Acts 14: Mistaken for Gods, Faithful Through Suffering
Paul and Barnabas preach, are wrongly worshiped, and endure hardship for the gospel.
Acts 14 (WEB)
1 In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
2 But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.
3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
6 they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.
7 There they preached the Good News.
8 At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
9 He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.
11 When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.
13 The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out,
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
16 who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.
19 But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20 But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
24 They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27 When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
28 They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.
Acts 14 (KJV)
1 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.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 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.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 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,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
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,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Acts 14 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
2 But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long time therefore they tarried [there] speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,
6 they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:
7 and there they preached the gospel.
8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.
11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
13 And the priest of Jupiter whose [temple] was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out
15 and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
16 who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17 And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.
19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
24 And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;
26 and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.
Summary
In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas speak boldly until a threat forces them to flee. In Lystra, after Paul heals a man unable to walk, the crowd mistakes the two for gods and tries to offer sacrifices, which they urgently refuse, redirecting all worship to the living God. Soon the mood turns, and Paul is stoned and left for dead — yet he gets up and continues. On their return journey they strengthen the disciples, appoint leaders, and remind them that entering God's kingdom comes through many hardships.
Main Characters
- Paul — Heals a lame man, refuses worship, and endures being stoned for the gospel.
- Barnabas — Travels and ministers alongside Paul, also refusing the crowd's worship.
- The crowd at Lystra — First mistake the missionaries for gods, then turn against them.
Key Verse
Acts 14:22 (WEB)
confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.
Lessons Learned
- Faithful servants direct praise toward God rather than themselves.
- Popularity can be fickle and is not a measure of faithfulness.
- Following Jesus often includes hardship and perseverance.
- Strengthening and equipping new believers is vital work.
- Boldness sustained by God's confirmation. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time, speaking boldly while God testified to their message through signs and wonders, showing that courage in ministry is upheld by God himself (Acts 14:3, WEB).
- Glory belongs to God alone. When the Lystra crowd tried to worship them as gods, Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and urgently redirected all honor to the living Creator, setting a permanent pattern for how servants of God must handle praise (Acts 14:14–15, WEB).
- Suffering does not disqualify a calling. Paul rose from a stoning that left him presumed dead and walked back into the same city, demonstrating that physical hardship cannot cancel a God-given mission (Acts 14:19–20, WEB).
- Honest preparation for the cost of discipleship. On the return journey Paul and Barnabas taught new believers plainly that entering God's kingdom comes through many afflictions, modeling the importance of truthful, unsentimental encouragement (Acts 14:22, WEB).
- Structured leadership enables lasting growth. By appointing elders in every assembly and commending them to the Lord through prayer and fasting, the missionaries ensured that communities of faith could endure and flourish beyond the pioneers' presence (Acts 14:23, WEB).
- Accountability and testimony strengthen the whole church. Returning to their sending church and reporting all that God had done with them kept the broader community informed, grateful, and invested in the mission's continuation (Acts 14:27, WEB).
- Why do Paul and Barnabas react so strongly to being worshiped?
- How quickly does the crowd's attitude change, and what does that teach us?
- What does Paul's perseverance after being stoned reveal about him?
- Why is it important to appoint leaders and encourage new disciples?
- How do you stay grounded when others' opinions of you shift?
- Paul and Barnabas reacted so strongly because accepting worship would have been a direct offense against God and a fundamental lie about who they were. They tore their clothes — a sign of grief and horror — and declared, "We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God" (Acts 14:14–15, WEB). To receive the honor due God alone would have destroyed the very message they came to deliver.
- The shift was almost immediate: the same crowd that was preparing animal sacrifices to honor them (Acts 14:13, WEB) was then persuaded by visiting Jews to stone Paul and drag him out of the city as dead (Acts 14:19, WEB). This teaches us that popular approval is an unreliable and fragile foundation — faithfulness to God, not the crowd's applause, must be the anchor of ministry and personal identity.
- Paul's getting up and re-entering the same city where he had just been stoned reveals a faith that did not calculate personal safety as the primary concern (Acts 14:20, WEB). It shows a man convinced that his life and mission were in God's hands, not the crowd's, and that the work was worth any cost — an embodiment of the very message he would later preach about entering the kingdom through many afflictions (Acts 14:22, WEB).
- New disciples are vulnerable to discouragement, false teaching, and isolation without ongoing support and leadership. Paul and Barnabas returned to confirm the believers, exhort them to persevere in faith, and appoint elders who could provide ongoing care in every assembly (Acts 14:21–23, WEB). Appointing leaders ensures that a community's health does not depend on any one traveling missionary but on a rooted, local structure accountable to God.
- Look for answers that identify a specific anchor — scripture, prayer, community, a settled sense of identity in Christ — rather than simply managing the emotions of shifting opinions. A helpful touchstone from this chapter is Paul's example: his conduct did not change whether the crowd was worshiping him or stoning him. Invite the group to reflect on Galatians 1:10 — "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?" — as a companion to Acts 14.