Acts 14:3
Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.
The word of His grace is synonymous with the gospel of grace; see entry for Acts 20:24.
Acts 14:7
and there they continued to preach the gospel.
The gospel refers to the gospel of Christ or the gospel of God or the gospel of the kingdom. These are all different labels for the gospel of grace. See entry for The Gospel.
Acts 14:15
and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.
(a) The gospel refers to the gospel of Christ or the gospel of God or the gospel of the kingdom. These are all different labels for the gospel of grace. See entry for The Gospel.
(b) Turn…to a living God. In the new covenant, repentance is often described as a return or turning to God (see entry for Acts 26:20).
Acts 14:19
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
(a) Antioch. That is Psidian Antioch, rather than Syrian Antioch, where Paul had recently been (Acts 13:14).
(b) Iconium. In Iconium, the Jews plotted to stone Paul (Acts 14:5). When Paul escaped, they followed him to Lystra and stoned him there.
Acts 14:20
But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
He went away. Perhaps no one faced more persecution than the Apostle Paul and his standard response was to walk away.
Stoned and left for dead in Lystra, Paul picked himself and went to Derbe (Acts 14:19–20). Beaten with rods and imprisoned in Philippi, he left shortly after (Acts 16:22–40). When hounded by Judaizers in Berea and Ephesus, Paul upped stakes and moved on (Acts 17:13–15, 20:1). Paul was no coward, but when facing persecution he typically walked away. He endured, stayed alive, and kept preaching, just as the Lord had instructed (see entry for Matt. 10:23).
Acts 14:21
After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
(a) The gospel refers to the gospel of Christ or the gospel of God or the gospel of the kingdom. These are all different labels for the gospel of grace. See entry for The Gospel.
(b) Made many disciples. The original verb mathēteuō means “to teach.” A literal translation is, “they taught many.”
(c) Antioch; see entry for Acts 11:19.
Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
(a) Continue in the faith. To continue in the faith is to continue trusting in Jesus. As you have received Christ Jesus (by faith), so walk in him (by faith; see Col. 2:6).
In the New Testament we are exhorted to continue in God’s kindness (Rom. 11:22), continue in the faith (Col. 1:23), continue in the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9), and continue in what we have learned and been convinced of (2 Tim 3:14). In short, we are to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).
Every Christian knows what it means to begin with the grace of God but not every Christian continues in the grace of God. The temptation to take out a little works insurance is strong in a culture where performance is idolized.
One sign that you are not continuing in the faith is that you are more conscious of your lack than you are of the Lord’s supply. You may think, I’m not holy enough, righteous enough, or fruitful enough. Paul corrects this misperception by reminding us “in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (Col. 2:10).
How do you continue in the faith? By recognizing that in Christ you lack no good thing. In Christ, you are as righteous and holy as he is and you are eternally pleasing to God.
Further reading: “Continue in the faith”
(b) “The faith” is another name for the gospel of Christ; see entry for Acts 6:7.
(c) Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Those who follow Jesus can expect trials and tribulations in this world (John 15:20). More than most, Paul knew the truth of this statement (Eph. 3:13, 2 Cor. 11:24–27).
(d) Tribulations are troubles such as arise from persecution, imprisonment and martyrdom (Matt. 24:9, Eph. 3:13, Rev. 1:9, 2:9).
(e) The kingdom of God is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven; see entry for Matt. 3:2.
Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Elders. An elder or overseer is responsible for shepherding the church. See entry for 1 Tim. 5:17.
Acts 14:28
And they spent a long time with the disciples.
Disciples. The first Christians called themselves disciples or followers, which was a holdover from the time when people followed Jesus. However, none of the New Testament epistle writers used this word. See entry for Acts 6:1.
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