The big picture
Paul and Barnabas, two messengers sent by the church, continue speaking about Jesus, the risen Lord. Their next city is Iconium, where many believe but others stir up hostility. In Lystra, another city, a healing brings a different danger. The crowd wants to worship the messengers themselves. Soon praise turns to violence. The two men still return to strengthen the new believers before going back to the church that sent them and reporting what God has done.
In this chapter
- Belief and Threats Divide Iconium Acts 14:1-7
Inside the synagogue, a Jewish place of worship, both men speak.
- The Crowd Mistakes the Messengers for Gods Acts 14:8-18
In Lystra, Paul sees faith in a man who has never walked.
- Paul Survives and Strengthens the Churches Acts 14:19-23
Opponents arrive from Antioch, a city where Paul had taught, and Iconium.
- The Sending Church Hears the Report Acts 14:24-28
Passing through Pisidia and Pamphylia, regions along their route, the two men continue toward home.
Central truth
The two messengers resist false worship, endure violent opposition, and strengthen new churches before reporting God's work to their sending community.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 28Acts 14:1-7
Belief and Threats Divide Iconium
Inside the synagogue, a Jewish place of worship, both men speak. Many Jews and Greeks believe. Opponents stir up non-Jewish residents against the new believers, yet the messengers stay for a long time. They speak boldly, and the Lord supports the message of grace with signs. The city divides over them. Then people from both groups, together with leaders, plan mistreatment and stoning. Learning of the threat, the two men flee to Lystra and Derbe, cities in the region of Lycaonia. There and nearby they continue announcing the good news.
In everyday life
A public-health trainer continues a village course while opponents spread hostile rumours. When a specific assault is planned, her colleague helps move the sessions to a nearby district. Leaving the threatened hall preserves the work rather than ending it. She opens the same materials before new listeners. The apostles proclaim God's grace with signs granted by the Lord.
Notice
Acts 14:3 They remain a long time despite resistance. Their later flight answers a specific plot and does not mean that every objection had already driven them away.
Acts 14:1-7
King James Version1And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7And there they preached the gospel.
Acts 14:8-18
The Crowd Mistakes the Messengers for Gods
In Lystra, Paul sees faith in a man who has never walked. He calls him to stand, and the man leaps up. The crowd calls Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, names of gods they worship. A priest brings oxen and wreaths for sacrifice. Horrified, the apostles tear their clothes and insist they are human. Their message calls people from such worship to the living creator of heaven, earth, and sea. God has let nations follow their own ways, yet shown goodness through rain, crops, food, and joy. These words barely stop the sacrifice.
In everyday life
A well engineer repairs a village pump. Residents begin to place her portrait in a shrine. She steps between the portrait and the waiting group, pointing to the water supply rather than accepting worship for the repair. Gratitude has crossed into a claim she must refuse. The apostles direct worship to the living God who made all things.
Notice
Acts 14:17 Paul names ordinary gifts such as rain and food as God's witness. He begins with care the hearers already experience, not only with unfamiliar religious history.
Acts 14:8-18
King James Version8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Acts 14:19-23
Paul Survives and Strengthens the Churches
Opponents arrive from Antioch, a city where Paul had taught, and Iconium. They turn the crowd against him. He is stoned, dragged outside Lystra, and left for dead. As believers gather, he rises and returns to the city. Next day he leaves with Barnabas for Derbe. After making many followers there, they retrace their route to strengthen earlier believers. They urge continued faith and speak plainly about suffering on the way into God's kingdom. They appoint elders, local leaders, in each church, then pray and fast as they entrust them to the Lord.
In everyday life
An aid organiser returns to the volunteer centre after surviving an attack during an earlier visit. She helps the local team appoint coordinators and speaks plainly about the risks they still face. Her return supplies support without promising a safe future. Paul strengthens churches after stoning and entrusts their leaders to the Lord through prayer.
Notice
Acts 14:22 The warning about suffering comes from men who have recently endured it. Strengthening the believers includes telling them the cost, not promising protection from every attack.
Acts 14:19-23
King James Version19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Acts 14:24-28
The Sending Church Hears the Report
Passing through Pisidia and Pamphylia, regions along their route, the two men continue toward home. They teach in Perga, a town, then reach Attalia, a port, and sail home. They return to Antioch, the city whose church had entrusted them to God's grace for this work. Gathering the believers, they report everything God has done with them. They especially tell how God opened faith to Gentiles, people outside the Jewish nation. They stay with the church for a substantial time. The work ends in shared testimony and renewed life among those who sent them.
In everyday life
An outreach gardener returns to the association that supplied seed for new neighbourhood plots. She spreads photographs on the table and describes who now grows food in each place. The report belongs to the sending group as well as the traveller. She stays to work beside them again. The apostles report a door of faith opened by God.
Notice
Acts 14:27 The report credits God with opening the door of faith. Paul and Barnabas describe what he did with them, rather than presenting isolated personal achievements.
Acts 14:24-28
King James Version24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
26And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 14:1 begins with “And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also…”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 14:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.”
The final note
Acts 14:28 leaves the reader with “And there they abode long time with the disciples.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jews, city, Paul, people, Antioch, Barnabas help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- garlands
- Wreaths of flowers or leaves used for honour or celebration.
- vanities
- Worthless objects of trust or worship, as used here.
- tribulation
- Severe trouble or suffering faced under pressure.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
