Acts 14 · Verse 20

Acts 14:20

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.
Acts 14:20, King James Version

Acts 14:20 in other translations

BSBBut after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
WEBBut as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.
ASVBut as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
YLTand the disciples having surrounded him, having risen he entered into the city, and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
DARBYBut while the disciples encircled him, he rose up and entered into the city. And on the morrow he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
BBEBut when the disciples came round him, he got up and went into the town: and the day after he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
WebsterBut as the disciples stood around him, he rose, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

What does Acts 14:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. as the disciples stood round about him--sorrowing. So his labors here had not been in vain: "Disciples" had been gathered, who now rallied around the bleeding body. And one appears to have been gained on this occasion, of far more importance than all the rest--Timotheus. See on Ac 16:1-3. (It could scarcely have been at the subsequent visit, Ac 14:21, for the reason given in 2Ti 3:10, 11; while at the third visit, Ac 16:1-3, he was already a Christian). he rose up--It is possible that this recovery was natural; the insensibility occasioned by such treatment as he had received sometimes passing away of itself, and leaving the patient less hurt than appeared. But certainly the impression naturally left on the mind by the words is that the restoration was miraculous; and so the best interpreters understand the words. This is confirmed by what follows. came into the city--Noble intrepidity! next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe--a journey for which he could hardly be fit if his recovery had been natural. (As to Derbe, see on Ac 14:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Howbeit. But. Notwithstanding the supposition that he was dead.

As the disciples stood round about him. It would seem that they did not suppose that he was dead; but might be expecting that he would revive.

He rose up, etc. Most commentators have supposed that this was the effect of a miracle. They have maintained that he could not have risen so soon, and entered into the city, without the interposition of miraculous power.--(Calvin, Doddridge, Clark, etc.) But the commentators have asserted that which is not intimated by the sacred penman. Nor is there propriety in supposing the intervention of miraculous agency where it is not necessary. The probability is, that he was stunned by a blow-- perhaps a single blow--and after a short time recovered from it. Nothing is more common than thus by a violent blow on the head to be rendered apparently lifeless, the effect of which soon is over, and the person restored to strength. Pricaeus and Wetstein suppose that Paul feigned himself to be dead, and when out of danger rose and

And came into the city. It is remarkable that he should have returned again to the same city. But probably it was only among the new converts that he showed himself. The Jews supposed that he was dead; and it does not appear that he again exposed himself to their rage.

And the next day, etc. The opposition here was such that it was vain to attempt to preach there any longer. Having been seen by the disciples after his supposed death, their faith was confirmed, and he departed to preach in another place.

To Derbe. Acts 14:6

(+) "Howbeit" "But" Acts 14:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 The disciples stood round about him - No doubt in earnest prayer, entreating the Author of life that his soul might again return to its battered tenement. He rose up - Miraculously restored, not only to life, but to perfect soundness so that he was able to walk into the city, that his persecutors might see the mighty power of God in his restoration, and the faith of the young converts be confirmed in the truth and goodness of God. It is strange that neither the young converts at Lystra, nor Barnabas, were involved in this persecution! It seems to have had Paul alone for its object; and, when they thought they had despatched him, they did not think of injuring the rest.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 14:19-28

See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful…

Read the full comment on Acts 14:19-28 →

Acts 14:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

κυκλωσάντωνkuklōsantōnWhen were sorroundingG2944
δὲdehoweverG1161
τῶνtōntheG3588
μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἀναστὰςanastashaving risen upG450
εἰσῆλθενeisēlthenhe enteredG1525
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
πόλινpolincityG4172
καὶkaiAndG2532
τῇtēaon theG3588
ἐπαύριονepaurionnext dayG1887
ἐξῆλθενexēlthenhe went awayG1831
σὺνsunwithG4862
τῷtō<the>G3588
ΒαρναβᾷBarnabaBarnabasG921
εἰςeistoG1519
Δέρβην.DerbēnDerbe.G1191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 14:20

  • 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

    But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

  • 2 Corinthians 6:9

    As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

  • Acts 14:6

    They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

  • Acts 20:1

    And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

  • Acts 16:40

    And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

  • Acts 16:1

    Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

  • Revelation 11:7-12

    And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. …

  • Acts 20:9-12

    And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

  • Acts 14:28

    And there they abode long time with the disciples.

  • Acts 11:26

    And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
20:9-12; 2Co 1:9,10; 6:9; Re 11:7-12
came.
12:17; 16:40; 20:1
Derbe.
6; 16:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 14:19

    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.

  • Acts 14:20

    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.

  • Acts 14:21

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

Read all of Acts 14

Acts 14:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas rodeándole los discípulos, se levantó y entró en la ciudad; y un día después, partió con Bernabé á Derbe.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais comme les disciples se tenaient autour de lui, se levant, il entra dans la ville; et le lendemain il s’en alla avec Barnabas à Derbe.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Als aber die Jünger ihn umringten, stand er auf und ging in die Stadt hinein; und des folgenden Tages zog er mit Barnabas aus nach Derbe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cumque evangelizassent civitati illi, et docuissent multos, reversi sunt Lystram, et Iconium, et Antiochiam,