Speaking Boldly in the Lord: Presence, Perseverance, and Power

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Scripture • World English Bible

Acts 14:1–7

WEB

¹In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

²But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.

³Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

⁴But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles.

⁵When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,

⁶they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

⁷There they preached the Good News.

World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain

Reflection

In Iconium Paul and Barnabas enter the synagogue and preach in a way that wins a great number of both Jews and Greeks. That welcome, however, does not last. Those who refuse the message stir up opposition, and the city becomes divided. Rather than fleeing at the first sign of trouble, Paul and Barnabas remain — they stay a long time, teaching, building relationships, and speaking boldly in the Lord. Their boldness is not self-confident bravado; it is rooted in the Lord himself, who confirms the message by his testimony and by granting signs and wonders through their hands. When violence threatens, they do not stubbornly seek martyrdom but prudently withdraw and carry the gospel on to neighboring towns, where they continue to preach the Good News.

There are three features of their witness that matter for us. First, boldness anchored in Christ. Acts describes their speech as done in the Lord. That means our courage is not a product of training or personality alone; it is the fruit of union with Christ. Boldness looks like reliance on the presence and authority of Jesus, prayerful dependence on the Spirit, and confidence that the truth of the gospel is the power of God, not merely our cleverness.

Second, long-term presence. They stayed a long time. Evangelism that changes lives often requires patience, repeated teaching, pastoral care, and the willingness to live among people long enough for trust to form. Quick visits and one-off talks have their place, but sustained relationships allow the gospel to be heard, tested, and embraced.

Third, realistic hope amid opposition. The story does not sugarcoat hostility. Opposition will come, sometimes stirred by religious leaders or civic pressure. God’s confirmation of the message does not remove the hard realities of division or danger. Yet God’s testimony and the apostles’ continued proclamation show that opposition cannot finally stop the advance of the gospel. When threat requires it, faithful retreat and relocation can be a faithful strategy that preserves witnesses for more ministry elsewhere.

If you long to speak boldly, start where Paul and Barnabas started: be present, rely on the Lord, and keep preaching even when the response is mixed. Bold Christian witness is a mixture of courage and humility, persistence and prudence, hope and realism. The same Lord who testified to their work still testifies to his word today. We are called to be his instruments — present in our communities, proclaiming the gospel, trusting God to confirm his word and to sustain us through opposition.

Putting Faith Into Action

Pray and prepare before you speak: ask for Christ-centered boldness, then speak briefly and clearly about what Jesus has done for you and for sinners.
Commit to a long-term relationship: identify one person or neighborhood where you will invest time and presence for several months, not just one conversation.
Plan for opposition wisely: know when to stay and minister and when to withdraw for safety while remaining committed to preaching the gospel elsewhere.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, give us boldness that rests in you. Help us to stay where you send us, to teach with patience, and to trust your confirmation even amid opposition. Protect and guide us when danger comes, and use our faithful witness to bring your grace to others. Amen.

Memory Verse

Acts 14:3 — Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (WEB)

“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Keep Going Continue to Part 42 Turn From These Vain Things — Point People to the Living God Acts · Acts 14:8–20 Read the next devotional →

Bible Context

Read all of Acts 14

Acts 14

World English Bible • WEB

¹In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

²But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.

³Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

⁴But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles.

⁵When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,

⁶they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

⁷There they preached the Good News.

⁸At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.

⁹He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

¹⁰said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.

¹¹When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

¹²They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.

¹³The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.

¹⁴But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and sprang into the multitude, crying out,

¹⁵“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

¹⁶who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

¹⁷Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

¹⁸Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.

¹⁹But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

²⁰But 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.

²¹When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

²³When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

²⁴They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

²⁵When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

²⁶From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

²⁷When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.