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, they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. ​
2
But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. ​
3
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. ​
4
But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the emissaries. ​
5
When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
6
they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. ​
7
There they preached the Good News.

Miracle and Mistaken Identity in Lystra

8
At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. ​
9
He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, ​
10
said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.
11
When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ​
12
They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. ​
13
The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.
14
But when the emissaries, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out, ​
15
“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; ​
16
who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. ​
17
Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” ​
18
Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.

Paul is Stoned and Revived

19
But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, 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 around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. ​

The Return Journey and Strengthening the Churches

21
When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ​
22
confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God. ​
23
When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. ​
24
They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
25
When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Reporting Back to Antioch

26
From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. ​
27
When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. ​
28
They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

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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