Friends of the apostles, although unbelievers, warned them of the designs of the malicious Jews, and urged them not to expose themselves uselessly to their fury, but to escape for their lives. They accordingly departed from Iconium in secret, and left the faithful and opposing parties to battle for themselves, trusting God to give victory to the doctrine of Christ. But they by no means took a final leave of Iconium; they purposed to return, after the excitement then raging had abated, and complete the work they had begun.{LP 54.2}

Selvom apostlenes venner var ikke-troende, blev de advaret mod de ondskabsfulde jøders planer, og opfordrede dem til at ikke udsætte sig unødigt for deres raseri, men flygte for deres liv. De forlod således Ikonium i det skjulte, og lod de trofaste og fjendtlige partier kampe for sig selv, stolede på at Gud ville give sejr for Kristi lære. Men ville på ingen måde forlade Ikonium for endeligt; de ville vende tilbage, efter at ophidselsen var aftaget, og fuldendte det arbejde de hade begyndt.