CHAPTER XIV.

1. Paul and Barnabas driven by persecution from Iconium. 8. Paul heals the cripple at Lystra; he and Barnabas worshiped as gods. 19. Paul stoned. 21. They pass through the different churches confirming the disciples. 26. Return to Antioch, and report success.

Α

ND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude, both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren.

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

1. So spake] So conclusively, so powerfully, and with so much of the influence of the Holy Ghost. Of the Greeks] Probably proselytes who spoke the Greek language; although some suppose them to have been Gentiles drawn to the Jewish synagogue by the fame of the apostles.

2. But the unbelieving Jews] Those who refused to acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah, and rejected the doctrines of the apostles. Stirred up the Gentiles] Instigated, set on the heathens, against the brethren-Paul and Barnabas-and those who had embraced Christ. Evil-affected] Imbittered, prejudiced against.

3. Long time therefore abode they] In order to build up and confirm the faith of the numerous converts, and to overcome the opposition and prejudice against them, by their humble, pious lives, and public instructions. Speaking boldly in the Lord] These words may either mean that they boldly preached Jesus, that is, his doctrines and religion, or, as many commentators render them, "speaking freely in reliance upon the Lord." Gave testimony] That is, the Lord gave assurance or evidence of the truth of their doctrine by giving them power to work miracles. Word of his grace] The gospel. Granted signs and wonders] Miracles; which were signs of the presence and power of God, and wonderful for their extraordinary character.

4. Was divided] Held different opinions of the doctrines of the apostles-the one party approving, the other rejecting. Part held with the Jews] Joined with them in their enmity against the brethren, as apostates from their religion. Part with the apostles] Espoused their cause, probably from sympathy.

5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7 And there they preached the gospel.

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had

walked.

9 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

5. When there was an assault made] When there was a full purpose, a set design, to make an attack upon them, for they did not wait for its execution. To use them despitefully] With violence and abuse. To stone them] As blasphemers against the law. Deut. xiii, 6. So they stoned Stephen, as speaking "blasphemous words against the law and the temple," Acts vi, 13; and so also they attempted to stone Christ for supposed blasphemy. John x, 33.

6. They were ware of it] By some means the plot came to their knowledge. The original rather means, "Having taken consideration respecting the matter, what was best to be done.” Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia] Lycaonia was another province of Asia Minor, adjoining Pisidia on the north-east. These two cities were in a southerly direction from Iconium.

8. Impotent in his feet] Having no strength in his feet, they being entirely incapable of bearing the weight of his body. He sat, emphatically expressing his helplessness, not having the power of walking. A cripple from his mother's womb] His weakness was not a late or sudden affection, but had been of long continuance, even from his birth, so that he had never been able to walk; thus making him a most suitable subject for the display of divine power in his cure. The derivation of the word cripple, Mr. Bloomfield remarks, is suggested by the old spelling of the word creeple, one who can only creep, and not walk upright.

9. Perceiving that he had faith to be healed] Seeing manifested in his countenance, as he gazed upon him, that look of confidence in his truth, and power to do him good, that fitted him to become a subject of miraculous energy; or the divine power now bestowed upon him, enabled him to discern this state of heart in the impotent man. This cripple may have heard of the miracles performed by the apostles in Iconium, and on this account had great faith in their ability to

cure him.

10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

10. Stand upright] The more evidently to exhibit the miraculous power. He leaped and walked] Placing the miracle beyond a doubt of its reality, and expressing the most natural course of one for the first time able to use his feet. (See Acts iii, 6, 7.)

11. In the speech of Lycaonia] What this was, cannot be certainly known. The original language of these provinces was Syriac; but having been conquered by the Greeks, the latter language gained the ascendency. The present dialect probably was a mixture of corrupt Greek and Syriac. "St. Paul evidently did not understand what was spoken, otherwise he would have prevented the preparation for sacrifice.”—BLOOMFIELD. The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men] Heathen mythology is full of traditions of their divinities, whom they supposed to superintend human affairs, visiting the earth, especially cities consecrated to their honor, in human shape. And, witnessing this astonishing and merciful miracle, exhibiting evidently superhuman power, they immediately concluded that their city was honored with the presence of their gods incarnate.

