The Meaning of Acts 14:21 Explained

Acts 14:21

KJV: And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

YLT: Having proclaimed good news also to that city, and having discipled many, they turned back to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch,

Darby: And having announced the glad tidings to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch,

ASV: And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when they had preached the gospel  to that  city,  and  had taught  many,  they returned again  to  Lystra,  and  [to] Iconium,  and  Antioch, 

What does Acts 14:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 14:14-28 - Establishing The New Believers
In Paul's address we have distinct anticipations of the early chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. How fickle a mob is! Now, enthusiastic loyalty; again, disappointment and rejection. Today, "Hosanna;" tomorrow, "Crucify." "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils."
It has been supposed by some that the trance of 2 Corinthians 12:1-21 took place at the time of Paul's stoning in Lystra. It must have been sorrow indeed to awaken from such a vision to the suffering of his battered body. But that scene, no doubt, gave him the love and devotion of the young Timothy and his mother and grandmother. See Acts 16:1-2. On Paul's next visit to Lystra, this son, whom he had begotten in the sore anguish of that hour, was to become his devoted attendant.
In spite of the treatment Paul had received, he returned to the city, Acts 14:21. Back to the stones! Naught could stay his ardent spirit, if only disciples were to be won or confirmed in their faith for the Master, Acts 14:22. Everywhere these intrepid missionaries found the blood-stained track of the Cross, but they filled up to the brim the measure of their opportunity. This will be possible for us all only when we are such that God can co-operate with us as our fellow-worker and open the door. [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 14:21

When they had preached the gospel to that city [ευαγγελισαμενοι την πολιν εκεινην]
Having evangelized (first aorist middle participle) that city, a smaller city and apparently with no trouble from the Jews. [source]
Had made many disciples [ματητευσαντες ικανους]
First aorist active participle of ματητευω — mathēteuō from ματητης — mathētēs a learner or disciple. Late verb in Plutarch, to be a disciple (Matthew 27:57 like John 19:38) and then to disciple (old English, Spenser), to make a disciple as in Matthew 28:19 and here. Paul and Barnabas were literally here obeying the command of Jesus in discipling people in this heathen city. They returned to Lystra and to Iconium, and to Antioch (υπεστρεπσαν εις την Λυστραν και εις Ικονιον και εις Αντιοχειαν — hupestrepsan eis tēn Lustran kai eis Ikonion kai eis Antiocheian). Derbe was the frontier city of the Roman empire. The quickest way to return to Antioch in Syria would have been by the Cilician Gates or by the pass over Matthew. Taurus by which Paul and Silas will come to Derbe in the second tour (Acts 15:41-16:1), but difficult to travel in winter. But it was necessary to revisit the churches in Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia and to see that they were able to withstand persecution. Paul was a Roman citizen though he had not made use of this privilege as yet for his own protection. Against mob violence it would count for little, but he did not hesitate. Paul had been stoned in Lystra, threatened in Iconium, expelled in Antioch. He shows his wisdom in conserving his work. [source]
They returned to Lystra and to Iconium, and to Antioch [υπεστρεπσαν εις την Λυστραν και εις Ικονιον και εις Αντιοχειαν]
Derbe was the frontier city of the Roman empire. The quickest way to return to Antioch in Syria would have been by the Cilician Gates or by the pass over Matthew. Taurus by which Paul and Silas will come to Derbe in the second tour (Acts 15:41-16:1), but difficult to travel in winter. But it was necessary to revisit the churches in Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia and to see that they were able to withstand persecution. Paul was a Roman citizen though he had not made use of this privilege as yet for his own protection. Against mob violence it would count for little, but he did not hesitate. Paul had been stoned in Lystra, threatened in Iconium, expelled in Antioch. He shows his wisdom in conserving his work. [source]
Taught [μαθητεύσαντες]
More correctly, made disciples of, as Rev. See on Matthew 13:52. [source]
Many []
See on Luke 7:6. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:21

Acts 14:8 At Lystra [εν Λυστροις]
Neuter plural as in Acts 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11 while feminine singular in Acts 14:6, Acts 14:21; Acts 16:1. There was apparently no synagogue in Lystra and so not many Jews. Paul and Barnabas had to do open-air preaching and probably had difficulty in being understood by the natives though both Greek and Latin inscriptions were discovered here by Professor Sterrett in 1885. The incident narrated here (Acts 13:8-18) shows how they got a real hearing among these rude heathen. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 14:21 mean?

Having proclaimed the gospel to then the city that and having discipled many they returned to - Lystra Iconium Antioch
Εὐαγγελισάμενοί τε τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην καὶ μαθητεύσαντες ἱκανοὺς ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Λύστραν Ἰκόνιον Ἀντιόχειαν

Εὐαγγελισάμενοί  Having  proclaimed  the  gospel  to 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εὐαγγελίζω  
Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings.
πόλιν  city 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
ἐκείνην  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.
μαθητεύσαντες  having  discipled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητεύω  
Sense: to be a disciple of one.
ἱκανοὺς  many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἱκανός  
Sense: sufficient.
ὑπέστρεψαν  they  returned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ὑποστρέφω  
Sense: to turn back.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Λύστραν  Lystra 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Λύστρα  
Sense: a city in the eastern part of the great plain of Lycaonia.
Ἰκόνιον  Iconium 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: Ἰκόνιον  
Sense: a famous city of Asia Minor, which was the capital of Lycaonia.
Ἀντιόχειαν  Antioch 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀντιόχεια  
Sense: Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.