Acts 14:19-20

Acts 14:19-20

[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.  [20] Howbeit,  as the disciples  stood round about  him,  he rose up,  and came  into  the city:  and  the next day  he departed  with  Barnabas  to  Derbe. 

What does Acts 14:19-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

We do not know how long it took the hostile Jews from Antioch and Iconium to turn the tide of popular sentiment against Paul and Barnabas. They convinced the fickle residents of Lystra that the missionaries were deceivers rather than gods and deserved to die.
"Disillusioned fanatics are easily led off into contradictory actions." [1]
Some scholars believe that Paul died from this stoning and experienced resurrection. [2] However, the text only says that onlookers supposed that Paul was dead. Ironside believed that this is when Paul was caught up into the third heaven ( 2 Corinthians 12:2-4). [3] There is no way to prove or to disprove this theory. Luke"s description of Paul"s speedy recovery ( Acts 14:20) stresses God"s powerful hand in restoring His servant (cf. Acts 1:1-2). Paul courageously returned to Lystra, but he left town the next day ( Acts 14:20 b).
"It was John Wesley"s advice, "Always look a mob in the face." Paul never did a braver thing than to go straight back into the city which had tried to murder him." [4]