Acts 14:3 · Bible study
Acts 14:3 Commentary: Boldness and the Lord's Testimony Through Signs
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
How God confirmed the apostles' bold preaching through signs and wonders, and what this reveals about the nature of gospel ministry.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The apostles remained in hostile territory because the Lord himself confirmed their preaching of grace through miraculous signs, granting them boldness for the task.
- Key words: παρρησιαζόμενοι (speaking boldly/freely); ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ (in/upon the Lord, indicating reliance); λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος (word of grace, the gospel as free favor); σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα (signs and wonders, divine attestation).
- Main debate: Whether the phrase ‘in the Lord’ emphasizes the cause/name of the Lord (Barnes) or dependence on the Lord (Calvin, Vincent), and whether signs and wonders are normative for all ages or tied to the apostolic foundation.
- Theological theme: Divine agency in mission, the Lord is both the source of the message’s power and the giver of its confirmation.
- Best use: As a model for trusting God to work through our witness, even when opposition is real, and for recognizing that any effectiveness in ministry is a gift from God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
KJV King James Version 1769
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
long time, indeed, therefore, did they abide speaking boldly in the Lord, who is testifying to the word of His grace, and granting signs and wonders to come to pass through their hands.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They stayed therefore a good while, speaking boldly, [confiding] in the Lord, who gave witness to the word of his grace, giving signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
A long time therefore they abode there, dealing confidently in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Con todo eso se detuvieron allí mucho tiempo, confiados en el Señor, el cual daba testimonio á la palabra de su gracia, dando que señales y milagros fuesen hechos por las manos de ellos.
Então eles ficaram ali por muito tempo, falando ousadamente no Senhor, o qual dava testemunho à palavra de sua graça, concedendo que sinais e milagres fossem feitos pelas mãos deles.
Ils restèrent cependant assez longtemps à Icone, parlant avec assurance, appuyés sur le Seigneur, qui rendait témoignage à la parole de sa grâce et permettait qu’ il se fît par leurs mains des prodiges et des miracles.
So hatten sie nun ihr Wesen daselbst eine lange Zeit und lehrten frei im HERRN, welcher bezeugte das Wort seiner Gnade und ließ Zeichen und Wunder geschehen durch ihre Hände.
Zij verkeerden dan aldaar een langen tijd, vrijmoediglijk sprekende in den Heere, Die getuigenis gaf aan het Woord Zijner genade, en gaf, dat tekenen en wonderen geschiedden door hun handen.
Essi dunque dimoraron quivi molto tempo, predicando con franchezza, fidenti nel Signore, il quale rendeva testimonianza alla parola della sua grazia, concedendo che per le lor mani si facessero segni e prodigi.
I byli tam przez długi czas, bezpiecznie mówiąc w Panu, który dawał świadectwo słowu łaski swojej i czynił to, że się działy znamiona i cuda przez ręce ich.
Впрочем они пробыли здесь довольно времени, смело действуя о Господе, Который, во свидетельство слову благодати Своей, творил руками их знамения и чудеса.
