Acts14

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preached, leading to many conversions but also opposition, forcing them to flee to Lystra. There, Paul healed a lame man, causing the people to mistake them for gods, which the apostles vehemently rejected, pointing to the living God. Despite being stoned and left for dead by hostile Jews, Paul miraculously recovered. He and Barnabas then revisited the churches, confirming disciples and ordaining elders before returning to Antioch to report their mission.

Preaching and Persecution in Iconium

1
In Iconium the same thing happened — they went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks came to trust. ​
2
But the Jews who would not be persuaded stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ​
3
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. ​
4
However, the people of the city were divided — some sided with the unbelieving Jews, others with the emissaries. ​
5
Eventually the unbelievers, both Jews and Gentiles, together with their leaders, made a move to mistreat the emissaries, even to stone them;
6
but they learned of it and escaped to Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ​
7
where they continued proclaiming the Good News.

Miracle and Mistaken Identity in Lystra

8
There was a man living in Lystra who could not use his feet — crippled from birth, he had never walked. ​
9
This man listened to Sha’ul speaking. Sha’ul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ​
10
said with a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” He jumped up and began to walk.
11
When the crowds saw what Sha’ul had done, they began to shout in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!” ​
12
They began calling Bar-Nabba “Zeus” and Sha’ul “Hermes,” since he did most of the talking; ​
13
and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, intending to offer a sacrifice to them with the people.
14
When the emissaries Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd, shouting, ​
15
“Men! Why are you doing this? We’re just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you — turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them! ​
16
In times past, he allowed all peoples to walk in their own ways; ​
17
yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!” ​
18
Even saying this barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

Paul is Stoned and Revived

19
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. ​
20
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. ​

The Return Journey and Strengthening the Churches

21
After proclaiming the Good News in that city and making many people into talmidim, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ​
22
strengthening the talmidim, encouraging them to remain true to the faith, and reminding them that it is through many hardships that we must enter the Kingdom of God. ​
23
After appointing elders for them in every congregation, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust. ​
24
Passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25
After speaking the message in Perga, they came down to Attalia; and from there, they sailed back to Antioch,

Reporting Back to Antioch

26
the place where they had been handed over to the care of God for the work which they had now completed. ​
27
When they arrived, they gathered the Messianic community together and reported what God had done through them, that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ​
28
And they stayed for some time there with the talmidim.

Study Notes for Acts 14

Verse 1

Iconium was a major city in the region of Phrygia and Lycaonia. Following their established pattern, Paul and Barnabas began their evangelism in the Jewish synagogue, resulting in conversions from both Jewish and Greek communities.

Verse 2

The pattern of Jewish opposition stirring up Gentile hostility against the apostles is a recurring theme in Acts, highlighting the divisive nature of the gospel message.

Verse 3

Despite the opposition, the apostles remained for a 'long time,' demonstrating courage. Their ministry was authenticated by the Lord through miraculous 'signs and wonders,' confirming the truth of the message.

Verse 4

The city became openly divided, indicating that the preaching of the gospel often forces people to choose allegiance, leading to polarization within a community.

Verse 6

Fleeing to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, was a strategic retreat, not an act of cowardice, consistent with Jesus’ instruction to shake the dust off their feet and move on (Matt 10:23).

Verse 8

Lystra was a Roman colony. This healing miracle parallels Peter’s healing of the lame man in Acts 3, confirming the power of the Spirit working through Paul.

Verse 9

Paul perceived the man’s readiness for healing. While the power belonged to God, the presence of faith (or receptivity) in the recipient was often a prerequisite for a miraculous cure.

Verse 11

The people spoke in the local Lycaonian dialect. Their immediate identification of Paul and Barnabas as gods reflects local pagan myths (like the popular story of Jupiter and Mercury visiting Phrygia in disguise).

Verse 12

Jupiter (Zeus) was the chief god, and Mercurius (Hermes) was the messenger god and orator. Since Paul was the 'chief speaker,' the people assigned him the role of the messenger god.

Verse 14

The apostles ‘rent their clothes,’ a dramatic Jewish gesture signifying horror and distress, used here to express absolute rejection of the blasphemous honor being offered to them.

Verse 15

Paul’s sermon to this purely pagan audience begins not with the Jewish Scriptures, but with natural revelation—the living God revealed through creation—a common rhetorical strategy when addressing non-Jews.

Verse 16

God allowed nations to 'walk in their own ways' (i.e., pursue idolatry) in the past, but the current ministry signaled a new era of worldwide evangelism.

Verse 17

God’s enduring goodness and sustaining power are evidenced through the natural world (rain and fruitful seasons), serving as a universal witness to His existence even among those who do not know Him.

Verse 19

The persistent opposition followed Paul from previous cities, demonstrating the organized and relentless nature of the antagonists. Paul’s stoning fulfills prophetic warnings about persecution.

Verse 20

Whether Paul’s revival was instantaneous or a dramatic natural recovery, his ability to rise and return to the city immediately demonstrates immense divine protection and courage.

Verse 21

Rather than taking the shorter route home, Paul and Barnabas risked returning through the dangerous cities where they had faced persecution to strengthen the new converts.

Verse 22

This verse presents a foundational theological truth: commitment to Christ necessitates enduring hardship. The apostles prepared new believers for the reality that 'much tribulation' precedes the full realization of the Kingdom.

Verse 23

The appointment of 'elders' (presbyteroi) in every church ensured organized leadership and stability for the fledgling Gentile congregations, establishing a structure for long-term governance.

Verse 26

Syrian Antioch was the sending church for this missionary journey. The apostles returned to report the success of the mission, acknowledging that their work was accomplished through divine grace.

Verse 27

The central theme of the report was how God 'opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.' This confirms the mission’s success and sets the stage for the theological crisis addressed in Acts 15.

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