Acts 14:6

King James Version (KJV)

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

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.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

They were ware of it - They were in some way informed of the excitement and of their danger.

And fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia - Lycaonia was one of the provinces of Asia Minor. It had Galatia north, Pisidia south, Cappadocia east, and Phrygia west. It was formerly within the limits of Phrygia, but was erected into a separate province by Augustus. “The district of Lycaonia extends from the ridges of Mount Taurus and the borders of Cilicia on the south, to the Cappadocian hills on the north. It is a bare and dreary region, unwatered by streams, though in parts liable to occasional inundations. Strabo mentions one place where water was even sold for money. Across some portion of this plain Paul and Barnabas traveled both before and after their residence in Iconium. After leaving the high land to the northwest, during a journey of several hours before arriving at the city, the eye ranges freely over a vast expanse of level ground to the south and the east, The two most eminent objects in the view are the snowy summits of Mount Argaeus, rising high above all the intervening hills in the direction of Armenia, and the singular mountain mass called the ‹Kara-Dagh,‘ or ‹Black Mount,‘ southeastward in the direction of Cilicia. And still these features continue to be conspicuous after Iconium is left behind, and the traveler moves on over the plain toward Lystra and Derbe. Mount Argaeus still rises far to the northeast, at the distance of 150 miles.

The Black Mountain is gradually approached, and discovered to be an isolated mass, with reaches of the plain extending round it like channels of the sea. The cities of Lystra and Derbe were somewhere about the bases of the Black Mountain.” The exact position of Lystra and Derbe is still subject to some uncertainty. In 1824, Col. Leake wrote thus: “Nothing can more strongly show the little progress that has hitherto been made in a knowledge of the ancient geography of Asia Minor, than that, of the cities which the journey of Paul has made so interesting to us, the site of one only (Iconium) is yet certainly known. Perga, Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, and Derbe, remain to be discovered.” The situation of the first two of these towns has been since that fully identified, and some ruins have been found which have been supposed to mark the place of Lystra and Derbe, though not with entire certainty.

And unto the region … - The adjacent country. Though persecuted, they still preached; and though driven from one city, they fled into another. This was the direction of the Saviour, Matthew 10:23.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The apostles spake so plainly, with such evidence and proof of the Spirit, and with such power; so warmly, and with such concern for the souls of men; that those who heard them could not but say, God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be reckoned to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God who used that means. Perseverance in doing good, amidst dangers and hardships, is a blessed evidence of grace. Wherever God's servants are driven, they should seek to declare the truth. When they went on in Christ's name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. He has assured us it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, yet united against Christians. If the church's enemies join to destroy it, shall not its friends unite for its preservation? God has a shelter for his people in a storm; he is, and will be their Hiding-place. In times of persecution, believers may see cause to quit a spot, though they do not quit their Master's work.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

6. Ware of it. Undoubtedly there were those on the side of the apostles who had sufficient contact with the opposing group to know of the plot. Luke makes no attempt to exaggerate the sufferings of the Christian evangelists. This narrow escape from stoning is told in simple language, without elaboration.

Fled. The apostles’ action was in obedience to Jesus’ command that when persecuted in one city they were to flee to another (see on Matt. 10:23).

Lystra. Until 1885 the exact location of Lystra was unknown. In that year an inscription was discovered identifying as Lystra a site now known as Zoldera. It is situated some six hours’ journey southwest of Iconium. Traveling on the road from Iconium, the apostles would have ascended through a range of hills to the plateau on which Lystra lay. Although Lycaonia is noted in classical literature as a wild, uncivilized country, inscriptional evidence indicates that Lystra was made a Roman colony by Augustus, and so it doubtless enjoyed a higher culture than the surrounding country. As a Roman commercial center Lystra may have had Jews in its population, but the record of Acts gives no indication that the city contained a synagogue, and Paul’s contacts there appear to have been largely with Gentiles. Even Timothy, the child of a devout Jewish mother, probably of Lystra, had grown up uncircumcised (see on ch. 16:1, 3). See Paul’s First Missionary Tour.

Derbe. The site of Derbe was discovered in 1956 when an inscription mentioning Derbe was found at Kerti HuÃŒË†yuÃŒË†k, 52 mi. (83 km.) southeast of Iconium, the modern Konia. Another inscription confirming this identification had come to light in more recent years. Gaius, later one of Paul’s fellow travelers, was from Derbe (ch. 20:4). See Paul’s First Missionary Tour.

Lycaonia. Lycaonia was not a Roman province, but a racial area, the western part of which lay in the Roman province of Galatia and the eastern part in the kingdom of Antiochus of Commagene. Paul and Barnabas apparently remained within the boundaries of the province of Galatia. In NT times Iconium was reckoned as belonging to Phrygia, so in going on to Lystra and Derbe, the apostles entered a new area.

Lieth round about. This suggests that the cities of Lystra and Derbe were small and that Paul and Barnabas evangelized them in a short time. In so far as they worked in the country villages, they must have met Gentiles almost entirely.

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 177-9

This chapter is based on Acts 14:1-26.

From Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium. In this place, as at Antioch, they began their labors in the synagogue of their own people. They met with marked success; “a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.” But in Iconium, as in other places where the apostles labored, “the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.” AA 177.1

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