But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The mob’s swift turn from wanting to worship Paul to stoning him highlights how easily people can be swayed by fear and misinformation, mirroring the same fickle crowds who cheered Jesus one moment and demanded his crucifixion the next. This isn't just a historical event; it's a powerful reminder that passionate belief can quickly curdle into violent opposition when manipulated by malice.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just moments after the people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, a mob of hostile Jews arrived, stirring up the crowd against the apostles. This fickle multitude, easily swayed, turned from adoration to violence, stoning Paul and dragging him out of the city, believing they had killed him. This violent backlash, orchestrated by outside agitators, marked a stark and dangerous shift from the earlier acceptance of the gospel message.
One moment, they're ready to offer sacrifices; the next, they're throwing stones. What causes such a radical shift in people's hearts?
This passage reveals the shocking fickleness of crowds, a theme that echoes throughout history and even Scripture.
From Awe to Anger
Just pages before this, the people of Lystra were so amazed by Paul's healing of a lame man that they wanted to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas, calling them gods (Acts 14:11-18). But then, hostile Jews arrived and skillfully twisted the people's perception.
The Art of Misdirection
These opposing Jews didn't just disagree; they actively 'persuaded the people.' They likely accused Paul and Barnabas of being sorcerers or even demons, twisting the miracle into something sinister. This tactic of fear and accusation is an old one, similar to how Jesus' accusers claimed He cast out demons by Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24).
A Pattern of Volatility
This sudden change in Lystra mirrors other moments in the Bible: the crowds in Jerusalem who hailed Jesus with 'Hosanna' one week and screamed 'Crucify Him!' the next (Matthew 21:9; 27:22), or the people of Melita who first feared Paul as a murderer after a snakebite, then believed him to be a god when he remained unharmed (Acts 28:6). It's a stark reminder of how easily swayed public opinion can be.
Ask a follow-up
Paul mentions being stoned once. This event in Lystra is the most likely candidate, but why is it so significant in his life and ministry?
This brutal attack on Paul wasn't just a random act of violence; it was a deeply personal and significant moment in his apostolic journey, confirming his identification with Christ's suffering.
The 'Chief Speaker' Targeted
The text notes they 'stoned Paul,' specifically mentioning him as the 'chief speaker.' This highlights that his bold proclamation of the Gospel made him the primary target for the opposition. Barnabas, though present, was not the focus of their rage.
Identification with Christ
Paul himself later references this event, stating, 'Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one; three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned' (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). This Lystra incident is almost certainly the 'once I was stoned.'
A Costly Ministry
Being stoned and left for dead was an extreme form of punishment, often intended to leave the victim outside the city walls as carrion. It underscores the immense physical danger and personal cost involved in spreading the Gospel to resistant populations. This experience, though horrific, likely solidified Paul's resolve and deepened his understanding of Christ's suffering (Philippians 3:10).
Why would fellow Jews, who should have recognized God's work, become such fierce opponents of the apostles?
The arrival of Jews from Antioch and Iconium underscores a critical, recurring conflict in the early church: the resistance from within the Jewish community to the Gospel's expansion to the Gentiles.
A Network of Opposition
These weren't just random individuals; they were 'certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium.' This indicates a coordinated effort by those who were hostile to Paul and Barnabas's ministry, following them from place to place. They were determined to shut down the preaching of the Gospel.
Clinging to Tradition
Their anger stemmed from Paul and Barnabas, as Jews themselves, moving beyond the traditional Jewish legal framework and embracing Gentiles into God's kingdom without requiring full adherence to the Law. For these opposing Jews, this was seen as a betrayal of their heritage and God’s covenant.
Spreading Division
By 'persuading the people,' they didn't just argue their case; they actively incited the Lystrian crowd against the apostles. They likely framed Paul and Barnabas as renegades or dangerous influences, turning a crowd that moments before was ready to worship them into a mob seeking their death. This 'persistent enmity' (as noted in the commentary) was a constant challenge for the early missionaries.
Understand the original words
peisantes · Greek Verb
To convince or win over through argument or influence; often used in the New Testament to describe the reception of the Gospel message or the spreading of anti-Christian sentiment.
elithasantes · Greek Verb
A method of execution or mob violence involving hurling stones at a person; it was the prescribed penalty for blasphemy under Mosaic Law and was used against early Christians for their witness.
