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Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

Acts 14:19-20

There came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium. They won over the crowds and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, for they thought he was dead. While the disciples stood in a circle round him he got up and he went into the city; and on the next day with Barnabas he went away to Derbe.

In the midst of all the excitement at Lystra certain Jews arrived. They may have been there for one of two reasons. They may have been deliberately following Paul and Barnabas in a set attempt to undo the work that they were doing. Or they may have been corn merchants. The region round Lystra was a great corn growing area and they may have come to buy corn for the cities of Iconium and Antioch. If so, they would be shocked and angry to find Paul still preaching and would very naturally stir up the people against him.

Lystra was a Roman colony; but it was an outpost. Nevertheless, when the people saw what they had done they were afraid. That is why they dragged what they thought was Paul's dead body out of the city. They were afraid of the strong hand of Roman justice and they were trying to get rid of Paul's body in order to escape the consequences of their riot.

The outstanding feature of this story is the sheer courage of Paul. When he came to his senses, his first act was to go right back into the city where he had been stoned. It was John Wesley's advice, "Always look a mob in the face." There could be no braver thing than Paul's going straight back amongst those who had tried to murder him. A deed like that would have more effect than a hundred sermons. Men were bound to ask themselves where a man got the courage to act in such a way.

CONFIRMING THE CHURCH (Acts 14:21-28)

