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Acts 14:20

in Acts 14

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.

KJV

Howbeit, 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.

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This verse in Acts 14

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The disciples stood round about him - No doubt in earnest prayer, entreating the Author of life that his soul might again return to its battered tenement. He rose up - Miraculously restored, not only to life, but to perfect soundness so that he was able to walk into the city, that his persecutors might see the mighty power of God in his restoration, and the faith of the young converts be confirmed in the truth and goodness of God. It is strange that neither the young converts at Lystra, nor Barnabas, were involved in this persecution!

This site's exposition

having stoned Paul

on Acts 14:19-20

Certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive and persuade the same people who had moments before called Paul a god to turn on him, and having stoned Paul they draw him out of the city supposing him dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city, Luke's spare wording leaving open whether this is recovery from a beating meant to kill or something nearer resurrection, a question the text does not settle and the bench holds open. The next day he departs with Barnabas to Derbe still, the mission unbroken by the stoning Paul later counts among his sufferings at 2 Corinthians 11:25.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 31 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Lest any man," he says, "should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth aught from me."-"Howbeit as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city." Here is fulfilled that saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Greater this than the raising of the lame man! "Came into the city." Do you mark the zeal, do you mark how fervent he is, how set on fire! He came into the city itself again: for proof that if on any occasion he did retire, it was because he had sown the word, and because it was not right to inflame their wrath.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 31 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Howbeit," etc. "and came into the city." For that the spirits of the disciples might not be downcast because they who were accounted gods suffered such treatment, they came in unto them and discoursed.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

But do you see Paul's fiery zeal? After he was cast out of the city, he came again to that very same city, to show that if anywhere, in such cases, he did withdraw, it was because he had to sow the word of God …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But as the disciples stood round - Probably after sunset. The enraged multitude would scarce have suffered it in the day time: he rose and went into the city - That he should be able to do this, just after he had been left for dead, was a miracle little less than a resurrection from the dead.
Howbeit as the disciples stood round about him,....
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Though he was not dead, yet he was ill crushed and bruised, no doubt, and fainted away; he was in a deliquium, so that it was not without a miracle that he came so soon to himself, and was so well as to be able to go into the city.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

So strong is the bias of the corrupt and carnal heart to that which is evil, even in contrary extremes, that, as it is with great difficulty that men are restrained from evil on one side, so it is with great ease that they are persuaded to evil on the other side.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

But certainly the impression naturally left on the mind by the words is that the restoration was miraculous; and so the best interpreters understand the words. This is confirmed by what follows. came into the city--Noble intrepidity! next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe--a journey for which he could hardly be fit if his recovery had been natural.
Howbeit - Notwithstanding the supposition that he was dead. As the disciples stood round about him - It would seem that they did not suppose I that he was dead; but might be expecting that he would revive. He rose up ... - Most commentators have supposed that this was the effect of a miracle. They have maintained that he could not have risen so soon, and entered into the city, without the interposition of miraculous power (Calvin, Doddridge, Clarke, etc.). But the commentators have asserted what is not intimated by the sacred penman. The probability is that he was stunned by a blow - perhaps a single blow and after a short time recovered from it. Nothing is more common than thus by a violent blow on the head to be rendered apparently lifeless, the effect of which soon is over, and the person restored to strength. Pricaeus and Wetstein suppose that Paul feigned himself to be dead, and when out of danger rose and returned to the city. But this is wholly improbable. And came into the city - It is remarkable that he should have returned again into the same city. But probably it was only among the new converts that he showed himself. The Jews supposed that he was dead; and it does not appear that he again exposed himself to their rage. And the next day ... - The opposition here was such that it was vain to attempt to preach there any longer. Having been seen by the disciples after his supposed death, their faith was confirmed, and he departed to preach in another place. To Derbe - Act 14:6.

The words behind it

19 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

14 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Corinthians 6:9as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;4 works2 Corinthians 1:9–10Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.4 worksActs 20:1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.3 worksActs 14:6they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,3 worksActs 16:40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.3 worksActs 16:1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.2 works
The other 8 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 11:7–12When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.2 worksActs 14:28And they spent a long time there with the disciples.2 worksActs 20:9–12And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.2 worksActs 12:17Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.2 worksActs 20:4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.2 worksRomans 15:19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.2 worksActs 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.1 worksActs 14:22strengthening 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.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 6:9

    as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 4:10–11

      We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

    • Romans 8:36

      As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

  • Through

    Acts 20:1

    When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 7:5

      For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.

    • Acts 19:21

      After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…

  • Through

    Acts 16:40

    After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

    it leads to

    • Acts 14:22

      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.

    • Acts 16:14

      Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

    • 1 Thessalonians 3:2–3

      We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

    • 2 Corinthians 1:3–7

      Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 14 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 14 →