Acts 14:19
What does Acts 14:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:19 means
Hostile Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive and, persuading the crowd, incite them to stone Paul. The same people ready to honor him as a god now drag him outside the city, supposing him dead. This reversal exposes the fickleness of popular opinion and the power of agitators. It also displays the cost of apostolic ministry: bearing the wounds of Christ’s mission. Paul’s suffering authenticates his message; he is not a charlatan seeking worship but a servant willing to endure violence. The scene underscores that gospel advance often comes through tribulation, not triumphalism, and that God’s servants are sustained through peril.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But some Jews came to that place from Antioch and Iconium, and got control over the people; and after stoning Paul, they had him pulled out of the town, taking him for dead.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And there came thither, from Antioch and Iconium, Jews, and they having persuaded the multitudes, and having stoned Paul, drew him outside of the city, having supposed him to be dead;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and entered into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But there came Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing him to have died.
Context
Following the near-sacrificial fervor of verses 13–18, verse 19 delivers a stunning turn. Opponents from earlier cities exploit the crowd’s confusion and channel it into lethal hostility. The narrative moves from attempted worship to attempted murder in a few breaths. This prepares for verse 20’s remarkable recovery and continued mission. The episode becomes a lived illustration for the instruction Paul and Barnabas will later give to disciples (verse 22): “through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.” The Lystra stoning becomes part of that necessary path.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 17:13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.
- Matthew 27:20
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
- Hebrews 13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.
- Acts 7:58
and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
- Acts 14:5
And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,
- Mark 15:11
But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
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