← Back to Acts

Acts 14

28 verses

TL;DR

Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in several cities, faced opposition and persecution, performed a healing miracle, were stoned, yet Paul rose and continued their mission, establishing church leadership.

Summary

In Iconium Paul and Barnabas spoke in the synagogue, drawing many Jews and Greeks to faith, but the unbelieving Jews stirred opposition and the city split into factions. After facing a violent assault, the apostles fled to Lystra and Derbe, where Paul healed a cripple, leading locals to mistakenly worship them as gods. A priest offered sacrifices, but the apostles called for turning to the living God. Jews from Antioch and Iconium later stoned Paul; he miraculously rose and returned to the city. They continued preaching in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ordained elders, prayed and fasted, then traveled through Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, and Attalia before returning to Antioch to celebrate God’s grace and the opening of the Gentile churches.

Outline
  1. Preaching and opposition in Iconium; miracle and misunderstanding in Lystra; persecution, stoning, and perseverance through subsequent missionary journeys
Themes
Persecution and resilienceMiracles as evidence of divine powerExpansion of Christianity to Gentiles
Keywords
apostlesGentilesfaithpersecutionmiracleGodfaithfulordinationfasting
People
PaulBarnabas
Places
IconiumLystraDerbeLycaoniaAntiochPisidiaPamphyliaPergaAttalia
Things
healing miraclesigns and wondersoxen and garlandsrain from heavenfruitful seasonsordaining eldersfastingpreaching
Key Verses
  • Acts 14:1: Shows initial success and subsequent division in Iconium
  • Acts 14:8-11: Illustrates the healing miracle and the mistaken belief in the apostles as gods
  • Acts 14:19-20: Depicts the stoning of Paul and his miraculous rise
  • Acts 14:23: Highlights the establishment of church leadership through ordination of elders
  • Acts 14:27-28: Demonstrates the apostles’ return to Antioch and celebration of God’s grace
Questions
  • How did the believers respond when Paul was stoned?
  • What does the miracle in Lystra reveal about early Christian witness?
  • Why did Paul and Barnabas choose to ordain elders in each church?
  • In what ways did the persecution strengthen the mission?
  • How does the apostles’ return to Antioch illustrate their view of God’s grace?
Sentiment

mixed
Positive in faith and miracles, negative in persecution and opposition