Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryActs 14

Paul at IconiumThis section describes Paul and Barnabas preaching in Iconium after leaving Antioch. We see how their message brought both belief and opposition, and how God worked through them with courage and miracles. The events here show both the power of the gospel and the reactions it can cause—some joyful, some hostile. The story also teaches us about staying faithful even when facing trouble, and trusting God for guidance and protection.v. 1: Paul and Barnabas came to Iconium because they had to leave Antioch. Even though Jews in Antioch had treated them badly, they still went to the synagogue in Iconium and preached to the Jews first. They did not avoid the Jews just because of past experiences. Instead, they showed kindness and kept offering the gospel to everyone. This teaches us not to judge a whole group because of some people's actions. Paul and Barnabas went together to show their unity and love for each other. Their teamwork made their message stronger, just as the law says, out of the mouth of two witnesses every word may be established (Deuteronomy 19:15 ).

v. 2: Many people believed their message—both Jews and Gentiles. This was special because it brought Jews and Gentiles together in the church, showing that God accepts everyone who believes. The apostles preached with great power and clear words so that people could see they truly believed what they were saying. Their passion and honesty helped many to believe, but the real power came from the Holy Spirit, not just their way of speaking. They so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and also of Greeks believed (Acts 14:1 ).

v. 3: However, not everyone was happy. Some Jews refused to believe and tried to turn the Gentiles against the new believers. They spread lies and stirred up trouble, making others think badly of the Christians. This shows that the same message that brings life to some can cause anger in others. As Paul wrote, to one we are the aroma of life, to another the aroma of death (2 Corinthians 2:16 ). The Jews poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the believers and kept causing problems for them.

v. 4: Even with this opposition, Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly and trusted the Lord

v. 5: The preaching of the gospel divided the city. Some people sided with the Jews who did not believe, and others sided with the apostles. This fulfilled Jesus’ words: Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division (Luke 12:51 ). The message of Jesus challenges people to make a choice. It is better for some to choose God, even if it causes conflict, than for all to stay together without God.

v. 6: The enemies of Paul and Barnabas, both Gentiles and Jews, along with their rulers, planned to mistreat and stone them. Even though Jews and Gentiles were often against each other, they joined together against the apostles, just as Herod and Pilate did against Jesus (Luke 23:12 ). Their plan was to shame and kill Paul and Barnabas, hoping this would stop their teaching.

v. 7: God protected the apostles by warning them about the danger. They escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities in the region of Lycaonia. There they found safety, and they did not stop preaching the gospel. When one door closed in Iconium, God opened another in Lystra and Derbe. This shows us that God can always provide a place for his people to serve him, even in times of trouble.

Paul Heals a Cripple in Lystra; The People Mistake Paul and Barnabas for Gods In this section, Paul and Barnabas perform a miracle in the city of Lystra by healing a man who had never been able to walk. The people of the city are amazed and think the two visitors are gods. This leads to confusion and a lesson about the living God, not idols. But even after this, troublemakers from other cities turn the crowd against Paul, leading to more suffering for the apostles. The story shows both the power of the gospel and the challenges of spreading it. v. 8–10: In Lystra, there was a man who had been lame from birth and had never walked. He listened carefully to Paul speaking. Paul saw that the man had faith to be healed, so he called out, “Stand up on your feet!” Immediately, the man jumped up and began to walk. This miracle showed the power of Jesus and that faith in Him can do what is impossible for humans.

v. 11–13: When the people saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their own language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because Paul was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, wanting to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas with the crowd. The people misunderstood the miracle and tried to worship the messengers instead of the true God.

v. 14–18: When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human like you! We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless idols to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Paul explained that in the past, God let all nations go their own way, but He has always shown kindness by giving rain, crops, and joy. Even with these words, they could hardly stop the crowd from sacrificing to them. Paul and Barnabas wanted the people to worship the true God, not idols or humans.

Paul Stoned at Lystra, but Survives; The Missionaries Continue Their Journey This section tells how quickly the crowd in Lystra turned against Paul. Even though he had just healed a crippled man, enemies from other cities convinced the people to stone him. Paul survived and continued preaching the gospel in other towns. This story teaches us that following Jesus can be dangerous, but God can protect and strengthen his servants even in the worst situations. v. 19: Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people in Lystra to turn against Paul. The same crowd that had wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas now became angry with them. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. This shows how easily people can be influenced and how quickly public opinion can change.

v. 20: After the crowd left, the disciples gathered around Paul. Amazingly, Paul got up and went back into the city. The next day, he and Barnabas left for Derbe. God gave Paul the strength to recover from this attack and continue his mission. Paul’s courage and determination remind us that God can help us stand up again, even after terrible trials.

v. 21–22: In Derbe, Paul and Barnabas preached the good news and made many disciples. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, the places where they had faced danger. They encouraged the believers to stay strong in their faith. Paul told them, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22 ). This means that following Jesus is not always easy, but God promises to be with us through every difficulty.

v. 23: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church, praying and fasting as they chose leaders. They trusted these new believers to God, knowing that He would take care of them. This shows the importance of strong leaders and prayer in the church.

v. 24–28: After traveling through Pisidia and coming to Pamphylia, they preached in Perga and then went down to Attalia. From there, they sailed back to Antioch, where their missionary journey had started. When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported everything God had done through them, including how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. They stayed in Antioch for a long time with the disciples, sharing what God had done. This shows the importance of telling others how God is working, so everyone can be encouraged and give thanks to Him.