Chapter 14

Acts 14:1–3. Now it happened that in Iconium they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. So they stayed there a considerable time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands. “They entered together.” They did not become more fearful, but again went into the synagogues, taking away any excuse the Jews might have. And it was natural that they should converse with the Greeks as well as with the Jews. “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.” They stirred up the Gentiles too, not being content to rise up only themselves. Yet the apostles did not leave that place, for they were not being driven out but only opposed. “So they stayed there a considerable time, speaking boldly.” The boldness came from the apostles’ own eagerness; but the believing of those who heard came from the signs, though the boldness also contributed something to it.

Acts 14:4–7. But the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews and others with the apostles. And when there arose a rush of both Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, to insult and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they preached the gospel. “But the multitude of the city was divided.” This was what Christ spoke of: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). “Becoming aware of it, the apostles fled.” There is nothing strange in the saints fleeing from those who are about to plot against them, and judging it better to withdraw from a conflict which, according to the testimony already cited, they regarded as not permitted to them.

Acts 14:8–12. And a certain man in Lystra, powerless in his feet, sat there, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice: “To you I say, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, stand upright on your feet.” And at once he leaped up and began to walk. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in Lycaonian: “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the leader of the speaking. “He said with a loud voice.” Why with a loud voice? So that the crowds might believe. And by the words, “looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,” it seems to me that Paul looked into the man’s very soul; for to attend to what Paul was saying belonged only to a philosophic soul. “And he leaped up and walked.” That the lame man leaped up is proof of a complete healing. “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done.” Notice, on the one hand, the simplicity of the Gentiles, and on the other, the malice of the Jews. The former honored the apostles as gods; the latter persecuted them as destroyers. “And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes.” You see how it was the custom of the Greeks to make gods out of men. Learn the origin of idolatry, so that you may have an answer when people ask where idolatry came from. In this very way the Greeks made gods even of the apostles, out of men. And the devil from the very beginning strove in like manner to bring this impiety into the world, saying, “You shall be as gods” (Gen. 3:5). And since he did not succeed then, ever since he keeps attempting it even now, everywhere striving to introduce polytheism.

Acts 14:13–18. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple stood before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and, together with the crowds, wanted to offer sacrifice. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed into the crowd, crying out and saying: “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; who in past generations allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, doing good, giving us rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And saying these things, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them. “Tearing their garments.” See how they are everywhere pure of vainglory: not only do they not seek it, but they even fend it off when it is offered to them; just as Peter also said, “Why do you look intently at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” (Acts 3:12). These apostles say the same thing, but they do it with vehemence: they tore their garments and rushed in. “We also are men of like nature with you.” We are men, they say, but greater than these idols, for these are dead. You see how customary it was among the Greeks to make gods out of men. Indeed, in those who recorded the ancient histories you will find that Zeus, being a man, made himself a god, declaring that he was a god; just as many of the Roman and Macedonian kings were called divine. Therefore there is no ground for disbelieving the old accounts of this, that some peoples were deceived and named certain men gods—just as these men were deceived about Barnabas and Paul. And the inhabitants of Samaria called Simon the magician the great power of God. Because Paul said, “In the name of Jesus, rise and stand upright,” they supposed him to be a god and not a servant of God. “Tearing their garments.” It was a custom among the Jews to tear their garments at blasphemies against God. So when Christ said that he was the Son of God, Caiaphas tore his garment, saying that Christ had blasphemed against God. Since, then, what was now happening was in a way a kind of blasphemy, the apostles too did the same, still following Jewish traditions. But the custom is rejected, since it was not an ordinance of the law. And indeed God said to the Jews when they acted in this way: “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:12–13). “Who in past generations allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.” He said “allowed,” but why he allowed it the apostle does not yet say, for the present he dwells on what is most pressing, and nowhere yet mentions the name of Christ. “Yet he did not leave himself without witness”—he says this because in every generation God accomplished such works as guide people to righteousness. Not forcing free will, the Lord allowed all people to walk according to their own judgment; but he himself continually worked those things through which they, being rational beings, could come to know their Creator. And the apostle calls even the yearly rains his witnesses.

Acts 14:19–25. Then Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him outside the city, supposing him to be dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and entered the city; and on the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. And after they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and teaching that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained presbyters for them in each church, they prayed with fasting and committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. And passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia; and having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts 14:26–27. And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had now fulfilled. And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Look at the frenzy of the Jews: they made their way into a people that had shown such honor to the apostles, and persuaded them to stone Paul. They dragged him outside the city because they were afraid; and besides, they were aiming only to undermine the preaching. But do you see Paul’s burning zeal? After being thrown out of the city, he came back again into that very same city, to show that if anywhere, in such circumstances, he did withdraw, it was because he had to sow the word of God and because he should not inflame their wrath. “And that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” See: without toil and hardship no one is justified. For this reason the Lord called the gate that leads to the kingdom narrow and pressed (see Matt. 7:13)—that is, full of constraints. Yet it is not every tribulation or affliction one happens to meet that leads into the kingdom of heaven, but the affliction borne for faith in God. “Having ordained presbyters for them, they prayed with fasting.” They taught the disciples to fast even in the midst of trials; and the ordinations too were accompanied by fasting. But in Cyprus they did not appoint presbyters, nor in Samaria, since Samaria was near Jerusalem and the apostles, and in Antioch itself the word of God was already strong; whereas here the newly believing, and especially those from among the Gentiles who needed instruction, required much support. But notice that Paul and Barnabas held the rank of bishops, since they ordained not only deacons but also presbyters. “When they had arrived” (in Antioch) “and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them.” The apostle did not say, “all that they had done,” but “all that God had done with them.” And it seems to me he means the trials. “God opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” By the opening of a door he means the teaching which the Gentiles received through the apostles.

Acts 14:28. And they remained there no little time with the disciples. Since the city was large, there was need of teachers there.