12. They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius] "Mercury was esteemed the god of letters and eloquence, and was usually represented as an active young man: having, therefore, determined to consider that Paul and Barnabas were gods, it was natural enough that they should regard Paul, he being the younger, and more eloquent of the two, as Mercury. The appearance of Barnabas may probably, in like manner, have reminded the Lystrians of the appearance in which Jupiter was represented to them by painters and sculptors. This was a venerable, full-bearded personage, in the advanced prime of life, of grave countenance, and majestic presence -not looking as one prone to speak, but as one whose mind was deeply concentrated on thoughts and purposes within; and yet not so deeply as to be entirely unobservant of the outer world and its concerns."-Pic. Bible. Jupiter was the chief of the heathen gods, and was usually represented as attended by Mercury, who was his messenger. There appears to have been a temple of Jupiter in Lystra. Mr. Harrington remarks:-" The persuasion of their being Jupiter and Mercury might gain the more easily upon the minds of. the Lycaonians on account of the well-known fable of Jupiter and

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which

Mercury, who were said to have descended from heaven in human shape, and to have been entertained by Lycaon, from whom the Lycaonians received their name."

13. Then the priest of Jupiter] The chief of the priests; "the chief priest of the temple of Jupiter." The name of the deity is here used for his temple. Which was before their city] It was customary among the ancients to erect a temple to the tutelary or guardian divinity of their cities, near their walls. In front of Lystra there was a temple to Jupiter, who was considered the especial protector of their city. Brought oxen and garlands unto the gates] Brought chaplets of flowers to place around the horns of the victim, according to their idolatrous custom, when an animal was offered in sacrifice. It is not certain whether these sacrifices were brought to the gates of the city, or to the portals of the temple, or to the doors of the house where the apostles were at this time. And would have done sacrifice with the people] Joining with the people in their belief in the presence of deities, he would have offered the same sacrifices and prayers to them that he offered to Jupiter.

14. They rent their clothes] Significant of their surprise and utter abhorrence of this act. By this expressive symbol, the Jews exhibited their grief at the death of friends, or in a public calamity. They were also accustomed to rend their garments when they heard blasphemy, or witnessed any great transgression of their law, expressing at once their grief and abhorrence. Matt. xxvi, 65; Gen. xxxvii, 29, 34; xliv, 13; Josh. vii, 6.

15. We also are men of like passions with you] As if he had said, We are men only, not gods; the Greek term denoting the being subject to those infirmities natural to mortality-passions, affections, wants, weakness, diseases, death. We are frail mortals like yourselves, far from being gods. Ye should turn from these vanities] These vain ceremonies, or the worship of these vain idol gods. By this term, as expressive of their utter inability to help their worshipers, the folly of their ceremonies, and the irrational character of all idolatries, heathen gods and idol worship are known in the Old Testament. Isa. xlv, 9; Jer. xiv, 22; 1 Cor. viii, 4. Unto the living God] As distin

made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

guished from these dead idols. Which made heaven and earth] The apostle, as ever, seizes this happy opportunity of preaching the true God, while he forbade their idol worship to himself and Barnabas. Probably for the first time, in reference to many of them, this great fact was announced. Many idolatrous Gentiles, it may be, for the first time heard this great truth, and learned the origin of the universe, concerning which the best-educated heathens had but the most vague and idle notions.

16. Who-suffered all nations to walk in their own ways] That is, the Gentile nations; for the Jews were an exception. God is said to have suffered them to do thus, not that he gave them no light or direction, so that they might discover a better way; for we learn that even among them "he left not himself without a witness," so as to take away every excuse for not worshiping him as God; nor that he suffered them to go on in sin with impunity: but on account of their willful wickedness, he left them, in his infinite wisdom, to their own voluntarily perverted reasons-not having raised up for them a prophet or religious instructor, or sent to them a written revelation.

17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness] Although he had not given a written revelation, still he had given continual exhibitions of his presence, power, and providence; so that the heathen themselves had always been conscious of a higher power, although, in their sinful folly, their minds had become darkened as to the true God. The goodness of God as exhibited in all his works and providences, the gracious and plentiful seasons, were all calculated to reveal his character, and call forth the warmest sentiments of gratitude toward him, and in not yielding this to him-all that he required of them-he left them without excuse. Filling our hearts with food and gladness] That is, satisfying our bodies with food, and filling our hearts with gladness. Dr. Hales remarks, that "the apostle leaves them to draw the conclusion from these premises, that it would be the height of ingratitude (and impiety) to transfer to the creature the worship due only to the Creator."