Acts 14:20
What does Acts 14:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:20 means
Surrounded by disciples, Paul rises, reenters the city, and the next day departs with Barnabas to Derbe. His recovery is striking—whether ordinary or miraculous healing, the effect is the same: God raises His servant to continue the mission. Paul’s return into the city shows courage and pastoral concern; he will not abandon fledgling believers in Lystra. Yet wisdom leads to prompt relocation. This verse balances boldness with prudence, resilience with strategy. The gospel is not halted by stoning; the mission advances to the next town. Suffering does not have the last word; God’s sustaining power does.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when the disciples came round him, he got up and went into the town: and the day after he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the disciples having surrounded him, having risen he entered into the city, and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But while the disciples encircled him, he rose up and entered into the city. And on the morrow he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
Context
After the stoning in verse 19, verse 20 records an unexpected reversal—Paul is not dead but rises. The disciples’ presence suggests a small but real community already formed in Lystra. Paul’s brief reentry shows concern, while the departure to Derbe begins a new phase of ministry. The next verse (21) will show fruitful preaching in Derbe, followed by a deliberate return through the same cities to strengthen believers. Verse 20 thus acts as a hinge between persecution endured and ongoing proclamation and pastoral care.
v.19But 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.
v.20This passage
v.21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 1:9
yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:
- Acts 14:22
confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
- Acts 20:9
And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
- Acts 11:26
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.
- Acts 20:1
And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
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