Acts 14

Acts 14 is the fourteenth chapter of the Book of Acts in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It recounts the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas through various cities in the region of Lycaonia, which is part of modern-day Turkey. The chapter details their ministry, including preaching the Gospel, performing miracles, and facing persecution.

The chapter opens with Paul and Barnabas ministering in Iconium, where they experience both success and opposition. A large number of Jews and Gentiles believe, but unbelieving Jews stir up trouble and incite the Gentiles against the apostles. Paul and Barnabas, aware of the plot to stone them, flee to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia.

In Lystra, Paul heals a man crippled from birth. This miraculous event leads the local populace, who speak in the Lycaonian language, to believe that Paul and Barnabas are gods, specifically Hermes (identified with Paul because he was the chief speaker) and Zeus (identified with Barnabas). They attempt to offer sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas are horrified and vehemently deny being gods, using the opportunity to preach about the one true God, the Creator. Despite their efforts, they struggle to dissuade the crowd completely.

Following this incident, Jews arrive from Antioch and Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas had previously faced opposition. These Jews incite the crowd in Lystra against Paul. The crowd, easily swayed, stones Paul and leaves him for dead outside the city. However, the disciples gather around him, and he miraculously recovers and returns to the city.

The following day, Paul and Barnabas depart for Derbe, where they make many disciples. After ministering in Derbe, they retrace their steps, returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Pisidia), strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to persevere in the faith, warning them that they must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. They appoint elders in each church and commit them to the Lord, with prayer and fasting.

Finally, Paul and Barnabas travel through Pisidia and Pamphylia, preaching in Perga and Attalia, before sailing back to Antioch (Syria), where they had been commissioned for their work. Upon arriving in Antioch, they gather the church together and report all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. They stay there a considerable time with the disciples.