Acts 14:7
What does Acts 14:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:7 means
In their new setting, Paul and Barnabas keep the main thing central: they “preached the gospel.” Neither opposition nor travel distracted them from proclaiming the good news of God’s grace. The brevity of the statement underscores their single-mindedness. Ministry methods may change with context, but the message remains the same: the living God has acted to save, calling all to turn and believe. This verse also implies that the door is open in Lycaonia—people are listening. The simplicity is instructive: when plans shift and pressures mount, the church’s task is unchanged—declare the gospel and trust God with the results.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and there they preached the gospel.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And there they preached the gospel.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and there they preached the gospel.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And went on preaching the good news there.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there they were proclaiming good news.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and there they were announcing the glad tidings.
Context
Having fled Iconium’s danger (verse 6), the missionaries immediately resume proclamation in Lycaonia. This short verse bridges the move from opposition to fresh opportunity. It prepares the reader for a specific instance of gospel confirmation: the healing of a man lame from birth in Lystra (verses 8–10). That miracle, however, will create a unique challenge in a thoroughly pagan environment—the populace will mistake the apostles for gods (verses 11–13), prompting a corrective sermon about the living Creator (verses 14–17). Thus, verse 7 anchors the coming narrative in the unchanging priority of preaching.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 14:15
and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
- Acts 14:21
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
- Acts 17:2
and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,
- Acts 11:19
They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2
but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
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