Acts 14:25 kjv
And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
Acts 14:25 nkjv
Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14:25 niv
and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14:25 esv
And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
Acts 14:25 nlt
They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.
Acts 14 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Preaching the Word (Gospel Proclamation) | ||
| Acts 8:4 | Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. | Believers dispersed, but continued to spread the message. |
| Acts 4:31 | ...they spoke the word of God with boldness. | Boldness in proclaiming God's message. |
| Acts 13:48 | ...and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. | Gospel reaches those ordained for salvation. |
| Rom 10:14 | How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? | Emphasizes necessity of hearing the preached word. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! | Paul's commitment to preaching. |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. | Imperative command to proclaim the Gospel. |
| Mark 16:15 | Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. | The Great Commission. |
| Ps 68:11 | The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it. | God gives the message, people proclaim it. |
| Missionary Movement and Strategic Travel | ||
| Acts 13:13 | Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. | Shows previous passage through Perga without extended stay. |
| Acts 13:4-5 | So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. | Shows initial embarkation for missionary journey. |
| Acts 14:6 | ...they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. | Strategic movement for safety and continued ministry. |
| Acts 15:36 | Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." | Demonstrates return visits to previously preached areas. |
| Phil 1:7 | ...because you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. | Sharing in the spread of the Gospel through travel and support. |
| Prov 16:9 | A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. | Divine guidance in human travel and planning. |
| Ezra 7:9 | ...he began his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. | God's hand guiding a purposeful journey. |
| Conclusion of Ministry / Reporting | ||
| Acts 14:26-28 | And from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed... They reported all that God had done. | Immediate follow-up, showing journey's conclusion and reporting. |
| Acts 15:4 | When they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. | Reporting their activities to the wider church body. |
| Acts 21:19 | And when he had greeted them, he told in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. | Paul consistently reported God's work. |
| Lk 24:47-48 | ...and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. | Command to be witnesses in spreading the Gospel geographically. |
| Rev 22:21 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. | Blessings accompany completed labor for Christ. |
Acts 14 verses
Acts 14 25 Meaning
Acts 14:25 details a specific step in the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. After completing their proclamation of the Gospel message in Perga, a city in Pamphylia, they traveled down to Attalia. This verse signifies the deliberate progression of their evangelistic efforts, marking the conclusion of their active ministry within a particular region and their strategic movement towards the next stage of their journey, which was returning to Antioch.
Acts 14 25 Context
Acts 14:25 marks a pivotal point in the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. It follows a tumultuous but fruitful period of ministry, persecution, and miraculous signs across various cities in Galatia (including Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, as detailed in Acts 14:1-24). Having concluded their evangelistic efforts in the inland regions, particularly following an attempt on Paul's life and his subsequent healing, the missionaries strategically retraced part of their steps, revisiting cities to strengthen the disciples and establish church leadership (Acts 14:21-24).
The verse specifically focuses on their activity in Perga, a city in Pamphylia. Notably, Perga was a city they had passed through at the very beginning of this journey (Acts 13:13) without extensive reported ministry, possibly due to geographical challenges or prior strategic focus. However, on their return journey, they fulfilled their commission by "preaching the word" there, indicating a deliberate and complete effort to ensure the Gospel reached these areas. From Perga, they proceeded to Attalia, a significant port city on the Mediterranean coast. Attalia served as their final point of departure from Asia Minor back to Antioch in Syria, the starting point of their journey. Thus, Acts 14:25 describes a final, deliberate action of ministry and a strategic geographical movement to conclude a significant phase of their groundbreaking missionary work.
Acts 14 25 Word analysis
- And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this action seamlessly to the previous verse (Acts 14:24), which describes their journey through Pisidia to Pamphylia. It highlights the continuous and deliberate nature of their mission.
- when they had preached (κηρύσσω - kēryssō): This verb means "to proclaim as a herald," "to preach," or "to declare." It implies a formal, authoritative, and public declaration of a message. It's not just conversing, but proclaiming divine truth with authority. Its perfect tense ("had preached") indicates a completed action with ongoing results, emphasizing that their ministry in Perga was fulfilled. This implies a thorough evangelistic effort.
- the word (τὸν λόγον - ton logon): Refers to the Gospel message, the divine message of salvation through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, "the Word" often denotes the Person of Christ Himself (Jn 1:1, 14) and the message concerning Him (Acts 6:7, 12:24). Their preaching was centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and its implications for humanity.
- in Perga (ἐν Πέργῃ - en Pergē): Perga was an important city in Pamphylia. Earlier in Acts 13:13, they arrived in Perga from Cyprus, but no ministry activity was recorded then, only that John Mark left them. Their return visit and active "preaching the word" there shows a comprehensive approach to their missionary task, ensuring all designated areas heard the Gospel before their departure.
- they went down (κατέρχομαι - katerchomai): This verb literally means "to come down" or "to go down." Geographically, Perga was inland from the coastal city of Attalia, so traveling there involved a descent in elevation. It also often carries the connotation of moving towards a port or a sea voyage, which aligns perfectly with their next step.
- into Attalia (εἰς Ἀττάλειαν - eis Attaleian): Attalia was a major port city on the coast of Pamphylia, founded by King Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamon. It served as a strategic departure point for sea travel back to Antioch in Syria, their home church. Their movement to Attalia signifies the strategic end-point of this leg of their journey and their preparation for return.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And when they had preached the word in Perga": This phrase highlights the intentionality and thoroughness of their evangelistic mission. It underscores that despite previous encounters with Perga where extensive ministry might not have occurred, they ensured its people heard the full Gospel before moving on. It demonstrates commitment to fulfilling the commission in a specific locale.
- "they went down into Attalia": This describes a geographical and logistical movement crucial for their missionary strategy. It marks the transition from inland ministry to coastal preparation for their return journey. The physical "going down" reinforces the practicality and structured nature of their apostolic travels, often involving strategic use of major ports for transportation.
Acts 14 25 Bonus section
The return route of Paul and Barnabas through Pamphylia, including Perga and Attalia, demonstrates a deliberate strategy different from merely finding the shortest path home. Their decision to revisit and preach in Perga signifies more than just completing a loop; it reveals a missional completeness, ensuring the gospel seed was sown where it might not have been fully established previously. The emphasis on "preached the word" indicates that this was not merely a brief stopover, but a concentrated effort to deliver the full message. This strategic choice reinforces the apostles' dedication to comprehensive evangelism, leaving no significant population center unreached on their route. The journey highlights the interconnectedness of active ministry, purposeful travel, and reporting to the sending community as foundational elements of the apostolic mission pattern.
Acts 14 25 Commentary
Acts 14:25 succinctly details a key transition point in Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. It reveals their systematic approach to evangelism: not just initiating ministry, but ensuring its completion in specific regions. Their preaching in Perga, which they bypassed earlier, underscores a commitment to fulfilling their commission thoroughly. This verse highlights the strategic planning inherent in early Christian missions—moving from inland centers, often hotbeds of initial opposition and establishment of believers, towards coastal ports. Attalia serves as a staging ground for their return to Antioch, where they would report on God's work, providing an essential link between mission and accountability to the sending church. The verse embodies both the fulfillment of local ministry and the strategic logistical preparation for the next phase of the apostles' work.