Acts Chapter 14 — Paul and Barnabas in Lycaonia
Paul and Barnabas face both success and persecution as they preach in Iconium and Lystra, including the healing of a lame man and the stoning of Paul.
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Notable Verses
Acts 14:15
““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;"”
This verse shows Paul's commitment to steering people away from idolatry toward the Creator.
Acts 14:22
“...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.”
It highlights the reality of hardship in the Christian life and the importance of perseverance.
Acts 14:27
“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.”
This verse summarizes the success of the first missionary journey and the expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles.
Chapter Summary
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey in Iconium, where their preaching leads many to believe but also stirs up opposition, eventually forcing them to flee to Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra, Paul heals a man who had been crippled from birth. Seeing this miracle, the local crowds mistake the apostles for the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes and attempt to offer sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas urgently correct the crowd, urging them to turn toward the one true living God. However, opponents from Antioch and Iconium arrive and turn the crowd against Paul, leading to him being stoned and left for dead. Remarkably, he survives and travels to Derbe the next day. After preaching there, the apostles revisit the cities they previously visited to strengthen the new disciples and appoint elders in every church before returning to Antioch in Syria to report on how God had opened a door of faith to the nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
After Paul healed a man crippled from birth, the crowd was so amazed that they believed the gods Jupiter (Zeus) and Mercury (Hermes) had come down in human form. The priest of Jupiter even prepared to offer animal sacrifices to them before the apostles intervened.
Opponents from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the local crowds to stone Paul. He was dragged out of the city and left for dead, but he rose up when the disciples gathered around him and returned to the city.
On their return trip through the cities they had visited, they appointed elders in every assembly. They accompanied these appointments with prayer and fasting, commending the leaders to the Lord.
Study Note
The reference to Barnabas as 'Jupiter' and Paul as 'Mercury' reflects local Lycaonian folklore, which included legends of these specific gods visiting the region in disguise.
Related Chapters
Acts 13
The previous chapter details the beginning of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey.
Acts 15
The next chapter addresses the formal debate over whether Gentile converts must follow Jewish laws.
2 Timothy 3
Paul later references the persecutions he endured in Lystra and Iconium in this letter to Timothy.
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