Acts 14:3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
The setting
Iconium, ~49 AD. Despite growing hostility, Paul and Barnabas remain for months. Miraculous healings happen in the marketplace, validating their message...
The emotion here: amazed at God's power working through ordinary men
The original word
parrēsiazomenoi (παρρησιαζόμενοι) — speaking with complete freedom, holding nothing back
Why it matters
Roman law protected religious teachers in designated areas, which is why they could continue preaching despite opposition
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 14:3
The 'long time' was probably 6-8 months - this wasn't a quick visit but a sustained church plant
Common misconceptionPeople think the signs and wonders were the main point, but they were just God's way of backing up the message when it was under attack.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 14:3
Bible Genome reading
Acts 14:3 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 14:3 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include boldness, miracles. Notable phrases: speaking boldly; testified to the word; signs and wonders.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Acts 14:3 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "deciding"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.