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Acts 14
Acts 14:1
General Information:
The story of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium continues.
It came about in Iconium that
Possible meanings here are 1) "It happened in Iconium that" or 2) "In Iconium, as usual,"
spoke in such a way
"spoke so powerfully." It may be helpful to state that they spoke the message about Jesus. Alternate translation: "spoke the message about Jesus so powerfully" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Acts 14:2
the Jews who were disobedient
This refers to the portion of the Jews who did not believe the message about Jesus.
stirred up the minds of the Gentiles
Causing the Gentiles to become angry is spoken of as if calm waters were disturbed. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the minds of the Gentiles
Here the word "minds" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "the Gentiles" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
the brothers
Here "brothers" refers to Paul and Barnabas and the new believers.
Acts 14:3
General Information:
Here the words "he," "his," and "He" refer to the Lord.
So they stayed there
"Nevertheless they stayed there." Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium to help the many people who had believed in Acts 14:1. "So" could be omitted if it adds confusion to the text.
gave evidence about the message of his grace
"demonstrated that the message about his grace was true"
about the message of his grace
"about the message of the Lord's grace"
by granting signs and wonders to be done by the hands of Paul and Barnabas
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "by enabling Paul and Barnabas to perform signs and wonders" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
by the hands of Paul and Barnabas
Here "hands" refers to the will and effort of these two men as guided by the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: "by the ministry of Paul and Barnabas" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Acts 14:4
the people of the city were divided
"the people of the city disagreed with each other"
sided with the Jews
"supported the Jews" or "agreed with the Jews." The first group mentioned did not agree with the message about grace.
with the apostles
The second group mentioned agreed with the message about grace. It may be helpful to restate the verb. Alternate translation: "sided with the apostles" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
the apostles
Luke refers to Paul and Barnabas. Here "apostle" might be used in the general sense of "ones sent out."
Acts 14:5
made an attempt to mistreat them
Here the words "made an attempt" implies that they were not able to mistreat Paul and Barnabas before Paul and Barnabas left the city.
to mistreat them and to stone
"to beat Paul and Barnabas and to kill them by throwing stones at them"
Acts 14:6
Lycaonia
A district in Asia Minor (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Lystra
A city in Asia Minor south of Iconium and north of Derbe (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Derbe
A city in Asia Minor south of Iconium and Lystra (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Acts 14:7
General Information:
Here the word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
where they continued to proclaim the gospel
"where Paul and Barnabas continued to proclaim the good news"
Acts 14:8
Connecting Statement:
Paul and Barnabas are now in Lystra.
a certain man sat
This introduces a new person in the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-participants)
powerless in his feet
"unable to move his legs" or "unable to walk on his feet"
a cripple from his mother's womb
"having been born as a cripple"
cripple
person who cannot walk
Acts 14:9
General Information:
The words "him" and "he" refer to the crippled man.
Paul fixed his eyes on him
"Paul looked straight at him"
had faith to be made well
The abstract noun "faith" can be translated with the verb "believe." Alternate translation: "believed that Jesus could heal him" or "believed that Jesus could make him well" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Acts 14:10
he said to him
"Paul said to the crippled man"
jumped up
"leaped in the air." This implies that his legs were completely healed.
Acts 14:11
what Paul had done
This refers to Paul's healing the crippled man.
they raised their voice
To raise the voice is to speak loudly. Alternate translation: "they spoke loudly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
in the dialect of Lycaonia
"in their own Lycaonian language." The people of Lystra spoke Lycaonian and also Greek.
The gods have become like men and come down to us
These people believed that the gods needed to change their appearance in order to look like men. A large number of people believed Paul and Barnabas were their pagan gods who had come down from heaven. Alternate translation: "The gods have come down from heaven to us in the form of men" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Acts 14:12
Zeus
The people of Iconium probably considered Zeus to be the king over all the other pagan gods. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Hermes
The people of Iconium probably considered Hermes to be the pagan god who brought messages to people from Zeus and the other gods. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
leader of the word
"main speaker" or "one who spoke most often"
Acts 14:13
The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought
It may be helpful to include additional information about the priest. Alternate translation: "There was a temple just outside the city where the people worshiped Zeus. When the priest who served in the temple heard what Paul and Barnabas had done, he brought" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
oxen and wreaths
The oxen were to be sacrificed. The wreaths were either to crown Paul and Barnabas, or put on the oxen for sacrifice.
to the gates
The gates of the cities were often used as a meeting place for the people of the city.
wanted to offer sacrifice
"wanted to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as the gods Zeus and Hermes"
Acts 14:14
the apostles, Barnabas and Paul
Luke is here probably using "apostle" in the general sense of "one sent out."
they tore their clothing
This was a symbolic action to show that they were deeply distressed and upset that the crowd wanted to sacrifice to them.