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See also Acts 14:19-20 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 14:19 evph/lqan de. … kai. pei,santej tou.j o;clouj In the Western text the abruptness of the transition to a new scene is softened by the insertion of a circumstantial clause, which is followed...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 14:19. _THERE CAME THITHER_ CERTAIN _JEWS FROM ANTIOCH_] Those were, no doubt, the same who had raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, at Iconium and Antioch, before: they follow...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND THERE CAME THITHER CERTAIN JEWS - Not satisfied with having expelled them from Antioch and Iconium, they still pursued them. Persecutors often exhibit a zeal and perseverance in a bad cause which...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The work in Iconium and the persecution of the Apostles (Acts 14:1)._ 2. In Derbe and Lystra; the Impotent Man healed (Acts 14:7). 3. The Stoning of Paul and further ministries (Act...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LYSTRA. Lystra, 25 miles SW. of Iconium, 10 miles off the trade route, in a secluded glen. Lystra and Derbe were the two cities of the Lycaonian region of Galatia; Roman influence was strong there, an...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AND. But. WHO PERSUADED. and having persuaded. Greek. _peitho._ App-150. STONED. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:25. DREW. dragged. Greek. _suro._ See note on John 21:8. OUT OF. outside. Greek. _exo._ SU...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Change of feeling in the multitude. Paul is stoned. The Apostles visit Derbe, and then return, by the route by which they came, to Antioch in Syria 19. _certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium_ Their an...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΠῸ ἈΝΤΙΟΧΕΊΑΣ ΚΑῚ ἸΚΟΝΊΟΥ ἸΟΥΔΑΙ͂ΟΙ, _certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium_. Their anger, like that of ‘the circumcision’ in Jerusalem, was roused against the Apostles, whom they knew to be born Jew...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CHANGE OF FEELING IN THE MULTITUDE. PAUL IS STONED. THE APOSTLES VISIT DERBE, AND THEN RETURN, BY THE ROUTE BY WHICH THEY CAME, TO ANTIOCH IN SYRIA...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PAUL IS STONED FOR PREACHING CHRIST ACTS 14:18-20:_ The things they said concerning themselves, and concerning the living God, His creation of all things, His goodness toward men barely kept the peop...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΠΉΛΘΑΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΕΠΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G1904) приходить, сходиться, ΠΕΊΣΑΝΤΕΣ _aor. act. part. (temp.) от_ ΠΕΊΘΩ (G3982) убеждать, переманивать на свою сторону (Barrett). ΛΙΘΆΣΑΝΤΕΣ _aor. act. part....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HAVING STONED PAUL, DREW HIM OUT, &C.— The remarkable humility wherewith the apostles behaved, in so uncommon an instance of popular applause as that above related, plainlyshewed by what Spirit they w...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IN LYSTRA. Acts 14:6 b - Acts 14:20. a. General statement. Acts 14:6 b, Acts 14:7....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    19. This state of suspense was most favorable to the acceptance of Paul's own explanation of his miraculous power, and consequently to their belief of the gospel; and we can not doubt that some of the...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. AND - rather, 'But' [ de (G116...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    6 Lystra seems to be the first place Paul preached without first proclaiming to the Jews in the synagogue, for it seems that there were not enough Jews to have a place of worship. Hence this is the fi...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PERSUADED THE PEOPLE] The fickleness of the Lycaonians is reflected on by more than one Greek author, and perhaps St. Paul alludes to it in the Epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 1:6; Galatians 3:1;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY (CONTINUED) 1-7. Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. The gospel meets with great success among both Jews and Gentiles in this populous city, and miracles are wrought in confirmatio...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 14 PAUL AND BARNABAS IN ICONIUM, 14:1-7 V1 What happened in Pisidian Antioch also happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the *synagogue...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THERE CAME THITHER CERTAIN JEWS FROM ANTIOCH. — The context shows that the Pisidian Antioch is meant. The strength of the hostility is shown by the facts, (1) that the Jews of the two cities were acti...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἐπῆλθον δὲ : on readings to account for the interval see critical notes. Nothing in the narrative forbids some kind of interval, whilst nothing is said as to its duration. Ἰουδαῖοι : a proof of their...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ESTABLISHING THE NEW BELIEVERS Acts 14:14-28 In Paul's address we have distinct anticipations of the early Chapter s of the Epistle to the Romans. How fickle a mob is! Now, enthusiastic loyalty; aga...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In Iconium there was largely a repetition of the experiences at Antioch. Becoming aware of the growing hostility, Paul and Barnabas passed on, and came to Lystra. There is a marked difference between...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Though Stoned, Paul Continues Preaching! The hostile Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium soon came to Lystra and persuaded the people to stone Paul. They dragged his seemingly lifeless body outsi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (6) 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. (6) The devil, when he i...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    PAUL'S MARTYRDOM 19, 20. Behold the fickle caprice of frail mortality, which has been verified in all ages and nations! Now they are all clamorous to worship the apostles for gods. In one short hour t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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. (20) Howbeit, as the disciples st...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 19._There came. _Paul and Barnabas can hardly stay the people from doing sacrifice; but a company of knaves do, with small ado, persuade them to stone Paul, whom of late they made a god. Whereby app...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Their missionary labours continue in Iconium with the same opposition from the Jews who, incapable themselves of the work, stir up the Gentiles against those who are performing it. As long as it was o...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THERE CAME THITHER CERTAIN JEWS,.... Either just at the same time, or however whilst the apostles were in this city: in four manuscripts of Beza's, and in some other copies, it is read, "as they a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 19. _And there came thi...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _There came_, &c. The sacred historian now proceeds to give us a remarkable instance of the fickleness of the multitude. Soon after Paul and Barnabas had put a stop to that undue respect which the peo...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    PERSUADED THE PEOPLE; persuaded them that Paul and Barnabas were bad men, and deceivers....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE RETURN JOURNEY TO SYRIA. Mob violence in Lystra and the Gospel in Derbe:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Iconium was also in Asia Minor: here they entered the synagogue and the Spirit of God gave them grace to so speak as to vitally influence a great number, both of Jews and Gentiles, to believe the gosp...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    THEN JEWS FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM CAME THERE; AND HAVING PERSUADED THE MULTITUDES, THEY STONED PAUL _AND_ DRAGGED _HIM_ OUT OF THE CITY, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE DEAD. 1. Trouble arrives - Jews from Anti...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Not satisfied with running Paul out of Iconium, unbelieving Jews travel 100 miles in order to continue their opposition. "Having won over the multitudes" Here we see how fickle men can be. "What. stri...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    19-28 See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with gr...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    CERTAIN JEWS; such as mention was made of, ACTS 13:50. PERSUADED THE PEOPLE; a strange and incredible fickleness; but that we know how the same multitude who cried _Hosanna, _ did more suddenly alter...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    19. This state of suspense was most favorable to the acceptance of Paul's own explanation of his miraculous power, and consequently to their belief of the gospel; and we can not doubt that some of the...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 14:19 Then G1161 Jews G2453 from G575 Antioch G490 and G2532 Iconium G2430 there G1904 (G5627) and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But there came there Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the large crowds, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.' The impression given is that...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA (14:8-20A). A description is now given of the rather colourful events that occurred during their ministry in Lystra. These are on top of the fact that they proclaimed the Good N...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 14:19. AND THERE CAME THITHER CERTAIN JEWS FROM ANTIOCH. With rare exceptions, the Jews stirred up every persecution suffered by Paul. The stubborn jealousy of the race felt that in Paul they had...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BUT THERE CAME THITHER JEWS FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM (Επηλθαν δε απο Αντιοχειας κα Ικονιου Ιουδαιο). Came to or upon them, επηλθαν, second aorist (ingressive) indicative of επερχομα. Whether news of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Work of the Gospel at Iconium, Derbe, Lystra. An impotent man at Lystra healed. Paul stoned. Elders appointed in the churches. CHARACTERS: God, Paul, Barnabas, impotent man, priest of Jupit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 14:1. _It came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the jews._ St. Luke makes here a great leap, and is very laconic, merely naming Perga and Attalia. This great...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    SOME JEWS CAME FROM ANTIOCH. Some think Paul's "thorn in the flesh" refers to these Jews. [compare Numbers 33:55_:_ Joshua 23:13; 2 Timothy 4:14-17.] The Lystrans, frustrated because they were not per...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And there came thither certain Jews … Who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city._ THE FICKLENESS OF THE LYSTRIANS It would not be difficult to find a parallel to th...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 14:8 Lystra was populated mainly by Gentiles and had no synagogue. The ministry of Paul and Barnabas there centered around the healing of a lame man. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 14:19 ICONIUM and ANTIOCH were more than 100 miles (161 km) distant by road. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _HOMILETICAL ANALYSIS_.—_Acts 14:8_ Paul and Barnabas at Lystra; or, the Gospel among Barbarians I. THE MIRACLE AT LYSTRA.— 1. The _subject_. “A certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 14:1 _Entered _for _went both, _A.V.; _Jews _for _the Jews, _A.V.; _and _for _and also, _A.V.; Greeks for _the Greeks, _A.V. Observe how in every case Greeks are found attending the s...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Paul and Barnabas, in carrying the Gospel, have come into the uncharted territories as far as the Gospel is concerned into Asia Minor. They came from Cyprus to the area that is now known as Turkey. Th...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 11:23; 2 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 4:10;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Stoned. See on ver. 5....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    PREACHING BY THE WAY Acts 14:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As we open the 14th chapter of Acts, we find Paul and Barnabas still traveling together and entering into Iconium. It is our purpose today to cover...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Who persuaded the multitude — Moved with equal ease either to adore or murder him....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Note here, 1. The ill requital St. Paul had for his excellent discourse to these blasphemous idolators: THEY STONED HIM TO DEATH, in their own apprehension. The sharpest and keenest edge of persecutio...

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Old Testament