Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 14:20

"But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe." — Acts 14:20 (ASV)

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him.—They, it is obvious, had been powerless to prevent the attack; but they stole out when all was over, perhaps with the purpose of giving at least a decent burial. We may fairly think of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy as present in that crowd, weeping first for sorrow, and then for exceeding joy, to find that the teacher whom they loved was stunned only, and not dead.

He departed with Barnabas to Derbe.—The journey must have occupied several hours, and we do well to remember that after the suffering of the previous day, it must have been one of particular hardship and fatigue.

The city of Derbe was, as has been said, twenty miles east of Lystra. It was just within the Cappadocian boundary of Isauria. The exact site has not been identified, but the ruins of an Acropolis have been found not far from the lake Ak-Ghieul, which are supposed to be the remains of Derbe. The whole region was infamous for its brigandage, and there may be a reference to this in the perils of robbers of 2 Corinthians 11:26.