Acts 14:15
Men, why are you doing these things?
Barnabas and Paul are rebuking the people for trying to sacrifice to them. Alternate translation: "Men, you must not do these things!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
doing these things
"worshiping us"
We also are human beings, with the same nature as you
By this statement, Barnabas and Paul are saying that they are not gods. Alternate translation: "We are just human beings like you. We are not gods"
with the same nature as you
"like you in every way"
telling you good news that you should turn
"telling you good news: you can turn" or "giving you good advice to turn." That is, the good news is that they can and should turn.
turn from these useless things to the living God
Here "turn from ... to" is a metaphor meaning to stop doing one thing and start doing something else. Alternate translation: "stop worshiping these false gods that cannot help you, and instead begin to worship the living God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the living God
"the God who truly exists" or "the God who lives"
Acts 14:16
In the past ages
"In previous times" or "Until now"
to walk in their own ways
Walking in a way, or walking on a path, is a metaphor for living one's life. Alternate translation: "to live their lives the way they wanted to" or "to do whatever they wanted to do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Acts 14:17
Connecting Statement:
Paul and Barnabas continue speaking to the crowd outside the city of Lystra (Acts 14:8).
he did not leave himself without witness
This could also be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "God has certainly left a witness" or "God has indeed testified" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)
in that
"as shown by the fact that"
filling your hearts with food and gladness
Here "your hearts" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "giving you enough to eat and things about which to be happy" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Acts 14:18
Paul and Barnabas barely kept the multitudes from sacrificing to them
Paul and Barnabas stopped the multitude from sacrificing to them, but it was difficult to do so.
barely kept
"had difficulty preventing"
Acts 14:19
General Information:
Here the words "he" and "him" refer to Paul.
persuaded the crowds
It my be helpful to explicitly state what they persuaded the crowd to do. Alternate translation: "persuaded the people not to believe Paul and Barnabas, and to turn against them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the crowds
This may not be the same group as the "multitude" in the previous verse. Some time had passed, and this might be a different group that gathered together.
thinking that he was dead
"because they thought that he was already dead"
Acts 14:20
the disciples
These were new believers in the city of Lystra.
entered the city
"Paul re-entered Lystra with the believers"
he went to Derbe with Barnabas
"Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Derbe"
Acts 14:21
General Information:
Here both instances of "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas.
that city
"Derbe" (Acts 14:20)
Acts 14:22
General Information:
Here the words "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas, and the word "We" includes Paul, Barnabas, and the disciples. The word "them" refers to the disciples. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
They kept strengthening the souls of the disciples
Here "souls" refers to the disciples. This emphasizes their inner thoughts and beliefs. Alternate translation: "Paul and Barnabas urged the believers to continue to believe the message about Jesus" or "Paul and Barnabas urged the believers to continue to grow strong in their relationship with Jesus (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
encouraging them to continue in the faith
"encouraging the believers to keep trusting in Jesus"
saying, "We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations."
Some version translate this as an indirect quote, "saying that we must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations." The word "we" here includes Luke and the readers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-quotations and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
We must enter
Paul includes his hearers, so the word "we" is inclusive. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
Acts 14:23
they had appointed for them
"Paul and Barnabas had appointed for the believers"
they entrusted them ... they had believed
Possible meanings are 1) "Paul and Barnabas entrusted the elders they had appointed ... the elders had believed" or 2) "Paul and Barnabas entrusted the elders they had appointed and the other disciples ... the elders and other disciples had believed"
Acts 14:24
General Information:
The word "they" refers to Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 14:25
General Information:
Both instances of "they" refer to Paul and Barnabas.
had spoken the word
"Word" here is a metonym for "message of God." Alternate translation: "had spoken the message of God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
went down to Attalia
The phrase "went down" is used here because Attalia is lower in elevation than Perga.
Acts 14:26
where they had been committed to the grace of God
This can be stated in the active form. Alternate translation: "where believers and leaders in Antioch had committed Paul and Barnabas to the grace of God" or "where the people of Antioch prayed that God would care for and protect Paul and Barnabas"
Acts 14:27
General Information:
Here the words "they," "them," and "They" refer to Paul and Barnabas. The word "he" refers to God.
gathered the church together
"called the local believers to meet together"
he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles
God's enabling the Gentiles to believe is spoken of as if he had opened a door that had prevented them from entering into faith. Alternate translation: "God had made it possible for the Gentiles to believe" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Acts 14:28
General Information:
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