Acts 14:21
in Acts 14They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
KJV
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
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This verse in Acts 14
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Had taught many - Or, rather, had made many disciples (margin). To Lystra - Act 14:6. And to Iconium - Act 14:1. We have here a remarkable instance of the courage of the apostles. In these very places they had been persecuted and stoned, and yet in the face of danger they ventured to return. The welfare of the infant churches they deemed of more consequence than their own safety; and they threw themselves again into the midst of danger, to comfort and strengthen those just converted to God.
This site's exposition
returned again to Lystra
on Acts 14:21-23
Having preached the gospel to that city and taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, retracing the very cities that had stoned and expelled them to strengthen the disciples left behind. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, they teach plainly that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, the suffering just witnessed becoming the pattern named for every believer rather than an exception. When they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed, leadership established in the same breath as the warning about tribulation.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Then they went over all the cities in which they had been in danger. "And on the morrow," it says, "he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the Gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming 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." This they said, this they showed. But it is purposely so done, not only by the Apostles, but by the disciples also, that they may learn from the very outset both the might of the preaching, and that they must themselves also suffer such things, that they may stand nobly, not idly gaping for the miracles, but much more ready for the trials. Therefore also the Apostle himself said, "Having the same conflict which ye saw in me and heard." Persecutions succeeded to persecutions: wars, fightings, stonings.
These things, not less than the miracles, both made them more illustrious, and prepared for them a greater rejoicing. The Scripture nowhere says that they returned rejoicing because they had done miracles, but it does say that they rejoiced, that "they were counted worthy for that Name to suffer shame." And this they were taught of Christ, saying, "Rejoice not that the devils obey you." For the joy indeed and without alloy is this, to suffer aught for Christ's sake. "And that through much tribulation:" what sort of cheering is this? how did they persuade them, by telling them at the outset of tribulations?
"Then on the morrow," etc. And observe, first he goes forth to Derbe, and then comes back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, giving way to them while their passions are roused, but when they have ceased, then attacking them again. Do you mark, that it was not by supernatural grace that they managed all that they did, but by their own diligence? "Confirming," it says "the souls of the disciples:" "further establishing;" so that they were established, but they added more thereto. "And that we must," etc.: they foretold this, that they might not be offended.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And it should seem that Timothy was of that city, and was one of the disciples that now attended Paul, had met him at Antioch and accompanied him in all this circuit; for, with reference to this story, Paul tells him how fully he had known the afflictions he endured at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, 2 Tim. iii. Nothing is recorded that happened at Derbe.
And when they had preached the Gospel to that city,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Now, as we have had a very instructive account of the methods they took in laying the foundation, and beginning the good work, so here we have the like of their building upon that foundation, and carrying on that good work. Let us see what they did, (1.) They confirmed the souls of the disciples; that is, they inculcated that upon them which was proper to confirm them,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Preached the Gospel to that city - Derbe, a city in the same province. See on Act 14:6 (note). They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium - Behold the courage of these Christian men! They counted not their lives dear to them, and returned to do their Masters work in the very places in which they had been so grievously persecuted, and where one of them had been apparently stoned to death! The man who knows he is God’s ambassador, and that his life depends on his fidelity to his Master, knows he has nothing but his God to fear.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εὐαγγελισάμενοί | euangelisamenoi | Having evangelised | G2097 → | 54 times |
| τε | te | then | G5037 → | 213 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πόλιν | polin | city | G4172 → | 163 times |
| ἐκείνην | ekeinen | that | G1565 → | 260 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μαθητεύσαντες | matheteusantes | having discipled | G3100 → | |
| ἱκανοὺς | hikanous | many | G2425 → | 39 times |
| ὑπέστρεψαν | hupestrepsan | they returned | G5290 → | 35 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Λύστραν | lustran | Lystra | G3082 → | 6 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἰκόνιον | ikonion | Iconium | G2430 → | 6 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἀντιόχειαν· | antiocheian | Antioch; | G490 → | 18 times |
εὐαγγελισάμενοίHaving evangelised
euangelisamenoiG2097 →54 times
τεthen
teG5037 →213 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
πόλινcity
polinG4172 →163 times
ἐκείνηνthat
ekeinenG1565 →260 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μαθητεύσαντεςhaving discipled
matheteusantesG3100 →
ἱκανοὺςmany
hikanousG2425 →39 times
ὑπέστρεψανthey returned
hupestrepsanG5290 →35 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ΛύστρανLystra
lustranG3082 →6 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἸκόνιονIconium
ikonionG2430 →6 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Ἀντιόχειαν·Antioch;
antiocheianG490 →18 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
it leads to
- Mark 16:15–16
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Acts 2:38–39
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Luke 24:47–48
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 19:3–5
“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
- Mark 16:15–16
Through
Acts 13:51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:14
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
- Matthew 10:14
Through
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.
it leads to
- Acts 18:4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 18:4
Through
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.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:25
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
- 2 Corinthians 11:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.