Actschapter 14

A.Iconium: A City Divided and a Plot to Stone Themvv. 1-7

1 At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. 5 But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

B.Mistaken for Gods at Lystra, Then Left for Deadvv. 8-20

8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them. 19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

C.Back Through the Cities, Appointing Eldersvv. 21-28

21 They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. 24 After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

← Back: Acts 13 Continue: Acts 15 →

Chapter summary

Iconium; Lystra (the lame man healed; the crowds call them gods; Paul stoned and left for dead); Derbe.

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Iconium; Lystra (the lame man healed; the crowds call them gods; Paul stoned and left for dead); Derbe. Return through the cities, confirming the souls of the disciples. Return to Antioch; report on what God had done.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

History · Luke — Acts overview

A. 1–7 Iconium: A City Divided and a Plot to Stone Them
B. 8–20 Mistaken for Gods at Lystra, Then Left for Dead
C. 21–28 Back Through the Cities, Appointing Elders

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Acts 135 verses
- Acts 13:13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
- Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
- Acts 13:50The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
- Acts 13:51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
- Read Acts 13 →
Acts 145 verses
- Acts 14:1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
- Acts 14:14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
- Acts 14:19Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.
- Acts 14:20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
- Acts 14:21They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
- Read Acts 14 →
Acts 113 verses
- Acts 11:19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- Acts 11:26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
- Acts 11:30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
- Read Acts 11 →
2 Timothy 32 verses
- 2 Timothy 3:11my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
- 2 Timothy 3:12Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- Read 2 Timothy 3 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Acts 202 verses
- Acts 20:1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
- Acts 20:32And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
- Read Acts 20 →
Acts 282 verses
- Acts 28:6The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
- Acts 28:24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
- Read Acts 28 →
Acts 192 verses
- Acts 19:9But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
- Acts 19:35Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
- Read Acts 19 →
Acts 42 verses
- Acts 4:9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
- Acts 4:25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Read Acts 4 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.