Acts 14:1

The journey of Paul and Barnabas to Iconium is passed over rapidly by Luke, and the inference is that there was little opportunity on the way for missionary work. The city lay some 90 mi. southeast of Antioch at a junction of several important roads. Some ancient writers assigned it to Phrygia; others, to Lycaonia. The city was of sufficient size and dignity to be called the Damascus of Lycaonia, and became noted in later Christian tradition as the setting of the story of Paul and his convert Thecla. In the Middle Ages Iconium rose to importance as the capital of the Seljuk sultans, and under the shortened, altered name of Konya, it is still a flourishing city of Turkey. See Paul’s First Missionary Tour, and The Journeys of Paul.

Both together. Evidently this did not describe one special visit to the synagogue, but repeated occasions upon which Paul and Barnabas went together to meet with the Jews.

Into the synagogue. As usual, Paul commenced his labors among the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles who met with them in worship. Obviously these synagogue visits were on the Sabbath days (see on ch. 13:14, 44).

So spake. They spoke on various occasions, during some of which not only Jews but Gentiles apparently were present (see below under “Greeks”).

A great multitude. As with the preaching at Antioch in Syria (see ch. 11:21, 24), so here there was remarkable success from the preaching of the gospel.

Greeks. Gr. Hellenes, a word used by Luke to signify a Gentile, in contradistinction to Hellenistai, by which he means Greek Jews (see on ch. 11:20). Apparently here, as at Antioch, there were “believing” Gentiles to be found in the synagogue (cf. ch. 13:16). Furthermore, the apostles were at Iconium a considerable time (see ch. 14:3), and doubtless they spoke in other places besides the synagogue.