Commentary of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study Acts 14: 1-28
Text:
In Iconium
14 Now it happened that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the [a]unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the [b]minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [c]signs and wonders be done through their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and some [d]sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to proclaim the gospel.
In Lystra and Derbe
8 And at Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man listened to Paul as he spoke, who, when he fixed his gaze on him and saw that he had faith to be [e]saved from being lame, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, [f]Zeus, and Paul, [g]Hermes, because he was [h]the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was [i]just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, proclaiming the gospel to you that you should turn from these [j]vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 [k]In the generations gone by He permitted all the [l]nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
The Return to Antioch
24 And when they passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and [m]how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent not a little time with the disciples.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “Now it happened that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.”
Paul and Barnabas journeyed eighty miles southeast from Antioch in Pisidia to Iconium. This ancient Phrygian town was established as a city-state by the Greeks and later became a city within the Roman province of Galatia during the reign of Augustus.
Verse 2: “But the unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the [b]minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.”
Paul and Barnabas, both Jewish, consistently began their ministry by addressing Jewish audiences in synagogues. They then used these gatherings as opportunities to reach out to the Gentile population, often leading to significant disagreements within the city.
Verse 3: “Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done through their hands.”
The miracles performed by Paul and Barnabas served as undeniable validation of their divine authority, demonstrating to those who witnessed these extraordinary events that their teachings and pronouncements originated directly from God. These acts of power were not mere displays but tangible evidence confirming the veracity of their message and their role as God's appointed messengers.
Verse 4: “But the multitude of the city was divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.”
While Barnabas wasn't an apostle in the same way as Paul and the twelve disciples (he wasn't an eyewitness to the resurrected Christ nor directly called by Him), the term "apostles" in this context can be understood as "messengers," as seen in 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Philippians 2:25. The Greek verb for "apostle" means "to send." The twelve disciples and Paul were specifically "apostles of Christ", whereas Barnabas and others were "apostles of the churches" (2 Corinthians 8:23).
Verse 5: “And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them,”
Jewish law prescribed stoning as the method of capital punishment for the religious crime of blasphemy.
Verse 6: “they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region;”
Iconium, along with the cities mentioned, were Roman provincial cities belonging to Galatia but situated within the Lycaonia subdistrict. Linguistically and politically, Iconium was associated with Phrygia, despite being part of Galatia.
Verse 7: “and there they continued to proclaim the gospel.”
Facing a closed door in Iconium, new opportunities arose for them in Lystra and Derbe. They journeyed to these cities and the surrounding region, proclaiming the gospel. Ministers facing persecution might find reason to leave a specific place, yet their work continues.
Verse 8: “And at Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.”
In 6 B.C., Augustus established a Roman colony in this settlement within the province of Galatia. To secure the area, he fortified it and populated it with retired Roman soldiers. The verse describes a man with severely disabled feet, rendering him completely unable to stand or walk.
Verse 9: “This man listened to Paul as he spoke, who, when he fixed his gaze on him and saw that he had faith to be saved from being lame,”
The miracle described shares notable parallels with the healing at the temple gate (Acts 3:2–10). Key similarities include: both individuals were disabled from birth; Paul, like Peter and John, fixed his gaze on the disabled man; both men leaped to their feet following their healing; each was described as having the faith necessary for healing; and in both instances, the men of God redirected the focus from themselves to the Lord.
Verse 10: “said with a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And he leaped up and began to walk.”
Paul likely told the man, "I say unto thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Stand upright on thy feet," although some accounts imply this rather than stating it directly.
Verse 11: “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have become like men and have come down to us.’”
Having genuine faith led to the man's healing. At Paul's command to stand, he instantly leaped up and walked. The local pagan population, witnessing this, exclaimed that gods had appeared in human form. They focused their excitement on Paul and Barnabas.
Verse 12: “And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.”
A Lystran legend told of Zeus and Hermes, disguised as men, seeking hospitality in the Phrygian hills. A couple who welcomed them had their cottage transformed into a grand temple, while those who refused were destroyed. This legend might explain the Lystrans' reaction to Barnabas and Paul, leading them to prepare sacrifices of oxen in welcome.
Verse 13: “And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds.”
The priest of Zeus, whose temple stood just outside the city gates, brought oxen and wreaths to the gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Barnabas and Paul. He believed it was his sacred duty to guide the community in their religious practices, and the arrival of these men, accompanied by what they perceived as miraculous healing, led him to conclude they were divine beings worthy of worship. The enthusiasm of the crowd mirrored his conviction, eager to honor these apparent deities according to their traditions.
