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The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
Acts 14:4 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
  • KJV But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
  • NKJV But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
  • NASB But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, while others, with the apostles.
  • NLT But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

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

The city split, some siding with the unbelieving Jews and some with the apostles. The gospel inevitably divides people in their response.

Overview

Jesus had said He came to bring division as people respond to Him (Luke 12:51), and that division now appears in Iconium. Luke calls Paul and Barnabas 'apostles' here, a term he uses for them as commissioned messengers of the church (Acts 13:2-3). The split sets the stage for the violent attempt that follows.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Acts 28:24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
  • Acts 14:14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
  • Acts 19:9But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
  • Acts 17:4–5Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
  • Luke 11:21–23When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
  • Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
  • Luke 12:51–53Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
  • Matt 10:34–36Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
  • Mic 7:6For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
  • Luke 2:34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
  • John 7:43So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.
  • 1 Cor 9:5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 14:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 14:4 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.