1Now it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. [14:2] But the disobedient Jews stirred up and harmed the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. [14:3] A long time therefore they stayed, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands. [14:4] Now the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles. [14:5] When then there was a rush of both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to mistreat and stone them, [14:6] having become aware of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia — Lystra and Derbe — and the surrounding region. [14:7] And there they were proclaiming the good news.
ACT 14:1-7
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
In the world it was spoken into
In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue, a central institution for Jewish communal life and worship, where they addressed both Jews and Gentiles. The synagogue was a place where Gentiles sympathetic to Judaism (God-fearers) often gathered, creating a mixed audience. Paul’s message, rooted in the Jewish Scriptures, appealed to this diverse group, leading many to believe. However, the Jewish leaders who rejected the message responded by inciting the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. This reflects the honor-shame dynamics of the 1st-century Mediterranean world, where public opposition was a way to discredit rivals. The division in the city mirrors the broader societal tensions between Jewish and Gentile communities, exacerbated by competing claims about Jesus. Paul’s boldness in speaking, despite opposition, aligns with the Greco-Roman ideal of courageous public discourse. The signs and wonders performed by Paul and Barnabas would have been understood as divine validation of their message, a common expectation in both Jewish and Gentile contexts.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 14:1
- 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.
- BSB
- At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
- Koinōnos
- Now it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
ACT 14:2
- KJV
- But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
- BSB
- But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
- Koinōnos
- But the disobedient Jews stirred up and harmed the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.
ACT 14:3
- 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.
- BSB
- So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
- Koinōnos
- A long time therefore they stayed, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.
ACT 14:4
- KJV
- But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
- BSB
- The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
- Koinōnos
- Now the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
ACT 14:5
- 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,
- BSB
- But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,
- Koinōnos
- When then there was a rush of both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to mistreat and stone them,
ACT 14:6
- KJV
- They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
- BSB
- they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,
- Koinōnos
- having become aware of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia — Lystra and Derbe — and the surrounding region.
ACT 14:7
- KJV
- And there they preached the gospel.
- BSB
- where they continued to preach the gospel.
- Koinōnos
- And there they were proclaiming the good news.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.1
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.1
“But now Pilate, the procurator of Judea, removed the army from Cæsarea to Jerusalem, to take their winter quarters there, in order to abolish the Jewish laws.”
Cited to ground: Pilate, the procurator of Judea
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.2
“Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem.”
Cited to ground: Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1
“And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator”
Cited to ground: Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator
Translator's notes
ACT 14:1
- Greeks:The word translated 'Greeks' here refers to non-Jews, often those who had adopted Greek culture and language, rather than exclusively people from Greece.
ACT 14:2
- they poisoned:The term translated 'they poisoned' means to treat badly or to harm, often with the implication of malicious intent, rather than literally administering poison.
- minds:The word translated 'minds' often refers to the whole person, including their life, soul, and inner being, not just intellectual faculties.
ACT 14:3
- speaking boldly:The phrase 'speaking boldly' implies speaking with freedom, openness, and confidence, often in a public setting and sometimes despite opposition.