Acts 14:6

Verse

they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

American Standard Version (1901)

they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:

Having got news of it, they went in flight to the towns of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the country round about:

They understanding it, fled to Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the whole country round about, and were there preaching the gospel.

Free Bible Version

However, they found out about it and fled to the region of Lycaonia, to the towns of Lystra and Derbe,

Geneva Bible 1599

They were ware of it, and fled vnto Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and vnto the region round about,

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

But somebody told Paul and Barnabas that those people wanted to kill them, so Paul and Barnabas ran away to the country called Lyconia. They went to the towns called Listra and Derbi, and to the country around those towns,

Translation for Translators

But Paul and Barnabas heard about that, so they quickly went away to Lycaonia district. They went to Lystra and Derbe cities in that district and to the area surrounding those cities.

Unlocked Literal Bible

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

Noah Webster Bible

Being apprised of it , they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the region in that vicinity.

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

they having become aware, did flee to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and to the region round about,

Context

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

⁵But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,⁶they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,⁷where they continued to preach the gospel.

Summary

In Acts 14:6, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, to escape persecution. Despite facing opposition and danger, they continued to preach the Gospel boldly. This verse illustrates the perseverance and courage of the early apostles in spreading the message of Jesus Christ, even in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by those who proclaim the Good News and the importance of unwavering faith in fulfilling God's mission. The example set by Paul and Barnabas encourages believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to sharing the Gospel, regardless of the obstacles they may encounter.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

They were ware of it - They were informed of the scheme, and of the attempt that was about to be made, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe; they did not leave the province of Lycaonia, but went to other towns and cities. Lystra lay to the south and Derbe to the north of Iconium, according to the general opinion. Strabo, Geogr. lib. xii., tells us expressly, that Iconium was within Lycaonia, Thence are the Lycaonian hills plain, cold, naked, and pastures for wild asses. About these places stands Iconium, a town built in a better soil. Ptolemy also, Tab. Asiae, i. cap. 6, places Iconium in Lycaonia. How comes it, then, that St. Luke does not call Iconium a city of Lycaonia, as well as Derbe and Lystra? Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. v. cap. 27, solves this difficulty, by stating, that there was granted a tetrarchy out of Lycaonia, on that side which borders upon Galatia, consisting of fourteen cities; the most famous of which is Iconium. See Lightfoot.

John Gill Bible Commentary

They were ware of it,.... They understood it, were apprised of it, and well weighed it, and considered it in their minds, and what was best to be done at this juncture: and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia; according to the orders and command of Christ, Mat 10:23 not so much to save their lives, as to spread the Gospel in other parts. Lycaonia was a province in the lesser Asia, near Phrygia, separated from it by the mountains; on the east it bordered on Galatia, and had on the west Pamphylia and Pisidia, and on the south Cilicia, unto Mount Taurus. Some say it had its name from Lycaon, the son of Pelasgus; others, seeing it was not a Greek colony, chose to fetch the name of the country from the Syrians, who used to call their neighbour's country Leikonia, or in the Greek pronunciation Lycaonia; that is, the country of Iconium, which city was the metropolis of Lycaonia (i): Lystra is by Ptolomy (k) placed in Isauria, and so Derbe is said by Strabo (l) to be upon the coast of Isauria; wherefore the words may be read thus, as they are in the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, "and they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, and to Lystra, and to Derbe"; by which reading, they are not necessarily made the cities of Lycaoma: according to Jerom (m), they were both cities of Lycaonia. Lystra is the same with "Lehesthera"; which, in the Hebrew and Syriac languages, signifies "a flock of sheep", or "a city of flocks"; it being a place that abounded with sheep, as the country of Lycaonia in general did (n). Derbe was sometimes called "Delbia", which, in the language of the Lycaonians, signifies a "juniper tree"; and Delub, and Dulbe, with the Targumist (o) and Talmudists (p), signify a chesnut tree; and with the Arabians, "Dulb" is a plane tree, or poplar; it seems as if it had its name from one or other of those trees, which might grow in large quantities near it: and unto the region that lieth round about; the said cities. (i) Vid. Hiller. Onomasticum Sacrum, p. 870. (k) Geograph. l. 5. c. 4. (l) Ib. l. 12. (m) De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. A. D. (n) Vid. Hiller. ib. p. 870, 871. (o) Targum Onkelos in Gen. xxx. 37. (p) T. Hieros. Cetubot, fol. 31. 4. T. Bab. Roshhashana, fol. 23. 1. & Succa, fol. 32. 2.

Acts 14:6

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

American Standard Version (1901)

they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:

Bible in Basic English

Having got news of it, they went in flight to the towns of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the country round about:

Douay-Rheims 1899

They understanding it, fled to Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the whole country round about, and were there preaching the gospel.

Free Bible Version

However, they found out about it and fled to the region of Lycaonia, to the towns of Lystra and Derbe,

Geneva Bible 1599

They were ware of it, and fled vnto Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and vnto the region round about,

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

But Paul and Barnabas heard about that, so they quickly went away to Lycaonia district. They went to Lystra and Derbe cities in that district and to the area surrounding those cities.

Unlocked Literal Bible

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

Noah Webster Bible

Being apprised of it , they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the region in that vicinity.

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

they having become aware, did flee to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and to the region round about,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 14:6

Verse

Context

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Acts 14:6

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes