Acts 14 3

Acts 14:3 kjv

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.

Acts 14:3 nkjv

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Acts 14:3 niv

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

Acts 14:3 esv

So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Acts 14:3 nlt

But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 3 Meaning

Acts 14:3 describes the extended ministry of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium, characterized by their audacious proclamation of the Lord's message. Their boldness in speaking for the Lord was empowered and authenticated by God Himself, who supernaturally affirmed "the word of His grace" by performing signs and wonders through their hands. This divine attestation validated their ministry and the truthfulness of the message they preached.

Acts 14 3 Context

Acts chapter 14 opens with Paul and Barnabas arriving in Iconium after their successful but conflict-ridden ministry in Antioch of Pisidia. Immediately upon arrival, they went into the synagogue, demonstrating their consistent pattern of reaching out to Jewish communities first, then Gentiles. Their preaching quickly led to a great number of both Jews and Greeks believing (Acts 14:1). However, the verse also notes that unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the apostles (Acts 14:2), mirroring the opposition they faced previously. Verse 3 serves as an explanation for why Paul and Barnabas did not immediately leave in the face of this adversity, but rather stayed "a long time." Their extended stay was due to their audacious proclamation of the message and, crucially, because the Lord Himself affirmed their message through demonstrable supernatural power, confirming that their words were indeed from Him. This dynamic—boldness in the face of opposition, supported by divine validation—is key to understanding the resilience and effectiveness of their ministry.

