The Acts of the Apostles

Acts 14

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Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.

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ACTS 14:1

TWMC

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went together into the Jewish synagogue. They spoke so effectively that a large number of both Jews and Greeks came to faith.

KJV

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Greek

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ λαλῆσαι οὕτως ὥστε πιστεῦσαι Ἰουδαίων τε καὶ Ἑλλήνων πολὺ πλῆθος.

Romanized Greek

Egeneto de en Ikoniō, kata to auto eiselthein autous eis tēn synagōgēn tōn Ioudaiōn, kai lalēsai houtōs hōste pisteusai Ioudaiōn te kai Hellēnōn poly plēthos.

ACTS 14:2

TWMC

But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and turned their minds against the believers.

KJV

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Greek

Οἱ δὲ ἀπειθοῦντες Ἰουδαῖοι ἐπήγειραν καὶ ἐκάκωσαν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν.

Romanized Greek

Hoi de apeithountes Ioudaioi epēgeiran kai ekakōsan tas psychas tōn ethnōn kata tōn adelphōn.

ACTS 14:3

TWMC

Paul and Barnabas stayed for a considerable time, speaking boldly in reliance on the Lord. He confirmed the message of His grace by enabling signs and wonders to take place through them.

KJV

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Greek

Ἱκανὸν μὲν οὖν χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ μαρτυροῦντι τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, διδόντι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.

Romanized Greek

Hikanon men oun chronon dietripsan parrēsiazomenoi epi tō kyriō tō martyrounti tō logō tēs charitos autou, didonti sēmeia kai terata ginesthai dia tōn cheirōn autōn.

ACTS 14:4

TWMC

The city’s population split into opposing sides: some supported the Jewish opponents, while others supported the apostles.

KJV

But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

Greek

Ἐσχίσθη δὲ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς πόλεως∙ καὶ οἱ μὲν ἦσαν σὺν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, οἱ δὲ σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις.

Romanized Greek

Eschisthē de to plēthos tēs poleōs; kai hoi men ēsan syn tois Ioudaiois, hoi de syn tois apostolois.

ACTS 14:5

TWMC

Then Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, made a move to abuse the apostles and stone them.

KJV

And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

Greek

Ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο ὁρμὴ τῶν ἐθνῶν τε καὶ Ἰουδαίων σὺν τοῖς ἄρχουσιν αὐτῶν, ὑβρίσαι καὶ λιθοβολῆσαι αὐτούς,

Romanized Greek

Hōs de egeneto hormē tōn ethnōn te kai Ioudaiōn syn tois archousin autōn, hybrisai kai lithobolēsai autous,

ACTS 14:6

TWMC

When Paul and Barnabas learned of it, they escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and the surrounding countryside.

KJV

They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Greek

συνιδόντες κατέφυγον εἰς τὰς πόλεις τῆς Λυκαονίας, Λύστραν καὶ Δέρβην, καὶ τὴν περίχωρον∙

Romanized Greek

synidontes katephygon eis tas poleis tēs Lykaonias, Lystran kai Derbēn, kai tēn perichōron;

ACTS 14:7

TWMC

There they kept announcing the good news.

KJV

And there they preached the gospel.

Greek

κἀκεῖ ἦσαν εὐαγγελιζόμενοι.

Romanized Greek

kakei ēsan euangelizomenoi.

ACTS 14:8

TWMC

In Lystra sat a man whose feet could not support him. He had been unable to walk from birth and had never taken a step.

KJV

¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

Greek

Καί τις ἀνὴρ ἐν Λύστροις ἀδύνατος τοῖς ποσὶν ἐκάθητο, χωλὸς ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ ὑπάρχων, ὃς οὐδέποτε περιπεπατήκει.

Romanized Greek

Kai tis anēr en Lystrois adynatos tois posin ekathēto, chōlos ek koilias mētros autou hyparchōn, hos oudepote peripepatēkei.

ACTS 14:9

TWMC

He was listening to Paul speak. Paul looked closely at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.

