Acts 14:3
in Acts 14So 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
KJV
Long 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.
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This verse in Acts 14
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Long time therefore - It seems probable that there were here no forcible or public measures to expel them, as there had been at Antioch Act 13:50, and they therefore regarded it as their duty to remain. God granted them here also great success, which was the main reason for their continuing a long time. Persecution and opposition may be attended often with signal success to the gospel. Spake boldly in the Lord - In the cause of the Lord Jesus, or in his name and by his authority.
This site's exposition
spent considerable time there
Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, the boldness asked for in 4:29. The Lord affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders, the signs serving the word.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Long 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." This caused their boldness; or rather, of their boldness indeed their own hearty good-will was the cause - therefore it is that for a long while they work no signs - while the conversion of the hearers was the effect of the signs, though their boldness also contributed somewhat.
And see how on all occasions he refers all to God. "Long time," he says, "abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace." Think not this expression, "Gave testimony," hath aught derogatory to the Lord's Divine Majesty: "Who witnessed," it is said, "before Pontius Pilate." Then the boldness - "and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." Here he speaks it as concerning their own nation.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"However, they stayed there for a considerable time, acting boldly." The boldness came from the apostles' devotion to the work of preaching. And the fact that those who heard them believed was a result of the miracles, though the very boldness of the apostles also …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Long time therefore abode they,....
When they went on in his name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. Note, (1.) The gospel is a word of grace, the assurance of God's good will to us and the means of his good work in us. It is the word of Christ's grace, for it is in him alone that we find favour with God.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Long time therefore abode they - Because they had great success, therefore they continued a long time, gaining many converts, and building up those who had believed, in their most holy faith; notwithstanding the opposition they met with, both from the unbelieving Jews and heathens. Speaking boldly - Παρῥησιαζομενοι, Having great liberty of speech, a copious and commanding eloquence, springing from a consciousness of the truth which they preached. The word of his grace - The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the doctrine of God’s grace, mercy, or favor to mankind. And granted signs and wonders to be done - For no apostle could work a miracle by himself; nor was any sign or wonder wrought even by the greatest apostle, but by an especial grant or dispensation of God. This power was not resident in them at all times; it was only now and then communicated, when a miracle was necessary for the confirmation of the truth preached.
The words behind it
26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἱκανὸν | hikanon | A long | G2425 → | 39 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| χρόνον | chronon | time | G5550 → | 53 times |
| διέτριψαν | dietripsan | they stayed | G1304 → | 9 times |
| παρρησιαζόμενοι | parresiazomenoi | speaking boldly | G3955 → | 8 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | about | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| τῷ | to | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μαρτυροῦντι | marturounti | is bearing witness | G3140 → | 76 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριτος | charitos | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διδόντι | didonti | granting | G1325 → | 412 times |
| σημεῖα | semeia | signs | G4592 → | 75 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τέρατα | terata | wonders | G5059 → | 16 times |
| γίνεσθαι | ginesthai | to be done | G1096 → | 667 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χειρῶν | cheiron | hands | G5495 → | 175 times |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | of them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἹκανὸνA long
hikanonG2425 →39 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
χρόνονtime
chrononG5550 →53 times
διέτριψανthey stayed
dietripsanG1304 →9 times
παρρησιαζόμενοιspeaking boldly
parresiazomenoiG3955 →8 times
ἐπὶabout
epiG1909 →883 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
κυρίῳLord
kurioG2962 →711 times
τῷwho
toG3588 →19766 times
μαρτυροῦντιis bearing witness
marturountiG3140 →76 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
λόγῳword
logoG3056 →329 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
χάριτοςgrace
charitosG5485 →153 times
αὐτοῦ,of Him,
autouG846 →5565 times
διδόντιgranting
didontiG1325 →412 times
σημεῖαsigns
semeiaG4592 →75 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τέραταwonders
terataG5059 →16 times
γίνεσθαιto be done
ginesthaiG1096 →667 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
χειρῶνhands
cheironG5495 →175 times
αὐτῶν.of them.
autonG846 →5565 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
Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
it leads to
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:16
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Psalms 40:9–10
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
- Mark 8:38
Through
Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Where this verse is studied
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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 30; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.