Verse 14: “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out”
Outward expressions of grief, varying culturally and historically, visibly indicate emotional suffering. These can include physical actions (tearing clothes, covering the head, lamenting), facial expressions (furrowed brows, downturned mouth, tears), and verbal expressions (sighs to wails) articulating loss and sadness. Intensity and form depend on personality, cultural norms, and the nature of the loss. These displays provide emotional release and signal a need for support.
Verse 15: “and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, proclaiming the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.’”
Astonished by the crowd's desire to worship them, Paul and Barnabas were utterly shocked. They immediately ran into the crowd, exclaiming, “We are also men of the same nature as you." This mirrors a previous event where Peter similarly corrected Cornelius for bowing down to worship him.
Verse 16: “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;”
Reflecting on the boundless grace and forbearance of the divine, one cannot help but marvel at the enduring patience extended to a world steeped in the worship of false idols. Indeed, considering the persistent and pervasive nature of such spiritual infidelity throughout history, it becomes profoundly evident that only a steadfast and immeasurable patience could have stayed the hand of judgment for so long. This prolonged reprieve, this extended opportunity for repentance and return, stands as a powerful declaration of a mercy that willingly defers deserved wrath, offering instead the enduring hope of redemption to a world that has repeatedly chosen to wander astray.
Verse 17: “and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Paul's teachings emphasized the universal scope of God's power, encompassing both the creation of the world and its ongoing governance and care. This Providential power, the active and purposeful involvement of God in the world, was not limited to specific places or peoples but extended to all of creation.
Verse 18: “And saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.”
Paul's aim was to redirect the people's focus towards the living God, the Creator of all things. He sought to distance them from their pagan idols, the mythology, and the traditions of the Greek culture.
Verse 19: “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”
Some interpret Paul's stoning in Acts 14 as the event linked to his third-heaven experience (2 Cor. 12), though Paul did not die. The word "supposing" in the text indicates the crowd's incorrect assumption of his death. Furthermore, Luke's silence on a resurrection suggests Paul was not dead.
Verse 20: “But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.”
Derbe, a Lycaonian border town in southeastern Galatia, was located sixty-five miles southeast of Lystra.
Verse 21: “And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,”
Derbe marks the endpoint of their journey. From this pivotal location, they reverse their route, revisiting Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
Verse 22: “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.’”
The apostles strengthened the believers by teaching them principles that would establish their faith. New Christians may struggle due to pressure from old friends, the perceived wisdom of the world and those who oppose their new beliefs, the allure of social advancement tied to former traditions, and fear of opposition. These factors can lead new believers to consider abandoning their faith. However, the apostles reassured them that the Christian faith is God's true grace in which they now stand. Therefore, they must remain steadfast, understanding that the greatest danger is losing their connection with Christ and the greatest benefit is holding onto Him. They were promised strength from Christ to endure trials and abundant reward for any losses they might face.
Verse 23: “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Each church was led by elders whose responsibilities included: praying with church members, preaching during assemblies, administering gospel ordinances, and overseeing the congregation. This oversight involved instructing the ignorant, warning the unruly, comforting the slow-minded, and convincing those who opposed the faith. It was considered necessary for every individual church to have one or more leaders to preside over it.
Verse 24: “And when they passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia.”
Pisidia was a mountainous and rugged region that presented no opportunities for evangelism. Perga, a significant city in the Roman province of Pamphylia in Asia Minor, was situated approximately 200 miles north across the Mediterranean Sea from Cyprus.
Verse 25: “And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.”
Having previously been in Perga, the capital of Pamphylia, they returned to that city to preach the word a second time, hoping for a better reception of the gospel. The account does not detail their success in Perga, but it does state that they then went down to Attalia, a coastal city also in Pamphylia.
Verse 26: “And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.”
Paul's first missionary journey concluded at this point.
Verse 27: “And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”
Having been sent out by the Antioch church, Paul and Barnabas returned to report on their work. They shared how God had definitively made the gospel accessible to Gentiles. Initially, the churches consisted solely of Hebrews, later including some Gentiles. Now, the gospel was primarily reaching Gentiles, and the churches in Asia Minor were largely Gentile. While some Jews might have been present, it appears that in most areas, they rejected the gospel while the Gentiles embraced it.
Verse 28: “And they spent not a little time with the disciples.”
They ministered there for a considerable time, approximately one year.
