And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
in.
Acts 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
went.
Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 17:1,2,17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: …
that a.
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,
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Acts 13:43,46 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God…
Greeks.
Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
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 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue
Paul and Barnabas followed their customary practice of beginning their ministry in a new city by visiting the local synagogue. This approach was strategic, as synagogues were places where Jews gathered for worship and teaching, and they often welcomed visiting teachers. Paul's background as a Pharisee and his deep understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures made him well-suited to engage with Jewish audiences. This method also fulfilled the principle of "to the Jew first" (Romans 1:16), reflecting the priority of offering the Gospel to the Jewish people before extending it to the Gentiles.
where they spoke so well
The phrase indicates that Paul and Barnabas were effective communicators, able to present the Gospel in a compelling and persuasive manner. Their ability to articulate the message of Jesus Christ was likely enhanced by the Holy Spirit, who empowered them to speak with boldness and clarity. This effectiveness in communication is a recurring theme in Acts, as seen in other instances where the apostles preached with power and conviction (Acts 4:13, 6:10).
that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed
The response to Paul and Barnabas's preaching was significant, with many Jews and Greeks coming to faith in Christ. This highlights the inclusive nature of the Gospel, breaking down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles, as emphasized in passages like Galatians 3:28. The mention of Greeks indicates that the message of Jesus was reaching beyond the Jewish community, fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). This diverse response also foreshadows the growing Gentile inclusion in the early Church, a major theme in the Book of Acts.
• Iconium, a key city in Galatia, becomes the next stop after the dust-shaking departure from Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:50-51).
• The gospel’s advance here fulfills Jesus’ promise that His witnesses would carry the message “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
• Paul later recalls the hardships he faced in Iconium alongside those in Lystra and Antioch (2 Timothy 3:11), underscoring both the reality of persecution and the Lord’s rescue.
• Consistent strategy: every new city begins in the synagogue because “the gospel is the power of God for salvation, first to the Jew, then to the Greek” (Romans 1:16; cf. Acts 13:5; 17:1-2).
• This setting provides
– an audience already acquainted with Scripture,
– a platform guaranteed by the custom of inviting visiting teachers (Acts 13:15).
• Faithfulness to this pattern displays respect for God’s covenant order while opening doors to Gentiles who also attend the synagogue (Acts 13:42-44).
• The effectiveness is not polished rhetoric but Spirit-empowered proclamation (Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 2:4).
• Luke later comments, “Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly for the Lord” (Acts 14:3), tying courage to clear testimony about Jesus’ death and resurrection (Acts 13:38-39).
• The apostles present
– fulfilled prophecy,
– the historicity of Christ’s work,
– the call to repent and believe—elements that consistently pierce hearts (Acts 2:36-41; 13:26-39).
• Response shows the gospel’s power to unite people once divided by ethnicity and tradition (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:13-16).
• Similar mixed harvests appear in Thessalonica (Acts 17:4) and Corinth (Acts 18:4), confirming that belief is produced by the same message for all (Acts 15:9).
• The phrase “great number” highlights God’s gracious initiative; salvation is always His work (Acts 13:48; John 6:44).
Acts 14:1 records a familiar pattern: arriving missionaries enter the synagogue, proclaim Christ with Spirit-given clarity, and God gathers a sizeable, multi-ethnic body of believers. The verse underscores purposeful strategy, bold preaching, and divine fruitfulness—reminding us that the same unchanging gospel still breaks barriers and draws many to faith today.
XIV.(1) Both of the Jews and also of the Greeks.--The latter term is used in its wider sense, as in Mark 7:26 and elsewhere, as equivalent to Gentile, but it implies that those who were so described spoke and understood Greek. In the former instance these would probably be the "proselytes of the gate" who heard the Apostles in the synagogue.
Verse 1. - Entered for went both, A.V.; Jews for the Jews, A.V.; and for and also, A.V.; Greeks for the Greeks, A.V. Observe how in every case Greeks are found attending the synagogue. So spake, etc. This illustrates the statement in Romans 10:17, that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."