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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
JEWISH OPPOSITION DURING FIRST TOUR

[“Jews and non-Jews”]
Key word: Experiences

Acts 14:1-7 – Iconium Divided

AC14:1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and spoke to a large number, both of Jews and of Greeks. 549

549	Greeks: A term for all non-Jews.

AC14:2 But the disobedient Jews wrongly influenced the non-Jews 550 and poisoned their souls against the brothers.

550	Disobedient Jews wrongly influenced the non-Jews: Or, unbelieving, refractory, unconvinced; RSV: poisoned the minds.

AC14:3 So they stayed there for some time, speaking boldly regarding the Master – testifying to the word of His unmerited favor – [He] granting signs and wonders performed through their hands. AC14:4 But a schism occurred among the people of the city. Some took the Jews’ side, and others were with the apostles. 551

551	Apostles: Both Paul and Barnabas are here called “apostles.” For details see notes on 1 Corinthians 12:28.

AC14:5 When an attempt was made by both non-Jews and Jews, together with their rulers, they behaved outrageously 552 while throwing stones at them.

552	They behaved outrageously: Or, despitefully, shamefully, illtreat, insult, abuse, molest, mistreat.

AC14:6 [The apostles] learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, 553 cities of Lycaonia, 554 and to the surrounding region.

553	Lystra and Derbe: Going south 40 miles and then east 100 miles. Lystra was a Roman colony and Paul would return here again. Later a certain “Gaius of Derbe” temporarily travels with Paul.

554	Lycaonia: The designation for a treeless plateau with limited water, south of Galatia.

AC14:7 There they continued proclaiming the Good News.

Acts 14:8-13 – Greeks Attempt to Worship Paul

AC14:8 Now at Lystra there was a crippled man sitting down. He was lame from the womb and had never been able to walk. 555

555	Had never been able to walk: Similar to the man Peter cured at Acts 3:2.

AC14:9 He listened to Paul speak. Looking at him intently, Paul saw that he believed so he could be cured. AC14:10 Paul said in a loud voice: “Rise and stand erect on your feet!” And the man bounced up and began to walk. AC14:11 And when the crowds realized what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian tongue: “The Gods have become humans and come down to us!” AC14:12 Now they called Barnabas Zeus, 556 while they called Paul Hermes, 557 because he was the leading speaker of the Word. 558

556	Now they called Barnabas Zeus: In Greek it is DIA and is also rendered as the Roman Jupiter, the national god of the Greeks. According to Homer the greatest of The Gods. [The Iliad, VIII, 1-25]

557	They called Paul Hermes: Or, Mercury, the son of Zeus by Maia. He was The God of commerce and gifted in speech.

558

Because he was the leading speaker of the Word: Or, chief speaker, principal speaker, led in the discourse. Paul is now mentioned first for another reason – his knowledge and oratory. It is one of the greatest tests of a person to watch an associate demonstrate greater abilities. Such must have required considerable humility on the part of Barnabas.

AC14:13 And the priest of Zeus – whose [shrine] was in front of the city – brought bulls and garlands to the gates and desired to offer sacrifice together with the crowds. 559

559	Desired to offer sacrifice together with the crowds: Just as Peter’s similar cure had a great impact on the Jews in the Temple, now crowds of both Jews and pagans are similarly impressed.

Acts 14:14-18 – Enthusiasm Barely Constrained

AC14:14 However, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and leaped out among the crowd, yelling, AC14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also humans with similar afflictions! 560 Now we are bringing you Good News, that you should turn from these worthless things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

560	Similar afflictions: Or, passions, natures, feelings, mortal, emotions, infirmities. The Greek is HOMOIOPATHEIS (English = homeopathic) [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3663, similarly affected].

AC14:16 In generations past He permitted the non-Jews to go in their own ways, 561

561	He permitted the non-Jews to go in their own ways: Or, suffered, allowed. These peoples are not lost but God has “overlooked the times of their ignorance.” [Acts 17:27, 30] Compare notes on Romans 2:15-17.

AC14:17 though He did not leave Himself without evidence. 562 For He did good 563 and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and good cheer.”

