Bible Commentaries

Acts 14:1. κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ, together) So the LXX., 1 Samuel 31:6.— οὕτως) in such a way, and with such success. Persecution had increased their power.

Acts 14:3. [ ἱκανὸν χρόνον, for no short time) not thinking that they ought to give way to violence.—V. g.]— ἐπὶ, concerning [super]) The object.⁸³— μαρτυροῦντι, who gave testimony) The Lord by the testimony of miracles confirmed the word of grace.— λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος, unto the word of His grace) A noble definition of the Gospel.

Acts 14:4. ἐσχίσθη, was divided) The great difference of religion and philosophy is apparent even from the divisions which there have been, and which in the case of the faith are of weighty moment, but in the case of philosophy almost ludicrous.

Acts 14:6. κατέφυγον, they fled for refuge) There is most abundant refuge for the godly, viz. either earth or heaven.

Acts 14:9. ἀτενίσας, having stedfastly looked upon) It is the part of spiritual prudence, to observe the motions of the hearers, especially such as are afflicted.— πίστιν, faith) passive faith with regard to the miracle. Whilst the cripple hears the word, he feels its power in his soul: whence he is moved inwardly, so as to draw the conclusion with respect to his body (being cured).

Acts 14:10. ἀνάστηθι, stand upright) Paul does not expressly appeal to the name of Jesus, inasmuch as it had been mentioned a little before in his discourse.—[ καὶ περιεπάτει, and he walked) even though he had never before tried to do so.—V. g.]

Acts 14:11. κατέβησαν, have come down) Often the Gentiles ascribed such a descent to their gods, especially to Jupiter, καταβάτης, the Descender. See J. H. a Seelen Medit. Exeget. pp. 453, 458.

Acts 14:12. δία, Jupiter) The people of Lystra used to worship Jupiter. The ancients called Jupiter σωτήρ, the Saviour: therefore they accounted Barnabas as Jupiter in particular.

Acts 14:13. τοῦ ὄντος πρὸ, which was before) Therefore they had an idol and shrine outside the gate.— ταύρους, bulls) A bull especially used to he immolated to Jupiter.— στέμματα, garlands) to be placed upon the bulls. They were in haste.— θύειν, to sacrifice) to perform divine worship.

Acts 14:14. διαῤῥήξαντες, having rent asunder) By this very action, not graceful in itself, but done gracefully [becomingly, i.e. for a good end, to avert idolatry], they showed that they were not gods; for God does not deny Himself: whereas they deny that they are gods. Also, they spring in among the people, and cry as one would do in case of a conflagration, or other sudden and great danger.

Acts 14:15. λέγοντες, saying) With this discourse may be compared that other to the Athenians, who required to hear something more sublime: ch. 17.— ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ὑμῖν ἄνθρωποι, men of like passions with you) not gods made like men. They hasten forward, putting first the Ætiology (assigning of the reason), before that they say that they are men. God is ἀπαθὴς, exempt from passions.— ματαίων, vanities) אלילים, such as are their Jupiters, Mercuries, and the whole family of them. He does not even deign to call them gods.— ζῶντα, living] So God is often called, in opposition to the idols.— οὐρανὸν, γῆν, θάλασσα., heaven, earth, sea) From these were derived the three classes of the gods of the Gentiles.

Acts 14:16. ὃς, who) An anticipation of an objection that might be made, lest the Lycaonians should suppose that, had these same things been true, they would have heard them from their parents.— παρῳχημέναις, past) οἴχεσθαι is said of that which perishes and passes away ineffectual. See by all means 2 Esdras 9 :(13) 14–22; with which comp. as to a vain mode of life, 1 Peter 1:18 : and, on the contrary, as to believers, Acts 13:36, David served the will of God in his generation.— εἴασε, suffered) A great judgment. With this may be compared Heidanus de Orig. erroris, l. vi., etc.— πάντα, all) The largeness of the number of those in error does not take away (set aside) the error.— ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν, in their own ways) of idolatry, which they themselves entered upon (have begun).

