So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "word of his grace" isn't just the message itself, but a description of the Gospel's very nature: it's entirely about God's undeserved favor. This grace isn't just spoken; it's powerfully demonstrated through the signs and wonders, showing God actively confirming His own generous message through the apostles.
So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a wave of persecution and opposition in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas chose to stay put, dedicating a significant amount of time to boldly proclaiming God's message. This extended stay was marked by the Lord confirming their teaching with powerful signs and wonders, solidifying the faith of new believers amidst growing division within the community.
When facing resistance, what fuels a believer's courage to speak truth? This verse highlights the source and nature of unwavering boldness.
The apostles didn't just stay put; they spoke "boldly for the Lord." This wasn't just loud talking; it was a confident, fearless proclamation rooted in their trust and reliance on God.
The Foundation of Their Boldness
We often hear about the 'word of God,' but this verse defines it uniquely. What makes the Gospel so powerful?
The verse calls the message the "word of his grace." This isn't just any message; it's the "glad tidings" of God's unmerited favor.
Understanding God's Grace:
Ask a follow-up
Signs and wonders often grab our attention, but what is their true purpose in God's plan, according to this verse?
The passage clearly states that God granted "signs and wonders to be done by their hands" in order to bear witness to the word of His grace. This is crucial for understanding the role of miracles.
The Purpose of Miracles:
Understand the original words
Kyriō · Greek Noun
The name or title of God (YHWH) or Christ, indicating sovereign authority, supreme lordship, and divinity.
charitos · Greek Noun
The unmerited favor and divine enablement of God extended to sinners, through which they are saved, sanctified, and empowered for service.
sēmeia kai terata · Greek Noun Phrase
Extraordinary events or miracles performed by divine power that serve as evidence of God's presence and validation of the gospel message.
This verse highlights the apostles' extended stay in Iconium, a direct response to opposition and the need to strengthen new believers. The 'long time' signifies a period of both courageous proclamation and divine confirmation through signs and wonders, demonstrating God's power at work despite human resistance.
c. AD 45-49— this verse
First Missionary Journey
Paul and Barnabas travel through Asia Minor, establishing churches in cities like Antioch, Lystra, and Iconium, facing both acceptance and opposition.
c. AD 49
Jerusalem Council
A pivotal meeting where apostles debated and decided that Gentile converts did not need to follow Mosaic law, affirming the inclusion of non-Jews in the early church.
c. AD 50-52
Second Missionary Journey
Paul, now accompanied by Silas, revisits churches in Asia Minor and travels into Europe, facing continued persecution and miraculous interventions.
This passage echoes Acts 14:3 by stating that God also bore witness to the Gospel through signs, wonders, and various miraculous deeds, affirming the message of salvation.
Acts 4:29-30This earlier account in Acts shows the apostles praying for boldness to speak and for God to stretch out His hand to perform signs and wonders, mirroring the very events described in Acts 14:3.
Mark 16:20This verse provides a forward-looking statement that the Lord worked with the apostles, confirming their message through the signs that accompanied their preaching, which is exactly what happened in Acts 14:3.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5Paul here describes his own ministry, emphasizing that his speech and message were not in plausible words of wisdom but in a demonstration of the Spirit and power, aligning with the 'signs and wonders' that confirmed the word in Acts 14:3.
cambridgeActs 14:3: "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."
3 . Long time therefore abode they ] There are two results described in this and the following verse as the consequences of the Jewish opposition. First, a long stay was necessary that by the words of the Apostles and by the mighty deeds following wherewith God confirmed them, the faith of the new converts might be ful…
meyerActs 14:3: "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."
Acts 14:3-4 . Οὖν represents Acts 14:3-4 as a consequence of Acts 14:1-2 . “In consequence of that approval ( Acts 14:1 ) and this hostility ( Acts 14:2 ), they spent indeed ( μέν ) a considerable time in free-spoken preaching ( Acts 14:3 ), but ( δέ ) there arose a division among the multitude” ( Acts 14:4 ). ἐπὶ τῷ Κ…
The "word of his grace" isn't just the message itself, but a description of the Gospel's very nature: it's entirely about God's undeserved favor. This grace isn't just spoken; it's powerfully demonstrated through the signs and wonders, showing God actively confirming His own generous message through the apostles.
Following a wave of persecution and opposition in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas chose to stay put, dedicating a significant amount of time to boldly proclaiming God's message. This extended stay was marked by the Lord confirming their teaching with powerful signs and wonders, solidifying the faith of new believers amidst growing division within the community.
Following a wave of persecution and opposition in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas chose to stay put, dedicating a significant amount of time to boldly proclaiming God's message. This extended stay was marked by the Lord confirming their teaching with powerful signs and wonders, solidifying the faith of new believers amidst growing division within the community.
"So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands." — The "word of his grace" isn't just the message itself, but a description of the Gospel's very nature: it's entirely about God's undeserved favor. This grace isn't just spoken; it's powerfully demonst…
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Last reviewed October 2026