KJV

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Greek

Οὗτος ἤκουσεν τοῦ Παύλου λαλοῦντος∙ ὃς ἀτενίσας αὐτῷ, καὶ ἰδὼν ὅτι πίστιν ἔχει τοῦ σωθῆναι,

Romanized Greek

Houtos ēkousen tou Paulou lalountos; hos atenisas autō, kai idōn hoti pistin echei tou sōthēnai,

ACTS 14:10

TWMC

In a loud voice Paul said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” The man sprang up and started walking.

KJV

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Greek

εἶπεν μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ, Ἀνάστηθι ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας σου ὀρθῶς. Καὶ ἥλλετο καὶ περιεπάτει.

Romanized Greek

eipen megalē tē phōnē, Anastēthi epi tous podas sou orthōs. Kai hēlleto kai periepatei.

ACTS 14:11

TWMC

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language, “The gods have taken human form and come down to us!”

KJV

And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

Greek

Οἱ δὲ ὄχλοι, ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Παῦλος, ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν Λυκαονιστὶ λέγοντες, Οἱ θεοὶ ὁμοιωθέντες ἀνθρώποις κατέβησαν πρὸς ἡμᾶς.

Romanized Greek

Hoi de ochloi, idontes ho epoiēsen ho Paulos, epēran tēn phōnēn autōn Lykaonisti legontes, Hoi theoi homoiōthentes anthrōpois katebēsan pros hēmas.

ACTS 14:12

TWMC

They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because Paul was the main speaker.¹

KJV

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Greek

Ἐκάλουν τε τὸν μὲν Βαρνάβαν, Δία∙ τὸν δὲ Παῦλον, Ἑρμῆν, ἐπειδὴ αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ ἡγούμενος τοῦ λόγου.

Romanized Greek

Ekaloun te ton men Barnaban, Dia; ton de Paulon, Hermēn, epeidē autos ēn ho hēgoumenos tou logou.

ACTS 14:13

TWMC

The priest of Zeus, whose temple stood outside the city, brought bulls and flower garlands to the gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer a sacrifice.

KJV

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

Greek

Ὁ δὲ ἱερεὺς τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ ὄντος πρὸ τῆς πόλεως αὐτῶν, ταύρους καὶ στέμματα ἐπὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας ἐνέγκας, σὺν τοῖς ὄχλοις ἤθελεν θύειν.

Romanized Greek

Ho de hiereus tou Dios tou ontos pro tēs poleōs autōn, taurous kai stemmata epi tous pylōnas enenkas, syn tois ochlois ēthelen thyein.

ACTS 14:14

TWMC

When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

KJV

Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

Greek

Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι Βαρνάβας καὶ Παῦλος, διαρρήξαντες τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, εἰσεπήδησαν εἰς τὸν ὄχλον, κράζοντες

Romanized Greek

Akousantes de hoi apostoloi Barnabas kai Paulos, diarrēxantes ta himatia autōn, eisepēdēsan eis ton ochlon, krazontes

ACTS 14:15

TWMC

“Why are you doing this? We are human beings with the same nature as you! We bring good news so that you will turn away from these worthless things to the living God. He made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.²

KJV

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Greek

καὶ λέγοντες, Ἄνδρες, τί ταῦτα ποιεῖτε; Καὶ ἡμεῖς ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ἐσμεν ὑμῖν ἄνθρωποι, εὐαγγελιζόμενοι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τούτων τῶν ματαίων ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν θεὸν τὸν ζῶντα, ὃς ἐποίησεν τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς∙

Romanized Greek

kai legontes, Andres, ti tauta poieite? Kai hēmeis homoiopatheis esmen hymin anthrōpoi, euangelizomenoi hymas apo toutōn tōn mataiōn epistrephein epi ton theon ton zōnta, hos epoiēsen ton ouranon kai tēn gēn kai tēn thalassan kai panta ta en autois;

ACTS 14:16

TWMC

“In generations past, He allowed the nations to follow their own ways.

KJV

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Greek

ὃς ἐν ταῖς παρῳχημέναις γενεαῖς εἴασεν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη πορεύεσθαι ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν.