The stoning of Paul in Lystra was a dramatic reversal, fueled by the fickle crowds and instigated by persistent Jewish opposition. This event, vividly recalled by Paul himself years later, highlights the intense spiritual and physical battles faced by early missionaries.
c. AD 47
Paul and Barnabas begin first missionary journey
Paul and Barnabas embark on their first major missionary expedition, traveling through Cyprus and Asia Minor, including cities like Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
c. AD 48
Preaching and healing in Lystra
In Lystra, Paul heals a man lame from birth. The crowd, mistaking Paul and Barnabas for gods (Hermes and Zeus), attempts to offer sacrifices to them.
c. AD 48— this verse
Jealous Jews incite riot in Lystra
Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive in Lystra, stirring up the crowds against Paul and Barnabas. They persuade the people to stone Paul and drag him out of the city, believing him to be dead.
c. AD 48
Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch
After the stoning incident in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas travel to Derbe and then make their way back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, strengthening the disciples in each city.
c. AD 50-51
Jerusalem Council
A significant council is held in Jerusalem to address the issue of Gentile converts and the Mosaic Law, influencing future missionary practices.
c. AD 55
Paul recounts his stoning
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to the stoning incident, mentioning it as one of the many hardships he endured for the gospel: "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned."
Paul directly alludes to this very incident, mentioning he was 'stoned once,' which adds a personal and poignant layer to Luke's account.
Matthew 27:22This passage highlights the same kind of drastic shift in public opinion, mirroring how the crowd in Lystra turned from wanting to worship Paul to wanting to kill him, just as the crowd in Jerusalem changed from 'Hosanna' to 'Crucify Him.'
Acts 7:59This earlier event shows Stephen being stoned to death, providing a stark parallel to Paul's experience and perhaps informing his own willingness to endure such suffering.
Acts 14:20Immediately following this stoning, the disciples gather around Paul, demonstrating the immediate care and concern within the fledgling Christian community even after such a brutal attack.
1 Corinthians 15:3Paul's later recounting of the 'essential facts' of the Gospel includes his own suffering and death, underscoring that these persecutions were part of the core message he delivered.
cambridgeActs 14:19: "And 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."
19–28 . Change of feeling in the multitude. Paul is stoned. The Apostles visit Derbe, and then return, by the route by which they came, to Antioch in Syria 19 . certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium ] Their anger, like that of “the circumcision” in Jerusalem, was roused against the Apostles, whom they knew to be born…
pulpitActs 14:19: "And 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."
Verse 19. - But there came Jews thither for and there came thither certain Jews, A.V.; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned for who persuaded the people, and having stoned, A.V.; and dragged for drew, A.V.; that he was dead for he had been dead, A.V. But there came Jews, etc. Observe the persistent enmity…
The mob’s swift turn from wanting to worship Paul to stoning him highlights how easily people can be swayed by fear and misinformation, mirroring the same fickle crowds who cheered Jesus one moment and demanded his crucifixion the next. This isn't just a historical event; it's a powerful reminder that passionate belief can quickly curdle into violent opposition when manipulated by malice.
Just moments after the people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, a mob of hostile Jews arrived, stirring up the crowd against the apostles. This fickle multitude, easily swayed, turned from adoration to violence, stoning Paul and dragging him out of the city, believing they had killed him. This violent backlash, orchestrated by outside agitators, marked a stark and dangerous shift from the earlier acceptance of the gospel message.
Just moments after the people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, a mob of hostile Jews arrived, stirring up the crowd against the apostles. This fickle multitude, easily swayed, turned from adoration to violence, stoning Paul and dragging him out of the city, believing they had killed him. This violent backlash, orchestrated by outside agitators, marked a stark and dangerous shift from the earlier acceptance of the gospel message.
"But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." — The mob’s swift turn from wanting to worship Paul to stoning him highlights how easily people can be swayed by fear and misinformation, mirroring the same fickle crowds who cheered Jesus one moment a…
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Last reviewed October 2026