Multilingualism in Lystra

“Multilingualism is a resource for effective Gospel communication, not an impediment. The Acts 14:8-20 account demonstrates the risks involved with relying too heavily on gateway languages as a medium for ministry. The potential for catastrophic miscommunication like what was seen in Lystra is significant. Conversely, when missionaries and local church leaders begin to view multiple languages as an asset rather than as an inconvenience, there is great potential for the creative deployment of vernacular language Scripture resources and the strategic use of multilingual methodologies.”

Multilingualism has reached high levels in our increasingly interconnected, globalizing world. Multilingual complexities are not new in the world of missions. Barnabas and Paul’s initial visit to Lystra (Acts 14:8-20) was occasioned by significant linguistic complexity. A sociolinguistic reading of this narrative provides a nuanced understanding of what was occurring during this event and the impact of these misunderstandings.

This study provides insights on navigating complex multilingual environments in current missions and is accompanied by innovative ministry strategies that communicate in the best language(s) without requiring missionaries or church planters to learn multiple languages.

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Hatcher T 2025 Multilingualism in Lystra

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