A paved Roman road running straight across a wide, flat plain at dawn toward a small walled town on a low hill, with faint mountains on the horizon.

The Book of

Acts 14

Healed feet, a crowd that wants to worship, a man left for dead who gets up, and a door thrown open to the nations.

28 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

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speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace

Acts 14:3

The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region, where they continued to preach the gospel.

Pray

Bold for the Lord

Iconium split down the middle, and a plot was forming. Still Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time, “speaking boldly for the Lord.” Their courage rested on what God was doing, not on how the city responded. Ask Him for that kind of boldness where you live, and thank Him that He still affirms “the message of His grace.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

Into Lycaonia

Driven out of Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas came to Iconium. When a plot to stone them formed there, they fled south to “the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe.”

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

A thin man with withered, folded legs sitting in the dust beside a town street, head lifted, listening intently toward someone out of frame.

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

Paul and Barnabas

“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.

In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.

He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness

Acts 14:17

Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.

Stones scattered in the dust outside a town gate at evening, a torn cloak lying among them, footprints of a small group around the spot.

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

0:19

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

He got up

Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city for dead. Then, “after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” The next day he walked on to Derbe. When have you been knocked down for following Jesus? Who gathered around you, and what would getting up look like now?

Strengthening the Disciples

They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith.

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

The way home

From Derbe they could have gone on to Tarsus. Instead they turned back through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, the towns that had driven them out, then down through Pisidia and Pamphylia to Perga, and from the port of Attalia home to Antioch.

We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God

Acts 14:22

A small group praying in a lamplit room around two older men who stand with bowed heads, empty bowls set aside.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles

Acts 14:27

And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

Question

Quick question

In Lystra a man lame from birth jumped up and walked, and the crowd drew its own conclusions about the two strangers.

What did the crowd at Lystra call Paul?

You’ve experienced

Acts 14

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A verse to carry with you

“We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Acts 14:22

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