Acts 14:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After preaching in Derbe and making many disciples, they turn back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch — the very cities that drove them out.
What Does Acts 14:21 Mean?
Derbe receives the word gladly; Luke records no persecution there, only much fruit. Then comes the astonishing itinerary: instead of taking the short road home, Paul and Barnabas turn around and walk straight back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia.
They return not to confront their persecutors but to care for their converts. New believers remained in those dangerous cities, and to the missionaries that outweighed the danger. Here is the gospel's full shape — not merely proclaiming and moving on, but making disciples and staying bound to them. Love for the flock leads the apostles back through the places of their worst suffering, an instinct learned from the Good Shepherd himself.
Acts 14:21 in the Original Language
matheteuo (μαθητεύω), 'taught' -- to make disciples, to bring someone into the life of a learner and follower.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 14:21
What does Acts 14:21 mean?
After preaching in Derbe and making many disciples, they turn back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch — the very cities that drove them out.