Resuming the story line of the missionary journey's itinerary (13:51; see notes for 14:2-3), Luke highlights the persevering boldness of Paul and Barnabas's witness. Like Peter, John and "the Twelve" in the face of the Sanhedrin's threats (4:31), Paul and Barnabas speak openly the plain truth for—better "because of, relying on"—the Lord—that is, the Lord Jesus Christ (epi; Bauer, Gingrich and Danker 1979:287; Krodel 1986:252). Bold perseverance in the face of hostility is as much an evidence of the power of God as the great numbers who come to Christ (compare 4:8, 13).

The Lord, for his part, confirmed (literally "bearing witness to") "the word about his grace" through signs and wonders by the evangelists. Luke labels the gospel the message of his grace in order to show that the signs and wonders confirm the reality of the salvation blessings claimed by that word (see comment at 11:23; compare 4:33; 13:43).

Luke's presentation of signs and wonders here gives us criteria for judging claims today. Their true source must be God alone. They must occur at his initiative. Their fruit will not necessarily be an irresistible compulsion, so that all who witness and hear of them will believe. Rather, their true purpose and effect is "establishing the Gospel in its full and genuine authority" (Calvin 1966:3). Far from denigrating the verbal, cognitive appeal of the gospel in favor of the visual, experiential impact of miracle, Luke sees signs and wonders as confirming support to the gospel. These miracles at Iconium place the work of Paul and Barnabas in continuity with the mission of Jesus and "the Twelve" and bear witness to unbelieving Jews that the salvation blessings Israel experienced in the past and hoped for at the end of the age are now not only theirs but also the Gentiles' (2:22; 5:12; 15:12; Ex 7:3; Ps 135:9; Acts 2:19/Joel 2:30; Gal 3:4-5).