1. Acts 14:1–18 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

Form and Structure

Acts 14:1–18 (ESV)

1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

  • The main movements in the book of Acts are as follows:1

    • Prologue, foundations for the church and its mission (Acts 1:1–2:41)

    • The church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42–6:7)

    • The church expands to Samaria and elsewhere (Acts 6:8–9:31)

    • Peter and the first Gentile converts (Acts 9:32–12:24)

    • Paul turns to the Gentiles (Acts 12:25–16:5)

    • Further penetration into the Gentile world (Acts 16:6–19:20)

    • On to Rome (Acts 19:21–28:31)

  • With regards to Paul’s turn to the Gentiles, a further division can be made:2

    • The mission on Cyprus (Acts 13:1–12)

    • The mission in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13–52)

    • The mission in Iconium (Acts 14:1–7)

    • The mission in Lystra (Acts 14:8–20

    • The mission in Derbe and Perge (Acts 14:21–28)

    • The apostles’ council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–33)

    • Disagreements, travels and missionary plans (Acts 15:35–16:5)

  • Some of the events in Acts 13:1–52 and Acts 14:1–28 appear to parallel those of Acts 2:1–3:26.3 Having been sent and empowered by the Spirit (Acts 2:1–13; Acts 13:1–4), an apostle of Jesus Christ then preaches the gospel (Acts 2:14–39; Acts 13:16–41) and performs a public miracle (Acts 3:1–9; Acts 14:8–10) followed by another speech (Acts 3:11–26; Acts 14:11–18).

  • Undeterred by the Jewish opposition which they received in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas continue to minister in southern Asia Minor.4 Their ministry is shown to have a certain pattern and response. First the gospel is preached in the synagogue. It is typically received with joy and there are converts from both a Jewish and a Gentile background. Unbelieving Jews however do not take long to form and organise opposition which eventually forces Paul and Barnabas to go elsewhere.5