Romanized Greek

hos en tais parōchēmenais geneais eiasen panta ta ethnē poreuesthai tais hodois autōn.

ACTS 14:17

TWMC

“Yet He never left Himself without evidence of His goodness. He gives you rain from heaven and seasons that produce crops, filling our hearts with food and joy.”³

KJV

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Greek

Καίτοιγε οὐκ ἀμάρτυρον ἑαυτὸν ἀφῆκεν ἀγαθοποιῶν, οὐρανόθεν ὑμῖν ὑετοὺς διδοὺς καὶ καιροὺς καρποφόρους, ἐμπιπλῶν τροφῆς καὶ εὐφροσύνης τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν.

Romanized Greek

Kaitoige ouk amartyron heauton aphēken agathopoiōn, ouranothen hymin hyetous didous kai kairous karpophorous, empiplōn trophēs kai euphrosynēs tas kardias hēmōn.

ACTS 14:18

TWMC

Even after saying all this, they could barely stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.

KJV

And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Greek

Καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντες, μόλις κατέπαυσαν τοὺς ὄχλους τοῦ μὴ θύειν αὐτοῖς.

Romanized Greek

Kai tauta legontes, molis katepausan tous ochlous tou mē thyein autois.

ACTS 14:19

TWMC

Then Jewish opponents arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.⁴

KJV

¶ And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Greek

Ἐπῆλθον δὲ ἀπὸ Ἀντιοχείας καὶ Ἰκονίου Ἰουδαῖοι, καὶ πείσαντες τοὺς ὄχλους, καὶ λιθάσαντες τὸν Παῦλον, ἔσυρον ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, νομίσαντες αὐτὸν τεθνάναι.

Romanized Greek

Epēlthon de apo Antiocheias kai Ikoniou Ioudaioi, kai peisantes tous ochlous, kai lithasantes ton Paulon, esyron exō tēs poleōs, nomisantes auton tethnanai.

ACTS 14:20

TWMC

But as the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he set out with Barnabas for Derbe.⁵

KJV

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Greek

Κυκλωσάντων δὲ αὐτὸν τῶν μαθητῶν, ἀναστὰς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν∙ καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον ἐξῆλθεν σὺν τῷ Βαρνάβᾳ εἰς Δέρβην.

Romanized Greek

Kyklōsantōn de auton tōn mathētōn, anastas eisēlthen eis tēn polin; kai tē epaurion exēlthen syn tō Barnaba eis Derbēn.

ACTS 14:21

TWMC

After sharing the good news in Derbe and making many disciples, they retraced their journey through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.⁶

KJV

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Greek

Εὐαγγελισάμενοί τε τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην, καὶ μαθητεύσαντες ἱκανούς, ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Λύστραν καὶ Ἰκόνιον καὶ Ἀντιόχειαν,

Romanized Greek

Euangelisamenoi te tēn polin ekeinēn, kai mathēteusantes hikanous, hypestrepsan eis tēn Lystran kai Ikonion kai Antiocheian,

ACTS 14:22

TWMC

They strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain in the faith. “We must pass through many hardships on our way into God’s kingdom,” they told them.⁷

KJV

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Greek

ἐπιστηρίζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν, παρακαλοῦντες ἐμμένειν τῇ πίστει, καὶ ὅτι διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων δεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

Romanized Greek

epistērizontes tas psychas tōn mathētōn, parakalountes emmenein tē pistei, kai hoti dia pollōn thlipseōn dei hēmas eiselthein eis tēn basileian tou theou.

ACTS 14:23

TWMC

They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they entrusted the believers to the Lord in whom they had placed their faith.⁸

KJV

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Greek

Χειροτονήσαντες δὲ αὐτοῖς πρεσβυτέρους κατ’ ἐκκλησίαν, προσευξάμενοι μετὰ νηστειῶν, παρέθεντο αὐτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ εἰς ὃν πεπιστεύκεισαν.