Acts 14:17. οὐκ ἀμάρτυρον, not without witness) For the nations had testimony from GOD, concerning GOD. And now He decidedly commandeth (all men everywhere to repent): ch. Acts 17:30.— ἀγαθοποιῶν, in that He did good) The testimony of GOD is put forth even in the punishments which He inflicts; but more properly in His acts of goodness, namely from heaven: Hosea 2:21.— οὐράνοθεν, from heaven) Without doubt Paul here pointed to the heaven by a gesture (a motion of his head) or with his hand. Heaven is the seat of GOD. Comp. the expression, are come down, applied to the gods, Acts 14:11.— ὑετοὺς) By the rain the heaven, earth, and sea are joined with one another. Therefore it is beautifully mentioned in this place, and perhaps there was rain at the time.— διδοὺς, giving) in the larger world [macrocosmo, opposed to the microcosmus].— καιροὺς, seasons) Days of sunshine, winds, and seasons of the year.— ἐμπιπλῶν, filling) in the little world in which we move [microcosmo].— τροφῆς, with food) in the body, daily.— εὐφροσύνης, gladness) in the mind: at festive seasons.

Acts 14:18-19. τοὺς ὄχλους, the multitudes) These were driven by impulse from one extreme to the opposite. [There are persons who cannot conceive such a sudden leap (transition) in the state of the feelings. But it was not on that very day that the Jews are said to have interfered against the apostles (Acts 14:19): nor indeed is so sudden a change among the Gentiles to be deemed as impossible; comp. ch. Acts 28:4; Acts 28:6.—V. g.]

Acts 14:19. τὸν παῦλον, Paul) It was he who had made the speech: Acts 14:12. Barnabas shared in the danger; ch. Acts 15:26; yet he was less hated by them.

Acts 14:20. κυκλωσάντων, as the disciples stood round about him) as one who was to be buried.— εἰσῆλθεν, came into) Implying great confidence: being thereby about to confirm believers. [Barnabas was even still in the city.—V. g.]

Acts 14:21. ἱκανοὺς) very many.— ὑπέστρεψαν, they returned) with saving power [salutari operâ].

Acts 14:22. καὶ ὅτι) The same particle occurs in Acts 14:27.— ὃτι, that) This has the effect of both consoling and exhorting.— διὰ, through) This is a sale road.

Acts 14:23. χειροτονήσαντες when they had appointed) A great increase: a new precedent (example) of ministers taken from among the very persons who have been recently converted.— παρέθεντο, they commended them) By this verb is indicated faith towards Christ, and love towards the saints. It is appropriately used by persons bidding farewell: ch. Acts 20:32.

Acts 14:24. παμφυλίαν, Pamphylia) The region, to which belonged the cities Perga and Attalia, towards the sea.

Acts 14:26. ἀπέπλευσαν) they sailed back.— παραδεδομένοι, from whence they had been recommended [dedicated]) ch. Acts 13:2 : נתינים, Nethinim = ‘devoted:’ applied to the servants of the temple who waited on the Levites.— τῇ χάριτι) the grace (ch. Acts 15:40) which was about to flow through them upon many.— ἐπλήρωσαν, they fulfilled) A most delightful word.

Acts 14:27. συναγόντες, when they had gathered together) for this purpose. So ch. Acts 15:30.— ἀνήγγειλαν, they reported) they rehearsed all to those who, conscious of Barnabas and Saul’s Divine call, had eagerly looked for their success. [A true rehearsal of the course of the Gospel may often bring with it manifold fruit: ch. Acts 15:3-4; Acts 15:12. How rare are narrative sermons of this kind!—V. g.]— μετʼ αὐτῶν, with themselves) Comp. μετὰ, with, ch. Acts 15:4; Luke 1:58; Luke 10:37.— θύραν, door) John 10:1-2, etc.; Psalms 118:19. Comp. Acts 10:45, note [When the one Gentile, Cornelius, was admitted, the door was thrown open to all]. Paul calls it εἴσοδον entering in, 1 Thessalonians 1:9