562	He did not leave Himself without evidence: Or, KJV: without witness; WEY: not left His existence unattested; NEB: some clue to His nature. Compare notes on Romans 1:20 and Romans 10:18. There is no excuse – throughout the ages of humankind’s existence – for atheism.

563	For He did good: Compare notes on Matthew 5:45.

AC14:18 And so with these words they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Acts 14:19-23 – Stoning at Lystra

AC14:19 However, Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and convincing the crowds, they stoned Paul 564 and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

564	They stoned Paul: When these Jews had the power they showed their true disposition in stoning Paul for a different belief. [2 Corinthians 11:25]

AC14:20 But when the disciples 565 gathered around Paul, he rose up and then entered the city. 566 On the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 567

565	The disciples: The recent believers.

566	Entered the city: This took great courage, though they may have done so under cover.

567	Derbe: 100 miles to the east.

AC14:21 When they had proclaimed the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned through Lystra and Iconium and arrived at Antioch. 568

568	They returned through Lystra and Iconium and arrived at Antioch: Now they backtrack 140 miles east and north. This took great courage to return through such cities where they were persecuted. We can imagine the reaction of some who thought Paul was dead. The whole trip was about 250 miles.

AC14:22 [There] they strengthened the souls of the disciples, 569 encouraging them to remain in the Faith, saying: “We must gain entrance into the Kingdom of The God through many oppressions.” 570

569	They strengthened the souls of the disciples: Or, confirmed, reassured, fortified. In this they encouraged and educated further those new disciples.

570	Oppressions: Or, tribulations, troubles, afflictions, hardships, trials, persecutions. [Matthew 10:38; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:12]

AC14:23 And after they had appointed elders by vote in every congregation 571 – along with prayer and fasting 572 – they set them aside 573 to the Master in whom they believed.

571

Appointed elders by vote in every congregation: Or, KJV: ordained them elders in every church; RSV: appointed elders; WEY: selected elders by show of hands; MOF: chose presbyters for them; WMS: helped them select elders in each church; IB: hand-picked. There is much debate on this verse. Congregationalists insist this was a vote by the congregation. Presbyterians by the vote of elders. It seems clear from the language that Paul and Barnabas made these appointments, possibly with the support of others. The Greek is KHEIROTONESANTES [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5500, to stretch out the hand, vote, select, appoint]. Judging from 1 Timothy 3:1f and Titus 1:5 this was an appointment or selection by Church representatives [1 Timothy 4:14], and not a vote of the congregation. It should be noted these appointees were likely fairly new Christians.

572	Along with prayer and fasting: Modern elders authorized to make appointments should note the seriousness displayed here where not only prayer is involved, but also going without meals while decisions are made, thus assuring a prompt determination.

573	They set them aside: Or, commended, entrusted, committed, dedicated. “They” are likely the apostles Paul and Barnabas and possibly others.

Acts 14:24-26 – Back to Antioch in Pisidia

AC14:24 Then Paul and Barnabas passed through Pisidia, and arrived at Pamphylia. 574

574	Passed through Pisidia, and arrived at Pamphylia: Retracing their steps through these Roman provinces over 150 miles south.

AC14:25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, 575 they went down to Attalia. 576

575	They had spoken the word in Perga: Where John Mark had left them.

576	Attalia: About 8 miles west, possibly to take a boat about to leave southeast to Antioch in Syria.

AC14:26 From there they sailed to Antioch, 577 where they had been commended 578 to the unmerited favor of The God for the work they had now completed.

577	They sailed to Antioch: 300 miles of sailing along the coast.

578	They had been commended: Appointed by the holy Pneuma for this first missionary tour. [Acts 13:2]

Acts 14:27-28 – Experiences Related in Antioch

AC14:27 And when Paul and Barnabas arrived, they gathered the congregation together and recounted 579 all The God had done with them, and how He had opened a door of faith to the non-Jews.

579	Recounted: Or, rehearsed, declared, gave an account, reported.

AC14:28 So they spent no little time together the disciples.

Review Questions on Chapter Fourteen