Acts 14

In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles.

When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,

they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

There they preached the Good News.

At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.

He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.

When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.

The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.

But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and sprang into the multitude, crying out,

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.

But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.

When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter follows Paul and Barnabas as they extend the gospel mission into new regions of Asia Minor, facing both strong opposition and remarkable divine confirmation. After initial success in Iconium and a miraculous healing in Lystra, the apostles are mistaken for gods, which they firmly reject in favor of proclaiming the true God. Despite being violently rejected—Paul is stoned and left for dead—they return through the cities, establishing and strengthening new believers, affirming church leadership, and reporting the opening of faith to the Gentiles.

Flow.

Paul and Barnabas preach with power in Iconium, leading many to believe, but face escalating hostility from disbelieving Jews.
Arriving in Lystra, Paul heals a man born lame, prompting the crowd to attempt worshiping them as gods—an opportunity the apostles seize to proclaim the living God who reveals Himself through creation and providence.
Violence follows as Jewish opponents arrive and incite the people, leading to Paul’s stoning and departure.
Rather than retreating permanently, the apostles return through the same cities, reinforcing new disciples, appointing elders, and completing their mission before returning to Antioch.

Connections. Following chapter 13, where Paul and Barnabas are sent out from Antioch and begin their missionary work with preaching and initial opposition in Pisidian Antioch, chapter 14 deepens the pattern of gospel proclamation amid division and suffering. It advances the narrative geographically and theologically, showing how the message spreads beyond Jewish communities into thoroughly pagan contexts. The challenges faced here—misunderstanding, idolatry, persecution—set the stage for the urgent need addressed in chapter 15: clarifying the relationship between Gentile believers and Jewish customs in the growing church.

What it teaches. The chapter underscores that the gospel is not a human invention but a divine work authenticated by signs and the sovereign grace of God (WCF 1.8; HC LD 7). The apostles’ refusal to accept worship highlights the exclusive lordship of God, who makes His existence known through the natural order and moral governance of the world (WCF 1.1; CA 3.1). Their insistence that suffering is necessary for entering God’s kingdom () reflects the biblical understanding of perseverance in trial as part of God’s sanctifying purpose (HC LD 27; WCF 17.3), while the appointment of elders affirms the necessity of orderly church leadership under the authority of Christ (WCF 30.8).

Apply. The steadfast preaching of the apostles, even after violent rejection, directs attention to the sufficiency of God’s grace in weakness and the enduring call to declare Him as the source of all good things.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.