Acts 14:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Rather than retreat, Paul and Barnabas stay a long time, speaking boldly, while the Lord bears witness to the word of his grace with signs and wonders.
What Does Acts 14:3 Mean?
The 'therefore' is striking: because opposition rose, they stayed. In Iconium the missionaries answer slander not with flight but with patient, open preaching, and the Lord himself confirms their message, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Notice who testifies to what. The Lord 'gave testimony unto the word of his grace' — the miracles are not the message but God's signature beneath it, and the message itself is named: grace. Boldness like this is possible only 'in the Lord,' resting on his presence rather than on a friendly audience. When the word being spoken is his, its vindication is his concern too.
Acts 14:3 in the Original Language
parrhesiazomai (παρρησιάζομαι), 'speaking boldly' -- to speak freely and openly, without fear or concealment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 14:3
What does Acts 14:3 mean?
Rather than retreat, Paul and Barnabas stay a long time, speaking boldly, while the Lord bears witness to the word of his grace with signs and wonders.