Acts 14 3 Word analysis

• Therefore: Greek: οὖν (oun). A conjunction indicating consequence or continuation. It links their decision to stay and preach boldly to the previously mentioned opposition (Acts 14:2), suggesting that despite or even because of the opposition, they intensified their ministry rather than fleeing.
• they spent a long time there: Greek: ἱκανόν (hikanon) χρόνον (chronon) διέτριψαν (dietripsan).
  • ἱκανόν (hikanon): "sufficient," "adequate," "considerable," or "a long time." It suggests a duration significant enough to establish deep roots, form converts, and incur sustained opposition.
  • χρόνον (chronon): "time."
  • διέτριψαν (dietripsan): From διατρίβω (diatribō), meaning "to rub through," "to spend time," "to stay." It conveys a deliberate, persistent residency.
  This phrase emphasizes their determined commitment despite threats, highlighting their perseverance.
• speaking boldly: Greek: παρρησιαζόμενοι (parrēsiazomenoi). From παρρησιάζομαι (parrēsiazomai), meaning "to speak freely," "to speak openly," "to speak with boldness or confidence." It denotes a courageous, fearless proclamation, without concealment or hesitation, often in the face of hostility. This is a recurring theme in Acts, highlighting apostolic courage granted by the Holy Spirit.
• for the Lord: Greek: ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ (epi tō Kyriō).
  • ἐπὶ (epi): "on," "at," "by," often indicating reliance or direction. Here it means "in reliance on the Lord" or "as empowered by the Lord."
  • Κυρίῳ (Kyriō): "Lord." Refers to Jesus Christ, the sovereign master, but also encompasses God the Father. It signifies that their authority, message, and power came from God.
  This phrase underlines that their boldness was not human bravado but Spirit-empowered confidence in divine authority.
• who bore witness: Greek: ἐπιμαρτυροῦντος (epimartyrountos). From ἐπιμαρτυρέω (epimartyreō), "to bear witness fully," "to confirm," "to certify." This word emphasizes the strong, affirmative testimony given by the Lord Himself. It's a continuous action (present participle), meaning God was continuously confirming their message.
• to the word of His grace: Greek: τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος (tō logō tēs charitos).
  • λόγῳ (logō): "word," "message," "account," "gospel." Here, it refers to the content of their preaching.
  • τῆς χάριτος (tēs charitos): "of grace," from χάρις (charis), "grace," divine favor, undeserved blessing, God's benevolence towards humanity. This defines the core nature of their gospel message—salvation is a free gift from God, not earned by human merit or law.
  The phrase "word of His grace" summarizes the New Testament gospel as divine favor leading to salvation. It contrasts sharply with legalistic or merit-based systems, including certain interpretations of the Mosaic Law prevalent in their audience. It's a polemical statement against any belief system that diminishes the sole role of divine grace in salvation.
• granting: Greek: διδόντι (didonti). From δίδωμι (didōmi), "to give," "to grant." Indicates the Lord's active bestowal and initiation of the miraculous works.
• signs: Greek: σημεῖα (sēmeia). "Signs," observable occurrences pointing to a deeper truth or divine reality. They attest to God's presence and power, validating the messengers and their message.
• and wonders: Greek: τέρατα (terata). "Wonders," "portents." Miraculous events that evoke astonishment or awe, often connected to a sense of divine intervention. Paired with "signs," it denotes a supernatural manifestation for authenticating purposes.
• to be done: Greek: γίνεσθαι (ginesthai). "To happen," "to occur," "to come into being," "to be performed." Implies God bringing these acts into existence.
• by their hands: Greek: διὰ τῶν χειρῶν (dia tōn cheirōn).
  • διὰ (dia): "through," indicating means or instrument.
  • τῶν χειρῶν (tōn cheirōn): "the hands." This signifies that Paul and Barnabas were the instruments through whom God worked, not the source of the power. It highlights God's agency while demonstrating His partnership with His chosen servants.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly for the Lord: This entire phrase showcases the apostles' unwavering commitment. "Therefore" points to the reason: the Jewish opposition of v.2, which, counter-intuitively, led them to persevere rather than retreat. Their "long time" stay emphasizes tenacity. "Speaking boldly for the Lord" highlights their courage was derived from their faith and reliance on Christ, not mere human bravery. This portrays them as reliant instruments of divine will, empowered to confront spiritual opposition.
• who bore witness to the word of His grace: This critical phrase reveals the divine agency behind the apostles' ministry. The Lord Himself, through continuous action ("bore witness" - present participle), authenticated their proclamation. The content of their message, "the word of His grace," is paramount. This emphasizes that the core of the gospel is God's undeserved favor, contrasting any merit-based systems common in the pagan or Jewish religious contexts of Iconium. This was the specific message God was validating.
• granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands: This clarifies how God bore witness. The miraculous "signs and wonders" (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα, a common biblical coupling) were God's active provision. They were not arbitrary but purposeful demonstrations of divine power designed to confirm the preached word. The phrase "by their hands" stresses that Paul and Barnabas were simply vessels; the power originated with God. This divine validation was crucial for credibility, especially in a city steeped in pagan deities and miracle claims, showing the true power of the Christian God.

Acts 14 3 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of human "boldness" and divine "bearing witness" is a critical theological concept in Acts. It highlights the synergistic partnership between human evangelistic effort and God's sovereign confirmation. The signs and wonders were not primarily for the physical benefit of the recipients but for the spiritual conviction of the observers, underscoring the truth of the gospel. The constant opposition faced by Paul and Barnabas, even amidst genuine conversions, underlines the spiritual battle inherent in advancing God's kingdom. Iconium, like other cities, represented a diverse mix of Jewish and Gentile cultures, often syncretistic in their religious practices. The "word of His grace" would have directly challenged local pagan polytheism and any form of works-righteousness, proclaiming salvation exclusively through Christ.

Acts 14 3 Commentary

Acts 14:3 concisely illustrates the supernatural dynamism of apostolic ministry. Despite emerging opposition in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas chose to extend their stay, demonstrating unwavering courage rooted in reliance on the Lord. This bold proclamation of "the word of His grace" was the true gospel message, emphasizing God's free and undeserved favor as the path to salvation. Crucially, their message was not a mere human persuasive effort but was divinely authenticated. God actively bore witness to His own word by performing genuine signs and wonders through their hands. These miracles were not random displays of power but served a specific theological purpose: to validate the divine origin of the message and the divine commissioning of the messengers, convincing audiences that God was indeed speaking through Paul and Barnabas and that the gospel of grace was true.