二人在那裡住 了多 日，倚靠 主 放膽講道； 主藉 他們 的手 施 行神蹟 奇事，證明 他 的恩 道。
So they kept there for a long time, taking heart in the Lord, who gave witness to the word of his grace by causing signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 14:3
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions read Acts 14:3 as a compact summary of apostolic ministry under divine validation. The ‘long time’ (Ἱκανὸν χρόνον) speaks of an extended stay; Barnes and Matthew Henry tie this to unusual success despite Jewish opposition. The boldness, παρρησιαζόμενοι, ‘speaking freely’, is not natural courage but a gift from the Lord. Calvin and Vincent parse the Greek preposition ἐπί as indicating reliance: ‘upon the Lord’ or ‘in dependence on him.’ The Lord then testifies to ‘the word of his grace’, a phrase Gill defines as the gospel in its character of free, unmerited favor. This testimony comes through signs (σημεῖα) and wonders (τέρατα), which, as Clarke and Gill emphasize, are granted by God; the apostles possess no inherent power. JFB notes a textual variant omitting ‘and’ before ‘granting,’ making the phrase a participle describing the Lord’s ongoing action. The consensus is clear: the Lord himself is the source of both the apostles’ boldness and the miracles that authenticate their message.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The Lord Jesus, though ascended, actively confirms the preaching of the gospel through both the boldness of the apostles and the miraculous signs that accompany their message.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'in the Lord' | All commentators see the phrase as linking the apostles' boldness to their relationship with the Lord Jesus, not to their own courage. | Barnes emphasizes 'in the cause of the Lord' or 'by his authority'; Calvin and Vincent stress 'in dependence on the Lord' (reading the Greek ἐπί as 'upon' as reliance). Neither view contradicts the other, but the emphasis differs: one on the sphere, the other on the source. |
| Role of signs and wonders | Christians agree that signs and wonders in Acts served to confirm the apostolic preaching of the gospel, especially to unbelievers (John 4:48; Acts 2:22). | Some traditions (Reformed, Baptist) see these miracles as unique to the foundational apostolic era, while others (Pentecostal, charismatic) believe signs and wonders can continue today as part of normal church life. Both sides affirm that God can work miracles at any time. |
| Reason for the long stay | The extended time was providential, allowing the gospel to take root and the new converts to be strengthened. | Some (Barnes, Matthew Henry) emphasize the great success that encouraged them to stay. Others (Cambridge Bible) stress the need to establish the converts before impending persecution. Both reasons are present in the text. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Iconium was a prosperous city in Phrygia, a Roman colony on the main trade route. Paul and Barnabas arrived after being expelled from Antioch (Acts 13:50, 51). In the synagogue they spoke with such power that many Jews and Greeks believed (Acts 14:1). But hostile Jews stirred up the Gentile population, poisoning their minds against the missionaries (v. 2).
Despite this, the apostles stayed ‘a long time’, likely weeks or months. The Cambridge Bible suggests this was necessary to ground the new converts in the faith before the storm broke. The Greek word for ‘speaking boldly’ (παρρησιαζόμενοι) has a rich background. It means free, confident speech, often in the face of danger. In Acts 4:29 the church prayed for this very thing, linking boldness to God stretching out his hand to heal and perform signs. Now that prayer is answered.
The pairing ‘signs and wonders’ (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα) is a classic Old Testament phrase for God’s mighty acts (Exodus 7:3). In Acts it consistently signals divine confirmation of the apostolic message (2:22; 5:12). The ‘word of his grace’ is unique to this verse and Acts 20:32; it captures the gospel as pure, unearned favor. The signs likely polarized the city, leading to the plot to stone Paul and Barnabas (v. 5). Their eventual flight (v. 6) was not cowardice but the wisdom of the Lord, who had already shown his approval of their work.
Textual Notes
The text of Acts 14:3 is well established. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes that the conjunction ‘and’ before ‘granting’ is absent from the best manuscripts, making the phrase a participle (‘granting’) that describes the Lord’s continuing action rather than a separate event. The variant does not change the meaning of the verse. No other significant textual variants are present in the supplied sources.
Reception History
Acts 14:3 has been cited throughout church history to illustrate the relationship between preaching and divine confirmation. The Reformers, especially Calvin, used it to argue that miracles serve the word, not the other way around, they confirm, but do not replace, the message of grace. In the nineteenth century, the verse was central to debates between continuationists and cessationists about whether miraculous gifts continue. More broadly, the phrase ‘word of his grace’ has been treasured in devotional writing and hymnody as a compact definition of the gospel. The verse also appears in missionary biographies as a model of perseverance under opposition with divine attestation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Stay: The apostles remained for a long time, not out of stubbornness but because the Lord was working. Opposition did not cut short their mission.
- The Boldness: Their free speech was not self-generated. It came from dependence on the Lord (ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ). Boldness is a grace given, not a quality mustered.
- The Testimony: Signs and wonders were the Lord’s own witness to the message of grace. He confirmed his word through visible acts.
Five-point outline
- Persistence under pressure: the apostles stayed when many would have fled.
- The source of courage: all boldness in witness rests on the Lord, not the speaker.
- The message defined: the gospel is a ‘word of grace’, God’s favor, not human effort.
- Divine confirmation: signs and wonders are the Lord’s own testimony to the truth of the message.
