Acts 14:21

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, AND WHEN THEY HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY, AND HAD TAUGHT MANY - rather 'had made disciples of a considerable number' [ matheeteusantes (G3100) hikanous (G2425)]. It is a pity that our version (following the Vulgate) has not observed the important distinction between the two words used in Matthew 28:19 - the one for 'making disciples,' the other for "teaching" the disciples so made. That distinction is carefully observed in this book. The former word is used here; nor could the other have properly been used where the Gospel wa...

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 great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it. All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. The grace of God, and nothing less, effectually establishes the souls of the disciples. It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is en...

Verse Acts 14:21. _PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY_] Derbe, a city in the same province. Acts 14:6. _THEY RETURNED AGAIN TO LYSTRA, AND_ TO _ICONIUM_] Behold the _courage_ of these Christian men! They counted not their lives dear to them, and returned to do their Masters work in the _very_ _places_ in which they had been so grievously persecuted, and where one of them had been apparently stoned to death! The man who knows he is God's ambassador, and that his life depends on his fidelity to his Master, knows he has nothing but his God to _fear_....

HAD TAUGHT MANY - Or, rather, had made many disciples (margin). TO LYSTRA - Acts 14:6. AND TO ICONIUM - Acts 14:1. We have here a remarkable instance of the courage of the apostles. In these very places they had been persecuted and stoned, and yet in the face of danger they ventured to return. The welfare of the infant churches they deemed of more consequence than their own safety; and they threw themselves again into the midst of danger, to comfort and strengthen those just converted to God. There are times when ministers should not count their own lives. dear to them Acts 20:24, but when they should fearlessly throw themse

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 synagogue. SO SPAKE, etc. This illustrates the statement in Romans 10:17, that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." ACTS 14:2 _The Jews that were disobedient _for _the unbelieving Jews, _A.V. and T.R.; _stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them, _etc., for _stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds, _etc., A.V. The Jews that were disobedien

AND WHEN THEY HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY,.... To the inhabitants of it, as they did in every place where they came, even the pure Gospel of Christ, the good news, and glad tidings of life and salvation by him: AND HAD TAUGHT MANY; or made them disciples, their ministry being blessed to bring many to the faith of Christ: THEY RETURNED AGAIN TO LYSTRA; where Paul had been stoned: AND TO ICONIUM; where both Jews and Gentiles, and the magistrates of the city, had attempted to use them ill, and to stone them: AND ANTIOCH; that is, in Pisidia, as before; where a persecution was raised against them, and from the coasts of which place they were expelled; so fearless were they of danger, and so zealous to promote the interest of Christ, and the good of souls....

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 (Acts 14:19). 4. The Return to Antioch (Acts 14:25). Iconium was a Phrygian town, bordering on Lycaonia. Here again the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles. They abode there a long time, and in spite of opposition and persecution they spoke with much boldness the Word of God. Signs and wonders were also done by their hands. When their lives were threatened by the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, they fled to Lystra and Der

CLOSE OF THE FIRST TOUR. The places already visited are now taken in the reverse order, but no further information is given about them. Acts 14:23. An appointment of elders is made (_cf._ Titus 1:5) in each church; the institution takes place in each case with prayer and fasting. The word translated appointed (AV ordained) denotes strictly a popular election by voting (_cf._ 2 Corinthians 8:19; _Didaché,_ xv. 1), though it may also be used of cases where there is no popular vote. The elder is in Titus also called bishop: he is a local functionary, with no duties except to his own church. In Acts 11:30 the elders at

ON TO ICONIUM (Acts 14:1-7)...

WHEN THEY HAD. having. HAD TAUGHT. having made disciples of. Greek. _matheteuo._ Only here, Matthew 13:52; Matthew 27:57; Matthew 28:19....