And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Parallel translations
- WEB When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
- BSB They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
- NKJV And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
- NASB And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made a good number of disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,
- NLT After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After making many disciples in Derbe, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. The missionaries cared not only to win converts but to strengthen them.
Overview
Rather than press on to safety, they courageously returned to the very cities where they had been persecuted in order to establish the new believers. Evangelism for them included follow-up and discipleship, not merely initial conversion. This return journey models pastoral responsibility for the churches the gospel creates.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 13:51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
- Acts 14:1And 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.
- Acts 14:19And 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.
- Acts 13:14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
- Matt 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Acts 14:6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
- 2 Tim 3:11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
- Acts 15:36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
- Acts 14:8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
- Acts 16:2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 14:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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