1
In Iconium the two apostles entered the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

2
But the Jews, who rejected their message, stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and made them hostile toward the brothers.

3
So Paul and Barnabas stayed there for some time. They spoke boldly, because they trusted in the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the message of His grace by granting them power to perform signs and wonders.

4
But the people of the city were divided: some sided with the Jews, and others with the two apostles.

5
Then the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, began to make a move to mistreat and stone the two apostles.

6
When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, namely Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region.

7
There they preached the gospel.

8
In Lystra there was a man who sat there, because his feet were weak and he had been lame from birth and had never been able to walk.

9
He was listening as Paul spoke. And Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had faith and could be healed.

10
Then Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And the man sprang up and began to walk about.

11
When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form.”

12
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the one who spoke.

13
Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gate, intending to offer sacrifice with the crowd to the apostles.

14
When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, crying out:

15
“Men, why are you doing this? We are only human beings, just like you. We are here to bring you the gospel, so that you may turn away from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

16
In former times He allowed all nations to go their own ways,

17
yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He showed kindness in many ways: He gave you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and He filled your hearts with food and gladness.”

18
Although the apostles said this, they could scarcely restrain the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.

19
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and they persuaded the crowd to side with them. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead.

20
But when the disciples stood around him, he rose up and went into the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21
Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in that city and won many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

22
There they strengthened the hearts of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying that through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.

23
In every church the apostles appointed elders for the church, and after praying and fasting, they committed those elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust.

24
They traveled through all Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

25
There they preached the word in Perga, then went on to Attalia, by the coast.

26
From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had earlier been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

27
When they arrived there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28
And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

📖 Acts 14 – Persevering in Ministry Despite Rejection and Persecution

🧾 Summary of Acts 14

This chapter tells of the continuation of Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journey through regions in Asia Minor: Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They experienced great success and great hardship, including healings, being worshiped as gods, and being stoned. Yet they remained faithful in service and strengthened the churches they had established.

✨ Explanation of the Passage

1. Ministry in Iconium (verses 1–7)

• In the Jewish synagogue, many people believed after hearing the gospel message.
• However, the Jews who rejected the gospel stirred up the Gentiles to oppose them.
• Even so, Paul and Barnabas stayed there a good while, speaking the word with boldness, and miracles took place through them.
• The city became divided between those who supported them and those who opposed them.
• When there was a plan to stone them, they fled to Lystra and Derbe.

2. Miracles in Lystra: Worshiped as Gods (verses 8–18)

• In Lystra, Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth.
• Seeing this miracle, the people of Lystra thought Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods: Hermes (Paul) and Zeus (Barnabas).
• The priest of Zeus even came bringing an offering.
• Paul and Barnabas firmly refused that worship, and cried out that they were only ordinary men proclaiming the living God.
• They urged the people to turn away from idols and believe in the Lord.

3. Paul Stoned in Lystra, Yet Did Not Give Up (verses 19–20)

• Jews from Iconium and Antioch came and persuaded the crowd to turn against Paul.
• Paul was stoned until he was thought to be dead, then dragged out of the city.
• But when the disciples gathered around him, Paul rose up and went back into the city!

4. Ministry in Derbe & Returning to Strengthen the Church (verses 21–28)

• In Derbe, they preached the gospel and made many disciples.
• They then returned to the earlier cities (Lystra, Iconium, Antioch), strengthening the faith of the disciples and encouraging them to remain faithful in suffering.
• They appointed elders, prayed and fasted, then entrusted those churches to the Lord.
• After returning to Antioch (Syria), they told all that the Lord had done through them—including how the Lord had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 14

1. Proclaiming the Gospel requires courage, even when facing rejection and persecution.
2. Miracles are not for human glory, but to bring people to the living God.
3. Suffering is part of the calling of believers.
4. Strengthening and confirming the faith is very important for a new church.
5. Discipleship and local church leadership are the keys to the growth of the congregation.

✨ The Spiritual Meaning of Acts 14

• The faithfulness of Paul and Barnabas becomes an example for all servants of God: not giving up even when stoned.
• Ministry does not always bring admiration—sometimes it is also accompanied by misunderstanding and persecution.
• God works in the midst of challenges, even using suffering to build the church.
• We are called not to seek our own glory, but always to direct praise back to God.
• Commitment in evangelism and discipleship produces a congregation that is firm in faith.