Acts 14 20

Acts 14:20 kjv

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.

Acts 14:20 nkjv

However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:20 niv

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Acts 14:20 esv

But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:20 nlt

But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 20 Meaning

Acts 14:20 describes a powerful and immediate turn of events following Paul's severe stoning in Lystra. After being left for dead outside the city, supposedly lifeless, Paul miraculously "rose up." This immediate and supernatural recovery, witnessed by his newly formed community of disciples, underscores divine intervention and power. Following this incredible event, he demonstrated extraordinary courage by re-entering the very city from which he had just been dragged, perhaps as a testimony to his attackers. Without delay, the very next day, he and Barnabas pressed onward in their missionary journey, demonstrating unwavering commitment to their calling despite immense suffering and peril. The verse highlights God's protection, Paul's resilience, and the relentless advance of the Gospel.

Acts 14 20 Context

Acts chapter 14 describes the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas in the region of Lycaonia. After facing fierce opposition and a miraculous healing in Iconium, they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia. In Lystra, Paul healed a man lame from birth, causing the local people, steeped in their pagan beliefs, to mistakenly identify Paul and Barnabas as gods (Zeus and Hermes) and attempt to offer sacrifices to them. Paul vehemently corrected their error, pointing them to the living God who made heaven and earth. Despite this initial acceptance, Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who had been hostile to Paul's message, followed them to Lystra and incited the crowd. They successfully stirred up the people, turning their reverence into rage. As a result, Paul was stoned, dragged outside the city, and left for dead. Acts 14:20 immediately follows this horrific event, depicting his incredible recovery and resolute continuation of their divine mission, setting the stage for their continued journey to Derbe and later their return visit to strengthens the nascent churches.

Acts 14 20 Word analysis

• Howbeit (Δε - De): This conjunction introduces a sharp contrast and highlights the miraculous. Despite the dire situation of Paul being stoned and presumed dead (implied from the preceding verse), a remarkable event unfolded. It signifies a pivotal turn, often introducing something contrary to what would be expected, drawing attention to divine intervention.
• as the disciples (μαθηταί - mathētai): Refers to the new believers in Lystra, those who had heard the Gospel and responded to Paul's preaching. Their presence indicates a newly established Christian community, however small. They gathered around Paul, reflecting their immediate care, sorrow, and perhaps hope or despair, as they saw their spiritual leader in a grievous state.
• stood round about him (κυκλώσαντες - kyklōsantes): From kyklō (to encircle). This depicts them forming a circle around Paul's prostrate body. It implies a concerned and probably mournful vigil, consistent with someone presumed dead. They were not scattered by fear, but rallied in care and devotion to their leader.
• he rose up (ἀναστὰς - anastas): This aorist active participle of anistēmi is the central, most striking part of the verse. Anistēmi often refers to resurrection (e.g., Jesus' resurrection from the dead, used in Luke 24:7, Acts 10:41). While Paul was not "dead" in the sense of having his spirit depart completely and then return, his recovery was clearly beyond natural explanation after such a severe stoning. It was an immediate, supernaturally enabled standing up from what would have been a fatal blow, highlighting divine power protecting His servant for His purposes. It points to God's intervention, preventing his natural death.
• and came into the city (εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν - eiselthēn eis tēn polin): This demonstrates astonishing courage and lack of fear. To re-enter the very city where he was brutally attacked and left for dead shows Paul's spiritual conviction, bold trust in God, and unwavering focus on his mission rather than his own safety or comfort. It was a powerful, silent testimony to those who attacked him that the power of God was greater than their malice.
• and the next day (τῇ ἐπαύριον - tē epaurion): Signifies an immediate continuation of their journey, with no reported period of recovery, weakness, or fear-induced delay. This emphasizes Paul's swift restoration to full vigor and his relentless commitment to the work of the Gospel.
• he departed (ἐξῆλθεν - exēlthen): He "went out" of Lystra, continuing their travels. This word simply describes his onward movement from the city.
• with Barnabas (σὺν τῷ Βαρνάβᾳ - syn tō Barnaba): Barnabas, his loyal companion, remained by his side throughout this ordeal, emphasizing the importance of partnership and fellowship in missionary work, especially during times of intense persecution.
• to Derbe (εἰς Δέρβην - eis Derbēn): Their pre-planned next destination on their journey. This demonstrates their methodical approach to mission, pressing on with the spread of the Gospel, unhindered by severe opposition.

Words-group analysis

• Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him: This phrase powerfully contrasts the profound care and sorrow of the new believers with Paul's subsequent supernatural revival. It paints a picture of a newly formed church grieving for its founder, creating an impactful setup for the miracle that follows.
• he rose up, and came into the city: This describes Paul's immediate, divinely enabled recovery and his extraordinary courage. The speed and method of his "rising" implies a miraculous intervention, directly contradicting the expectation that he was dead. His subsequent act of re-entering the city defies all conventional caution, underlining his bold faith and conviction.
• and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe: This shows Paul's resolute determination and physical capacity after such trauma. The absence of a convalescence period, coupled with his prompt departure, signals his utter reliance on God's strength and his unwavering commitment to completing the mission entrusted to him. It's a testament to the fact that God not only saves but also sustains and empowers for further service.

Acts 14 20 Bonus section

This incident at Lystra, being one of the most severe persecutions Paul endured (which he later explicitly mentions in 2 Cor 11:25 and 2 Tim 3:11), profoundly shaped his apostolic authority and served as a tangible proof of God's powerful protection. His very survival and immediate return to ministry defied all natural expectations and highlighted that his work was genuinely empowered and directed by the Divine. The "marks of Jesus" that Paul refers to later (Gal 6:17) would have undoubtedly included the physical scars from this brutal stoning, serving as enduring testaments to his suffering for Christ and his authenticity as an apostle. Furthermore, Paul's actions here establish a pattern for resilience in ministry: when God closes one door, He immediately opens another, and His servants are empowered to move through it without hesitation, embodying the "power made perfect in weakness."

Acts 14 20 Commentary

Acts 14:20 is a powerful testament to the sovereignty of God over persecution and His sustaining power for His servants. The immediate transformation from Paul being "left for dead" to "rising up" speaks of a direct divine intervention, akin to a resurrection experience, preparing him for continued service. This was not a slow recovery, but an immediate re-energizing, emphasizing that his ministry was ordained and protected by God. Paul's act of re-entering the hostile city from which he was brutally expelled shows incredible spiritual courage and demonstrates that the Gospel cannot be suppressed by violence; it acts as a bold declaration against those who opposed the message. His departure for Derbe the very next day, without pause, vividly illustrates his total dedication to the commission of spreading the Gospel. This verse encapsulates the themes of divine power amidst human weakness, the unwavering commitment of early missionaries, and the unstoppable advance of God's kingdom even in the face of brutal opposition. It is a profound display of perseverance, reminding believers that even extreme suffering cannot derail God's plans or prevent His chosen instruments from fulfilling their purpose.