his people in a storm; nay, he is, and will be, himself their hiding place. 2. They found work, and this was what they went for. When the door of opportunity was shut against them at Iconium, it was opened at Lystra and Derbe. To these cities they went, and there, and in the region that lieth round about, they preached the gospel. In times of persecution ministers may see cause to quit the spot, when yet they do not quit the work.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 30
"Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." This caused their boldness; or rather, of their boldness indeed their own hearty good-will was the cause - therefore it is that for a long while they work no signs - while the conversion of the hearers was the effect of the signs, though their boldness also contributed somewhat.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 30
And see how on all occasions he refers all to God. "Long time," he says, "abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace." Think not this expression, "Gave testimony," hath aught derogatory to the Lord's Divine Majesty: "Who witnessed," it is said, "before Pontius Pilate." Then the boldness - "and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." Here he speaks it as concerning their own nation.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Acts 14:3 vividly portrays the sustained and courageous ministry of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium, where, despite escalating opposition, they continued to proclaim the Gospel with divine empowerment. This verse underscores the crucial partnership between human faithfulness in preaching "the word of his grace" and God's active validation through miraculous "signs and wonders" performed through their hands, authenticating their message and demonstrating His sovereign power.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Acts 14:3 employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The phrase "signs and wonders" (Greek: sēmeia kai terata) is a classic merism or hendiadys, a common biblical pairing that emphasizes the extraordinary, supernatural nature of the events, highlighting both their evidential purpose (signs) and their awe-inspiring quality (wonders). The use of the divine passive in "to be done by their hands" subtly but powerfully indicates that God is the ultimate agent behind the miracles, even though they are performed through the apostles. This emphasizes divine sovereignty and the apostles' role as instruments. Furthermore, the verse presents a juxtaposition between human action ("abode they speaking boldly") and divine action ("which gave testimony... and granted signs and wonders"), illustrating the essential partnership in ministry where human faithfulness is met with divine confirmation. The phrase "in the Lord" functions as a metonymy, where "the Lord" stands for the power, authority, and presence of Christ, who is the source of their boldness and the one who ultimately authenticates their message.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 14:3 provides a profound theological insight into the nature of apostolic ministry and, by extension, all effective Christian witness: it is a synergistic work between human proclamation and divine power. The apostles' "speaking boldly in the Lord" was not a self-generated courage but a Spirit-empowered declaration, acknowledging that true spiritual impact flows from God's enabling presence. Furthermore, God's "testimony" through "signs and wonders" underscores the principle that the Gospel message is not merely human philosophy or persuasion, but a divine revelation that God Himself validates. While the overt display of miraculous signs may not be the normative experience for every believer today, the underlying principle remains: God continues to confirm His "word of grace" through transformed lives, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and tangible evidence of His presence and power in the world. The focus is always on the message of grace, which is God's unmerited favor, the core of salvation, and the power that transforms hearts.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 14:3 offers timeless encouragement and instruction for believers in every generation. The apostles' "long time" abode in Iconium, despite growing opposition, is a powerful testament to the necessity of perseverance in ministry. It reminds us that faithfulness often requires enduring through challenging seasons, trusting that God's timing and purposes will prevail. Their "speaking boldly in the Lord" challenges us to examine the source of our own courage in sharing our faith; true boldness is not born of human strength but is a divine enablement, rooted "in the Lord." This calls us to a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that it is God who empowers our witness. Moreover, the divine confirmation through "signs and wonders" assures us that God is actively involved in authenticating His Word. While the specific manifestations may differ, God continues to confirm His message today through transformed lives, undeniable spiritual conviction, and answers to prayer, demonstrating His power to a skeptical world. Our mission remains to faithfully proclaim "the word of his grace," confident that as we do so, God will work alongside us, giving testimony to His truth.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "speaking boldly in the Lord" mean for believers today?
Answer: For believers today, "speaking boldly in the Lord" means proclaiming the truth of the Gospel with confidence, clarity, and conviction, not relying on our own strength or eloquence but on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It implies a fearless and unreserved declaration of God's Word, even when facing opposition, apathy, or ridicule. This boldness is rooted in our identity "in the Lord," meaning it flows from our relationship with Christ and His authority. It doesn't necessarily mean being loud or aggressive, but rather being unashamed of the Gospel and ready to share it, trusting that God will provide the words and the power, as seen in passages like Ephesians 6:19-20.
Were "signs and wonders" common in the early church, and do they still occur today?
Answer: Yes, "signs and wonders" (miracles, healings, exorcisms, prophetic utterances) were a common and integral part of the early church's ministry, particularly during the apostolic era. As Acts 14:3 shows, they served a crucial purpose: to authenticate the apostles' message and demonstrate God's power to a world unfamiliar with the Gospel. They were God's way of "giving testimony" to His Word. While there is theological debate on the frequency and nature of these phenomena today, many Christians believe that God continues to perform miraculous signs and wonders in various forms, though perhaps not with the same concentration as in the foundational period of the church. The Holy Spirit is still active, and God is sovereign to confirm His Word as He sees fit, often through transformed lives and powerful spiritual experiences, as suggested in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
What is "the word of his grace"?
Answer: "The word of his grace" refers to the Gospel message, which centers on God's unmerited favor and benevolent love toward humanity, culminating in salvation through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that salvation is not earned by human effort, good works, or adherence to the law, but is a free gift received by faith. This message highlights God's character as gracious and merciful, offering forgiveness and new life purely out of His boundless love. It is the core of the Christian message, contrasting with systems of earning favor or merit. Paul frequently emphasized this theme, as in Acts 20:24 and Ephesians 2:8-9.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 14:3, though describing the ministry of Paul and Barnabas, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. The apostles' "speaking boldly in the Lord" is a direct continuation of Christ's own fearless proclamation of the Kingdom of God, empowered by the very Spirit He promised to send (Acts 1:8). Jesus Himself was the embodiment of "the word of his grace," for "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). He is the living Word, full of grace, who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Moreover, the "signs and wonders" performed by the apostles were not arbitrary displays of power, but echoes of Christ's own miraculous ministry, which consistently validated His divine authority and the truth of His message (Luke 4:18-19). Just as God bore witness to Jesus's claims through mighty works, so too did He confirm the apostles' testimony to Jesus. Thus, Acts 14:3 powerfully illustrates that the early church's mission was fundamentally Christ-centered: they spoke boldly of Him, God gave testimony to His grace, and the signs and wonders were performed in His name and for His glory, demonstrating that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).