Romanized Greek

Cheirotonēsantes de autois presbyterous kat’ ekklēsian, proseuxamenoi meta nēsteiōn, parethento autous tō kyriō eis hon pepisteukeisan.

ACTS 14:24

TWMC

They traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.

KJV

And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

Greek

Καὶ διελθόντες τὴν Πισιδίαν ἦλθον εἰς Παμφυλίαν.

Romanized Greek

Kai dielthontes tēn Pisidian ēlthon eis Pamphylian.

ACTS 14:25

TWMC

After speaking God’s message in Perga, they went down to Attalia.⁹

KJV

And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

Greek

Καὶ λαλήσαντες ἐν Πέργῃ τὸν λόγον, κατέβησαν εἰς Ἀττάλειαν∙

Romanized Greek

Kai lalēsantes en Pergē ton logon, katebēsan eis Attaleian;

ACTS 14:26

TWMC

From there they sailed back toward Antioch, where they had been entrusted to God’s grace for the work they had now completed.¹⁰

KJV

And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

Greek

κἀκεῖθεν ἀπέπλευσαν εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, ὅθεν ἦσαν παραδεδομένοι τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ ἐπλήρωσαν.

Romanized Greek

kakeithen apepleusan eis Antiocheian, hothen ēsan paradedomenoi tē chariti tou theou eis to ergon ho eplērōsan.

ACTS 14:27

TWMC

When they arrived, they gathered the church and reported everything God had done through them, and how He had opened the way for Gentiles to come to faith.

KJV

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Greek

Παραγενόμενοι δὲ καὶ συναγαγόντες τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἀνήγγειλαν ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς μετ’ αὐτῶν, καὶ ὅτι ἤνοιξεν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν θύραν πίστεως.

Romanized Greek

Paragenomenoi de kai synagagontes tēn ekklēsian, anēngeilan hosa epoiēsen ho theos met’ autōn, kai hoti ēnoixen tois ethnesin thyran pisteōs.

ACTS 14:28

TWMC

They stayed there with the disciples for quite some time.

KJV

And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Greek

Διέτριβον δὲ ἐκεῖ χρόνον οὐκ ὀλίγον σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς.

Romanized Greek

Dietribon de ekei chronon ouk oligon syn tois mathētais.

Notes

Acts 14:12 Language note: Zeus and Hermes are the Greek names in the supplied text. The KJV uses their Roman counterparts, Jupiter and Mercurius. These are alternate cultural names for the deities the crowd mistakenly associated with Barnabas and Paul. ↩
Acts 14:15 Theology note: The apostles reject worship and direct the crowd to the living Creator. Their signs do not make them divine; worship belongs to God alone. ↩
Acts 14:17 Text note: The supplied Greek says “our hearts”; ESV and LSB read “your hearts.” The surrounding appeal concerns God’s generous provision and witness among the nations. ↩
Acts 14:19 Historical note: Luke says the attackers supposed Paul was dead. The account does not explicitly say that Paul died and was raised from the dead. ↩
Acts 14:20 Travel note: Luke says Paul departed for Derbe the next day; this does not establish that he arrived there the same day. The passage supplies neither a route distance nor the duration of the journey. ↩
Acts 14:21 Travel note: They retrace their route through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, returning to strengthen the new disciples despite the opposition they had faced there. ↩
Acts 14:22 Theology note: Suffering accompanies faithful discipleship, but it does not earn entrance into God’s kingdom. The apostles encourage believers to continue in the faith. ↩
Acts 14:23 Church note: Elders are appointed for the churches with prayer and fasting. The account does not describe a complete selection procedure or authorize leaders to stand above Scripture. ↩
Acts 14:25 Travel note: Attalia was a coastal port about 10 miles (15 km) southwest of Perga. Here the journey shifts from travel on land to the return voyage toward Syrian Antioch. ↩
Acts 14:26 Travel note: This sea voyage returns them toward Syrian Antioch, their sending church. Antioch was inland, served by Seleucia; Luke summarizes the return rather than listing every stage. ↩