This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
Parallel translations
- WEB He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
- KJV The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
- NKJV This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
- NASB This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul looked at him intently and saw that he had faith to be made well,
- NLT and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed.
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 man listened to Paul, who saw that he had faith to be healed. God grants both the message and the faith to receive its blessing.
Overview
The man's faith arose as he heard Paul preach, illustrating that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Paul, discerning this faith, fixed his eyes on him, recognizing God's work already underway. The healing flows from faith awakened by the gospel, not from the man's own initiative apart from the word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 15:28“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
- Acts 3:4Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter.
- Matt 9:28–29After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
- Matt 8:10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
- Matt 9:22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.
- Mark 9:23–24“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”
- Mark 1:40–41Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Mark 2:5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
- Mark 10:52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
- Mark 2:11–12“I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
- Matt 13:58And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 14:9 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.