The Meaning of Acts 14:3 Explained

Acts 14:3

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Acts 14:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Because God was saving many people, the missionaries stayed on in Iconium "a long time" regardless of opposition that evidently increased gradually. They testified boldly (cf. Acts 13:46) and relied on the Lord Jesus for their success. The phrase "the word of His grace" ( Acts 14:3) describes the gospel message stressing the prominence of God"s grace in it (cf. Acts 20:24-32). They did many miracles there too thus confirming their message (cf. Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6; Acts 8:13; Acts 15:12; Galatians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4).
". . . the couplet "miraculous signs and wonders" places the ministry of Paul and Barnabas directly in line with that of Jesus (cf. Acts 2:22) and the early church (cf. Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:36) in fulfillment of prophecy (cf. Acts 2:19)-as it does also in Acts 15:12. Later when writing his Galatian converts (assuming a "South Galatian" origin for the letter), Paul appeals to these mighty works performed by the Spirit as evidence that the gospel as he preached it and they received it was fully approved by God (cf. Galatians 3:4-5)." [1]

Context Summary

Acts 14:1-13 - Varying Treatment Of The Message
From Antioch the Apostles passed to Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia. It is most illuminating to note the source of their success: The Lord bore witness unto the word of His grace. We must not expect success if that divine witness is absent. There is nothing more vital than this. The secret of joyful and successful service is the consciousness that, in every sermon and address, there is an unseen fellow-worker who is listening to each sentence and punctuating with his strong affirmation each utterance which magnifies the grace of God.
Lystra was situated in the highlands, amid a wild, mountainous country. In Paul's audience here he saw a cripple who had faith to be healed, Acts 14:9. What quick insight God gives the soul that lives in fellowship with Him! There was an old tradition that the gods had frequented this very region. Jupiter, the father of the gods, was the guardian deity of Lystra. There was, accordingly, an especial reason for the excitement among these simple and untutored folk. Man has ever longed for a daysman, and believed that there might be commerce between heaven and earth. Oh, that we were as quick to worship and adore the Son of God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 14

1  Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium
8  At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods
19  Paul is stoned
21  They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience
26  Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them

Greek Commentary for Acts 14:3

Long time therefore [ικανον μεν ουν χρονον]
Accusative of duration of time (possibly six months) and note μεν ουν — men oun There is an antithesis in εσχιστη δε — eschisthē de (Acts 13:4) and in Acts 13:5 After the persecution and vindication there was a season of great opportunity which Paul and Barnabas used to the full, “speaking boldly” Present participle The time of peace could not last forever with such a work of grace as this. A second explosion of persecution was bound to come and some of the MSS. actually have εκ δευτερου — ek deuterou (a second time). [source]
Long [ἱκανὸν]
See on Luke 7:6. [source]
Abode []
See on Acts 12:19. [source]
In the Lord []
Lit., upon ( ἐπί ) the Lord: in reliance on him. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:3

John 3:22 After these things [μετα ταυτα]
Transition after the interview with Nicodemus. For the phrase see John 5:1; John 6:1; John 7:1. Into the land of Judea Into the country districts outside of Jerusalem. The only example of this phrase in the N.T., but “the region of Judea” Descriptive imperfect active of διατριβω — diatribō old verb to rub between or hard, to spend time (Acts 14:3). Baptized Imperfect active of βαπτιζω — baptizō “He was baptizing.” The six disciples were with him and in John 4:2 John explains that Jesus did the baptizing through the disciples. [source]
Acts 14:9 Heard [ηκουεν]
Imperfect active, was listening to Paul speaking Either at the gate or in the market place (Acts 17:17) Paul was preaching to such as would listen or could understand his Greek (Koiné). Ramsay (St. Paul the Traveller, pp. 114, 116) thinks that the cripple was a proselyte. At any rate he may have heard of the miracles wrought at Iconium (Acts 14:3) and Paul may have spoken of the work of healing wrought by Jesus. This man was “no mendicant pretender,” for his history was known from his birth. Fastening his eyes upon him (ατενισας αυτωι — atenisas autōi). Just as in Acts 13:9 of Paul and Acts 1:10 which see. Paul saw a new hope in the man‘s eyes and face. He had faith Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse. To be made whole (του σωτηναι — tou sōthēnai). Genitive of articular first aorist passive infinitive (purpose and result combined) of σωζω — sōzō to make sound and also to save. Here clearly to make whole or well as in Luke 7:50 (cf. Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10). [source]
Acts 15:35 Tarried [διετριβον]
Imperfect active of διατριβω — diatribō old verb to pass time, seen already in Acts 12:19; Acts 14:3, Acts 14:28. [source]
Acts 2:41 They then [οι μεν ουν]
A common phrase in Acts either without antithesis as in Acts 1:6; Acts 5:41; Acts 8:4, Acts 8:25; Acts 9:31; Acts 11:19; Acts 16:5; or with it as here, Acts 8:25; Acts 13:4; Acts 14:3; Acts 17:17; Acts 23:31; Acts 25:4. Ουν — Oun connects with what precedes as the result of Peter‘s sermon while μεν — men points forward to what is to follow. [source]
Revelation 3:9 I give [διδω]
Late omega form for διδωμι — didōmi but the μι — ̇mi form in Revelation 17:13 These Jewish converts are a gift from Christ. For this use of διδωμι — didōmi see Acts 2:27; Acts 10:40; Acts 14:3. There is ellipse of τινας — tinas before εκ — ek as in Revelation 2:10 (εχ υμων — ex humōn) and see Revelation 2:9 for “the synagogue of Satan.” [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 14:3 mean?

A long indeed therefore time they stayed speaking boldly for the Lord the [One] bearing witness to word of the grace of Him granting signs and wonders to be done through the hands of them
ἱκανὸν μὲν οὖν χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ μαρτυροῦντι ἐπὶ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ διδόντι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν

ἱκανὸν  A  long 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἱκανός  
Sense: sufficient.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
χρόνον  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: χρόνος  
Sense: time either long or short.
διέτριψαν  they  stayed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διατρίβω  
Sense: to rub between, rub hard.
παρρησιαζόμενοι  speaking  boldly 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: παρρησιάζομαι  
Sense: to use freedom in speaking, be free spoken.
Κυρίῳ  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
τῷ  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μαρτυροῦντι  bearing  witness 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: μαρτυρέω  
Sense: to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.
λόγῳ  word 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χάριτος  grace 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
διδόντι  granting 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
σημεῖα  signs 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σημεῖον  
Sense: a sign, mark, token.
τέρατα  wonders 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τέρας  
Sense: a prodigy, portent.
γίνεσθαι  to  be  done 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
χειρῶν  hands 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.