THEY CONTINUED TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS
Key verse: 7
NIV
In Iconium
14 At Iconium(A) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.(B) There they spoke so effectively that a great number(C) of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(D) 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly(E) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.(F) 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.(G) 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,(H) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.(I) 6 But they found out about it and fled(J) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach(K) the gospel.(L)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
14 Now at Iconium (A)they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 (B)But the (C)unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against (D)the brothers.[a] 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for (E)the Lord, who bore witness to (F)the word of his grace, (G)granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city (H)were divided; (I)some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, (J)to mistreat them and (K)to stone them, 6 they learned of it and (L)fled to (M)Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 14:2 Or brothers and sisters
Cross references
- Acts 14:1 : See ch. 13:5
- Acts 14:2 : See ch. 13:50
- Acts 14:2 : ch. 19:9; John 3:36; Rom. 15:31
- Acts 14:2 : See John 21:23
- Acts 14:3 : ch. 15:8; Heb. 2:4; [Mark 16:20]
- Acts 14:3 : ch. 20:32
- Acts 14:3 : ch. 4:29, 30
- Acts 14:4 : [ch. 23:7]
- Acts 14:4 : [ch. 17:4, 5; 19:9; 28:24]
- Acts 14:5 : 1 Thess. 2:2; [2 Cor. 12:10]
- Acts 14:5 : [ver. 19]
- Acts 14:6 : See Matt. 10:23
- Acts 14:6 : 2 Tim. 3:11
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The powerful message of God's grace (1-4)
Paul and Barnabas had been persecuted in Antioch. They shook the dust from their feet and went to Iconium, where they continued to speak boldly for the Lord. God blessed their ministry there. A division arose between believers and non-believers. The Jews who refused to believe tried to poison the minds of the Gentiles against the apostles. But God worked mightily, confirming the message of his grace, and many people believed.
2. They continued to preach (5-7)
Paul's gospel preaching left no room for people to be neutral. People either accepted the gospel and were changed, or they violently opposed it. When God's servants challenge the strongholds of sin, the gospel does not bring peace, but a sword. The apostles discovered a plot against their lives, so they fled to Lystra, and on to Derbe--but they continued to preach the good news.
Prayer: Lord, give me courage to speak your word boldly, even when there is opposition. Teach me uncompromising faith.
One Word: Preach the good news
