Acts 14

Preaching in Iconium

1 Now it happened that in Iconium they entered {together} into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

2 But the Jews who were disobedient stirred up and {poisoned the minds} of the Gentiles against the brothers.

3 So they stayed [there] for a considerable time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed through their hands.

4 But the population of the city was divided, and {some} were with the Jews {and some} with the apostles.

5 So when an inclination took place [on the part] of both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their rulers, to mistreat [them] and to stone them,

6 they became aware of [it] [and] fled to the Lycaonian cities--Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region.

7 And there they were continuing to proclaim the good news.

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

8 And in Lystra a certain man was sitting powerless in his feet, lame from {birth}, who had never walked.

9 This man listened [while] Paul was speaking. {Paul}, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!" And he leaped up and began walking.

11 And [when] the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language, saying, "The gods have become like men [and] have come down to us!"

12 And they began calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the {principal speaker}.

13 And the priest of the [temple] of Zeus that was just outside the city brought bulls and garlands to the gates [and] was wanting to offer sacrifice, along with the crowds.

14 But [when] the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about [it], they tore their clothing [and] rushed out into the crowd, shouting

15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these [things]? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news [that] you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things [that are] in them--

16 who in generations that are past permitted all the nations to go their [own] ways.

17 And yet he did not leave himself without witness [by] doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying [you] with food and your hearts with gladness."

18 And [although] they said these [things], [only] with difficulty did they dissuade the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and [when they] had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged [him] outside the city, thinking he was dead.

20 But [after] the disciples surrounded him, he got up [and] went into the city. And on the next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

21 And [after they] had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging [them] to continue in the faith and [saying], "Through many persecutions it is necessary [for] us to enter into the kingdom of God."

23 And [when they] had appointed elders for them in every church, [after] praying with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

24 And they passed through Pisidia [and] came to Pamphylia.

25 And [after] they proclaimed the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia,

26 and from there they sailed away to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed.

27 And [when they] arrived and called the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.

28 And they stayed no little time with the disciples.

Acts 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. (1-7) A cripple healed at Lystra, The people would have sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas. (8-18) Paul stoned at Lystra, The churches visited again. (19-28)

Verses 1-7 The apostles spake so plainly, with such evidence and proof of the Spirit, and with such power; so warmly, and with such concern for the souls of men; that those who heard them could not but say, God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be reckoned to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God who used that means. Perseverance in doing good, amidst dangers and hardships, is a blessed evidence of grace. Wherever God's servants are driven, they should seek to declare the truth. When they went on in Christ's name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. He has assured us it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, yet united against Christians. If the church's enemies join to destroy it, shall not its friends unite for its preservation? God has a shelter for his people in a storm; he is, and will be their Hiding-place. In times of persecution, believers may see cause to quit a spot, though they do not quit their Master's work.

Verses 8-18 All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, that most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinful habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and walk cheerfully in the ways of the Lord. When Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of men, and did many miracles, men were so far from doing sacrifice to him, that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice; but Paul and Barnabas, upon their working one miracle, were treated as gods. The same power of the god of this world, which closes the carnal mind against truth, makes errors and mistakes find easy admission. We do not learn that they rent their clothes when the people spake of stoning them; but when they spake of worshipping them; they could not bear it, being more concerned for God's honour than their own. God's truth needs not the services of man's falsehood. The servants of God might easily obtain undue honours if they would wink at men's errors and vices; but they must dread and detest such respect more than any reproach. When the apostles preached to the Jews, who hated idolatry, they had only to preach the grace of God in Christ; but when they had to do with the Gentiles, they must set right their mistakes in natural religion. Compare their conduct and declaration with the false opinions of those who think the worship of a God, under any name, or in any manner, is equally acceptable to the Lord Almighty. The most powerful arguments, the most earnest and affectionate addresses, even with miracles, are scarcely enough to keep men from absurdities and abominations; much less can they, without special grace, turn the hearts of sinners to God and to holiness.

Verses 19-28 See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it. All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. The grace of God, and nothing less, effectually establishes the souls of the disciples. It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is encouragement that we shall not be lost and perish in it. The Person to whose power and grace the converts and the newly-established churches are commended, clearly was the Lord Jesus, "on whom they had believed." It was an act of worship. The praise of all the little good we do at any time, must be ascribed to God; for it is He who not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but also worketh with us to make what we do successful. All who love the Lord Jesus, will rejoice to hear that he has opened the door of faith wide, to those who were strangers to him and to his salvation. And let us, like the apostles, abide with those who know and love the Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "according to the same"
• [b]. Literally "embittered the souls"
• [c]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [d]. Literally "those on the one hand"
• [e]. Literally "those on the other hand"
• [f]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [g]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [h]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("became aware of") has been translated as a finite verb
• [i]. Literally "his mother's womb"
• [j]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was speaking")
• [k]. Literally "who"
• [l]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began walking")
• [m]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [n]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("have become like") has been translated as a finite verb
• [o]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began calling")
• [p]. Literally "leader of the message"
• [q]. *The word "[temple]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [r]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("brought") has been translated as a finite verb
• [s]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard about") which is understood as temporal
• [t]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [u]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("tore") has been translated as a finite verb
• [v]. Or "Gentiles"; the same Greek word can be translated "nations" or "Gentiles" depending on the context
• [w]. *Here "[by]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("doing good") which is understood as means
• [x]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [y]. *Here "[although]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("said") which is understood as concessive
• [z]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had won over") which is understood as temporal
• [aa]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [ab]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("surrounded")
• [ac]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("got up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ad]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had proclaimed the good news") which is understood as temporal
• [ae]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [af]. *The word "[saying]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [ag]. Or "afflictions"
• [ah]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had appointed") which is understood as temporal
• [ai]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("praying") which is understood as temporal
• [aj]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("passed through") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ak]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("proclaimed") which is understood as temporal
• [al]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("arrived") which is understood as temporal
• [am]. Or "nations"; the same Greek word can be translated "nations" or "Gentiles" depending on the context