Acts 14:3 - Exposition

They tarried there for abode they, A.V.; bare witness for gave testimony, A.V.; granting for and granted, A.V. For the phrase long time ( ἱκανὸν χρόνον ), comp. Acts 27:9 , "much time," and "many days" ( ἡμέραι ἱκαναί ), Acts 9:23 . So also Luke 8:27 , "long time," or "for a long time" ( ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν ). Speaking boldly ( παρρησιαζόμενοι ) in the Lord ( ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ ) ; i.e. having the Lord for their support. It was the special prayer of the Church that God would "grant to his servants that they might speak the Word with all boldness ( μετὰπαρρησίας πάσης )," and in answer to that prayer they were enabled to speak "the Word of God with boldness" ( Acts 4:29 ,31; comp. Acts 9:29 ; Acts 18:26 ; Acts 19:8 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:2 , etc.). It was no small evidence of the power of the Holy Ghost that the apostles were able to speak with such uncompromising fidelity in the face of such bitter opposition. Signs and wonders , etc. See Mark 16:17-20 ; comp. too Acts 4:30 , which also indicates that we ought, perhaps, to understand here τῷ κυρρίῳ of God the Father rather than of "his holy Servant Jesus."