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Acts 14

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Preaching and Persecution in Iconium 1–7

1
And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. ​
2
But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. ​
3
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. ​
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 made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,
6
they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about: ​
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and there they preached the gospel.

Miracle and Mistaken Identity in Lystra 8–18

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And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. ​
9
The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, ​
10
said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.
11
And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. ​
12
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. ​
13
And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
14
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out ​
15
and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: ​
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who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. ​
17
And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness. ​
18
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

Paul is Stoned and Revived 19–20

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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. ​
20
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. ​

The Return Journey and Strengthening the Churches 21–25

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And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, ​
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confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. ​
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And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. ​
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And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
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And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;

Reporting Back to Antioch 26–28

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and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. ​
27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. ​
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And they tarried no little time with the disciples.

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Acts 14

Verse 1

both together into the synagogue — Iconium comes right after they 'shook off the dust of their feet' at Antioch (Acts 13:51). They begin again with the Jews, as at 13:14. 'Greeks' (Hellen) are Greek-speaking non-Jews; both groups 'believed' (pisteuo).

Verse 2

the unbelieving Jews — 'Unbelieving' is apeitheo, to disbelieve wilfully, to refuse obedience. 'Stirred up' is epegeiro, to rouse against, and 'made their minds evil affected' renders kakoo, to injure or exasperate. A similar method is seen at Antioch (Acts 13:50).

Verse 3

speaking boldly in the Lord — Parrhesiazomai, to speak frankly and openly. The Lord 'gave testimony' (martyreo) to 'the word of his grace' with 'signs and wonders' by their hands, the answer to the prayer of Acts 4:29–30 and the witness of Heb 2:4.

Verse 4

the multitude of the city was divided — Schizo, to split or rend. 'Part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles': Barnabas is called an 'apostle' (apostolos, one sent) here and in v.14. The same split follows the word elsewhere: 'some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not' (Acts 28:24).

Verse 6

fled unto Lystra and Derbe — 'Ware of it' is suneido, to become aware; 'fled' is katapheugo. They act on 'when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another' (Matt 10:23). Lycaonia is the region of both cities; Timothy was later at Lystra (Acts 16:1–2).

Verse 8

impotent in his feet — Adunatos, without power; 'cripple' is cholos, lame. 'From his mother's womb' repeats the description of the man at the temple gate in Acts 3:2. 'Never had walked' (peripateo) underlines that the cure is wholly new.

Verse 9

perceiving that he had faith to be healed — 'Stedfastly beholding' is atenizo, to gaze intently, as Peter 'fastening his eyes' on the lame man in Acts 3:4. 'Healed' is sozo, the usual verb 'to save'. Christ's word to the blind men is the pattern: 'According to your faith be it unto you' (Matt 9:29).

Verse 11

in the speech of Lycaonia — Lykaonisti, in the Lycaonian language, the local tongue of the region named in v.6. The cry, 'The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men', is the reverse of Acts 28:6, where the islanders of Melita call Paul 'a god' after first taking him for a murderer.

Verse 12

Jupiter… Mercurius — The Greek is Zeus and Hermes, given here by their Latin names; Hermes is the messenger of the gods. 'Chief speaker' is literally the leader (hegeomai) of the word (logos): Paul's speaking decides the title.

Verse 14

rent their clothes — Diarrhesso, to tear asunder, the gesture of the high priest at supposed blasphemy (Matt 26:65) and of Ezra in distress (Ezra 9:3). 'Ran in' is eispedao, to rush in. Barnabas is named first, though Paul was the 'chief speaker' (v.12); both are called 'apostles' (v.4), and both are the ones the crowd had just hailed as gods.

Verse 15

men of like passions — Homoiopathes, similarly affected; the word Scripture uses of Elias in Jas 5:17. Peter says the same: 'I myself also am a man' (Acts 10:26). 'Vanities' (mataios) are idols, empty things; the contrast is 'the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea'.

Verse 16

suffered all nations to walk in their own ways — 'Suffered' is eao, to let be, to leave alone; 'nations' is ethnos. It is the same forbearance as 'the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent' (Acts 17:30).

Verse 17

left not himself without witness — Amarturos, unattested. The witness is goodness: 'did good' (agathopoieo), 'rain' (hyetos) 'from heaven', 'fruitful seasons' (karpophoros, kairos). Paul says the same of creation in Rom 1:20, 'the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen'.

Verse 19

stoned Paul — The Jews of Antioch and Iconium 'persuaded' (peitho) the crowd that had just called the apostles gods. 'Stoned' is lithazo, and 'drew' is suro, to drag. Paul recalls it: 'once was I stoned' (2 Cor 11:25), and 'out of them all the Lord delivered me' (2 Tim 3:11).

Verse 20

as the disciples stood round about him — Kykloo, to encircle. Paul 'rose up' (anistemi), went back into the city, and 'the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe'. Of the persecutions at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra he wrote that 'the Lord delivered me' (2 Tim 3:11).

Verse 21

returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch — Hypostrepho, to turn back. They retrace the very cities of vv.1–19. 'Had taught many' is matheteuo, to make disciples, the verb of Matt 28:19, 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations'.

Verse 22

much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God — 'Confirming' is epistērizo, to support further; 'exhorting' is parakaleo. 'Must' (dei) states necessity; 'tribulation' is thlipsis, pressure. Christ foretold it: 'In the world ye shall have tribulation' (John 16:33).

Verse 23

ordained them elders — Cheirotoneo, originally to vote by stretching out the hand, then to select or appoint; the elders are presbuteroi. Paul later charged Titus to 'ordain elders in every city' (Titus 1:5). 'Prayed with fasting' recalls the sending out at Antioch (Acts 13:3).

Verse 26

recommended to the grace of God — Paradidomi, to hand over, entrust. Antioch is where the church 'fasted and prayed' and sent them (Acts 13:1–3); the same phrase marks Paul's second departure (Acts 15:40). 'Fulfilled' is pleroo: the work of that commission is complete.

Verse 27

the door of faith unto the Gentiles — 'Rehearsed' is anangello, to report in detail; the credit goes to God, who 'had done' it 'with them'. 'Door' (thura) is Paul's image elsewhere for an opening for the word (1 Cor 16:9; Col 4:3). The report is repeated at Jerusalem (Acts 15:12).