Acts 14
In Iconium and Lystra
1In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
2But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.
3Therefore 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.
4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles.
5When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.
7There they preached the Good News.
8At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.
11When 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!”
12They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.
13The 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.
14But when the apostles, 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 the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
16who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17Yet 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.”
18Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.
19But 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.
20But 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 to Antioch in Syria
21When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.
23When 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.
24They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27When 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.
28They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.
Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey through Iconium, Lystra, and surrounding regions, encountering both remarkable success and intense opposition. In Lystra, Paul's healing of a crippled man leads to the crowd attempting to worship them as gods, which the apostles firmly reject while proclaiming the one true God. After being stoned and left for dead, Paul miraculously recovers, and the missionaries complete their circuit by returning to strengthen the new churches and appoint elders.
Context
This chapter concludes Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey that began in Acts 13, setting the stage for the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-7Ministry and Opposition in IconiumPaul and Barnabas preach effectively but face growing hostility, forcing them to flee to Lycaonia.
- 8-10Healing of the Crippled ManPaul heals a man lame from birth in Lystra, demonstrating God's power through faith.
- 11-18Mistaken for GodsThe crowd attempts to worship Paul and Barnabas as Jupiter and Mercury, which they vehemently reject.
- 19-20Paul Stoned and RecoversJewish opponents arrive and incite the crowd to stone Paul, but he miraculously survives.
- 21-28Strengthening the ChurchesThe apostles return through the cities, appointing elders and encouraging believers before sailing back to Antioch.
In Iconium and Lystra
14:1–14:20Paul and Barnabas minister in Iconium and Lystra, where Paul heals a crippled man but the people mistakenly worship them as gods. Their rejection of this worship and subsequent persecution demonstrates the challenges of cross-cultural ministry.
person_contrast
Paul's miraculous healing of the lame man in Lystra triggers the only recorded instance where he must actively reject divine worship offered to him.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
14:21–14:28Paul and Barnabas return to strengthen the new churches, appointing elders and teaching that suffering is part of entering God's kingdom. They complete their first missionary journey by reporting to the Antioch church how God opened faith to the Gentiles.
person_contrast
Paul's declaration that "through many afflictions we must enter God's kingdom" uniquely combines his typical grace-centered message with the harsh reality of suffering, appearing in only two other Pauline passages.
Acts 14:1
Acts 18:4lexicalHe reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
Acts 17:4lexicalSome of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas: of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chie…
Acts 19:10lexicalThis continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks…
Romans 1:16lexicalFor I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes,…
Acts 20:21lexicaltestifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
Acts 14:3
Acts 4:30lexicalwhile you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Je…
Acts 5:12lexicalBy the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon…
2 Corinthians 12:12lexicalTruly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
Acts 2:22lexical“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs…
Acts 2:19lexicalI will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
Acts 14:4
Acts 21:39lexicalBut Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to t…
Acts 23:7lexicalWhen he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
Acts 14:5
Acts 4:27lexical“For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against yo…
Acts 10:22lexicalThey said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the J…
Acts 14:12
Acts 13:46lexicalPaul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since ind…
Acts 15:22lexicalThen it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and sen…
Acts 13:1lexicalNow in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lu…
Acts 15:35lexicalBut Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 15:36lexicalAfter some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the…
Acts 14:13
Matthew 22:4lexicalAgain he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and…
Luke 7:12lexicalNow when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother…
Mark 8:34lexicalHe called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny hi…
Acts 14:14
Matthew 26:65lexicalThen the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now…
Acts 15:22lexicalThen it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and sen…
Acts 15:2lexicalTherefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some…
Acts 13:7lexicalwho was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to h…
Acts 15:12lexicalAll the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done amo…
Acts 14:15
Revelation 10:6lexicaland swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things…
Revelation 7:2lexicalI saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four a…
Revelation 10:8lexicalThe voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the a…
Revelation 21:1lexicalI saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
Revelation 10:5lexicalThe angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky
Acts 14:19
Acts 19:26lexicalYou see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many…
Acts 13:43lexicalNow when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking…
Acts 21:30lexicalAll the city was moved and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the…
2 Timothy 3:11lexicalpersecutions, and sufferings—those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecuti…
Acts 21:39lexicalBut Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to t…
Acts 14:20
Acts 25:23lexicalSo on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing wi…
John 18:1lexicalWhen Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into…
Acts 10:23lexicalSo he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the b…
Acts 21:8lexicalOn the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the ev…
Acts 9:6lexicalBut rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 14:21
2 Timothy 3:11lexicalpersecutions, and sufferings—those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecuti…
Acts 11:26lexicalWhen he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and ta…
Acts 16:2lexicalThe brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
Acts 14:22
Acts 15:32lexicalJudas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
1 Thessalonians 3:7lexicalFor this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
Mark 10:23lexicalJesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdo…
Matthew 19:23lexicalJesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficu…
Mark 10:24lexicalThe disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riche…
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