- Human instruments: miracles happened ‘by their hands,’ but the power was God’s alone (Clarke).
Illustration hooks
- A builder relies on his skill, but the finished house proves the architect’s plan is sound. The apostles spoke; the Lord proved the message.
- A doctor diagnoses a condition, but test results confirm the treatment is working. Signs confirmed the diagnosis of grace.
- A teacher instructs a student, but the proof of learning is the student’s own demonstration. The word preached was confirmed by deeds.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why don’t we see the same signs and wonders today? Does that mean our preaching is less valid?
- How can I speak boldly when I feel intimidated or face opposition?
- What does it mean that the gospel is a ‘word of grace’, and how does that change how I share it?
Leading a Discussion
Acts 14:3 sits at a hinge in Paul’s first missionary journey. The apostles have faced both success and hostility. In this verse Luke shows us the engine of their ministry: the Lord himself working through human speech and miraculous acts. As you study together, look for the connections between boldness, the message of grace, and divine confirmation.
Discussion questions
- Read Acts 14:1, 7. What events lead up to verse 3, and what follows? Why does Luke place this verse right here?
- The apostles spoke ‘in the Lord.’ Based on the Greek preposition ἐπί (upon/in reliance on), what does this phrase tell us about the source of their courage? (Compare Acts 4:29, 30.)
- Why does Luke call the gospel a ‘word of his grace’? What does the word ‘grace’ (χάρις) add to our understanding of the message?
- The Lord ‘testified’ to this word by granting signs and wonders. What does this tell us about the purpose of miracles in Acts? Are they meant to create faith or to confirm faith already present? (See Cambridge Bible’s note.)
- If you had been a new convert in Iconium, how would seeing signs and wonders affect your confidence in the gospel?
- How can we experience the Lord’s testimony to the word of grace today, even if we don’t see physical miracles? Are there other ways God confirms his message?
- Think of a time you needed boldness to speak about your faith. What helped you, or what would you need? How does this verse encourage you to depend on the Lord?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Mark 16:20 | They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. |
| John 4:48 | Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.” |
| Acts 2:22 | “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know, |
| Acts 4:29 | Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, |
| Acts 4:30 | while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” |
| Acts 5:12 | By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. |
| Acts 5:14 | More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. |
| Acts 5:32 | We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the apostles could not work miracles by their own power; signs and wonders were granted by God only when necessary to confirm the truth preached. He also notes that their bold speaking came from a deep consciousness of the truth they proclaimed, not from natural skill.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Paul and Barnabas understood the absence of forcible expulsion as a sign it was God's will to remain in Iconium. The Lord Jesus, though bodily absent, still actively testified to their message by granting miracles and conversions, showing His continued power in advancing the gospel.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Paul and Barnabas did not rely on their own strength but were emboldened by the Lord's grace. The miracles they performed served as God's visible witness to the gospel, confirming the truth of their message and giving them courage to persist despite opposition.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights two results of opposition: a prolonged stay allowed miracles to confirm the new believers’ faith, and the people became sharply divided. Notably, the signs and wonders followed faith and did not create it. The apostles’ bold speech, linked to God’s healing power, reflects the pattern of their earlier prayer.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that God personally testified to the word of his grace by enabling signs and wonders through the apostles’ hands. Their bold speech and long stay were accompanied by this divine authentication, showing the gospel was not merely human teaching.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the apostles' boldness came entirely from the Lord, not from their own courage. He also explains the Gospel is called "the word of his grace" because it proclaims God's sovereign grace in election, redemption, justification, and adoption. The signs and wonders were granted by God, not performed by the apostles' own power.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that the phrase "in the Lord" means the apostles spoke in dependence on their glorified Head. They also highlight that calling the gospel "the word of his grace" is a deliberate definition: grace is the entire burden of the message. God confirmed it by granting ongoing miraculous attestation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that even after the Jews of Antioch treated them harshly, the apostles still offered the gospel first to Jews in Iconium. For him, this teaches that no whole group should be condemned for the faults of a few, and that believers should keep doing good even to those who have done them evil.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek word for “long” and its usage elsewhere, and notes that “abode” carries a specific sense from another passage. The phrase “in the Lord” is literally “upon the Lord,” meaning he stayed in a posture of reliance on him.