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
1Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium 8At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods 19Paul is stoned 21They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience 26Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them
Greek Commentary for Acts 14:7
And there they preached the gospel [κακει ευαγγελιζομενοι ησαν] Periphrastic imperfect middle. We are to think of extensive evangelistic work perhaps with the assistance of disciples from Antioch and Iconium since Paul and Barnabas could not speak Lycaonian. Κακει Kakei is crasis for και εκει kai ekei f0). [source]
They preached the gospel [ἧσαν εὐαγγελιζόμενοι] The finite verb with the participle, denoting continuance. They prolonged their preaching for some time. [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 14:7
Periphrastic imperfect middle. We are to think of extensive evangelistic work perhaps with the assistance of disciples from Antioch and Iconium since Paul and Barnabas could not speak Lycaonian. Κακει Kakei is crasis for και εκει kai ekei f0). [source]
The finite verb with the participle, denoting continuance. They prolonged their preaching for some time. [source]