Acts Chapter 14 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Acts Chapter 14

1In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went together into the synagogue of the Jews. They spoke there, and a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks believed.

2But the Jews who did not believe stirred up the Gentiles, and turned their minds against the brothers.

3So they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The Lord gave witness to the word of his grace, and let signs and wonders be done by their hands.

4But the people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5Then the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their rulers, made an attack on them, to treat them shamefully and to stone them.

6But the apostles found out about it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the country round about.

7And there they preached the gospel.

8At Lystra there was a man sitting who had no strength in his feet. He had been lame since he was born, and had never walked.

9This man heard Paul speak. Paul looked straight at him, and saw that he had faith to be healed.

10He said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." And the man jumped up and walked.

11When the people saw what Paul had done, they shouted out in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us, looking like men."

12They called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul they called Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13Then the priest of Jupiter, whose temple stood in front of their city, brought oxen and flower garlands to the gates. He and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice.

14When the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out,

15"Sirs, why are you doing these things? We are only men, with the same feelings as you. We preach to you that you should turn from these empty things to the living God. He made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and everything in them."

16"In times past he allowed all nations to walk in their own ways."

17"Yet he did not leave himself without a witness. He did good, and gave you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled your hearts with food and gladness."

18Even with these words they could hardly stop the people from offering a sacrifice to them.

19Then some Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium. They won the crowd over, and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead.

20But as the disciples stood round him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

21When they had preached the gospel in that city and had taught many people, they went back again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch.

22They strengthened the souls of the disciples, and urged them to continue in the faith. They said, "We must go through much trouble to enter the kingdom of God."

23In every church they appointed elders for them. Then they prayed with fasting, and gave them into the care of the Lord, in whom they had believed.

24After they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25When they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26From there they sailed to Antioch. That was where they had been given over to the grace of God for the work which they had now finished.

27When they arrived, they gathered the church together. They told them everything that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

28And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.

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Explanation

Acts 14

In short

Paul and Barnabas preach across several cities in Asia Minor, seeing people believe but facing opposition from hostile crowds and authorities. After being nearly killed, they retrace their path to strengthen the new churches they have started, then report back to the church that sent them about how God is now opening salvation to non-Jewish people.

Context

This chapter continues Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas, after they left Cyprus and landed on the mainland. They are moving through cities in the region called Lycaonia, starting in Iconium. Jewish and Gentile crowds hear them in synagogues and public places. Opposition builds in each place, pushing them from one city to the next.

What the text says

In Iconium (verses 1-4), Paul and Barnabas speak in the synagogue and many believe, both Jews and Greeks. But unbelieving Jews turn others against them. The apostles stay long and speak boldly; God confirms their message through signs and wonders. The city divides, some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles.

A plot forms to assault and stone them (verse 5), so they flee to Lystra and Derbe (verse 6) and preach there (verse 7). At Lystra, Paul heals a man crippled from birth who had never walked (verses 8-10). The crowd, speaking their own language, interprets this as gods appearing in human form. They call Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, because Paul was the chief speaker (verses 11-12). The local priest brings oxen to sacrifice to them (verse 13). The apostles tear their clothes in horror and tell the people to turn from these vanities to the living God who made all things (verses 14-15). God has allowed nations their own way but left witness through good things: rain, fruitful seasons, food, and gladness (verses 16-17). They barely stop the people from sacrificing (verse 18).

Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive, persuade the crowd, stone Paul, and drag him out, supposing him dead (verse 19). But he rises and returns to the city (verse 20). After preaching in Derbe, he and Barnabas return to the cities where they had been attacked, strengthening disciples and teaching that entering God's kingdom requires tribulation (verses 20-22). They appoint elders in every church with prayer and fasting (verse 23). They travel through Pisidia and Pamphylia and return by ship to Antioch in Syria (verses 24-26). They gather the church and report all God did with them, how He opened faith's door to the Gentiles (verses 27-28).

Takeaways

Opposition to the gospel comes not from outsiders alone but often from Jewish leaders who actively work against it.
God's power to heal moves people to worship, yet the apostles refuse such worship and redirect it to God alone.
The good things people experience, like food and seasons, testify to God's existence even where the gospel has not yet arrived.

Acts 14 - Simple English