Acts:14:1-7

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rwp @Acts:14:1 @{They entered together } (\kata to auto eiselthein \). Like \epi to auto \ in strkjv @3:1 |. The infinitive \eiselthein \ is the subject of \egeneto \. {Songs:spake that } (\lal ˆsai hout “s h “ste \). Infinitive again parallel to \eiselthein \. With the result that , actual result here stated with \h “ste \ and the aorist infinitive \pisteusai \ (Robertson , _Grammar_ , pp . 999f .) rather than \h “ste \ and the indicative like strkjv @John:3:16 |. It was a tremendous first meeting . rwp @Acts:14:2 @{That were disobedient } (\hoi apeith ˆsantes \). First aorist active articular participle , not the present \apeithountes \ as the Textus Receptus has it . But the meaning is probably the Jews that disbelieved , rather than that disobeyed . Strictly \apeithe “\ does mean to disobey and \apiste “\ to disbelieve , but that distinction is not observed in strkjv @John:3:36 | nor in strkjv @Acts:19:9 ; strkjv @28:24 |. The word \apeithe “\ means to be \apeith ˆs \, to be unwilling to be persuaded or to withhold belief and then also to withhold obedience . The two meanings run into one another . To disbelieve the word of God is to disobey God . {Made them evil affected } (\ekak “san \). First aorist active indicative of \kako “\, old verb from \kakos \, to do evil to , to ill-treat , then in later Greek as here to embitter , to exasperate as in strkjv @Psalms:105:32 | and in Josephus . In this sense only here in the N .T . Evidently Paul preached the same message as in Antioch for it won both Jews and Gentiles , and displeased the rabbis . Codex Bezae adds here that "the chiefs of the synagogue and the rulers " brought persecution upon Paul and Barnabas just as was argued about Antioch . Outside the synagogue the Jews would poison the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas . "The story of Thecla suggests a means , and perhaps the apostles were brought before the magistrates on some charge of interference with family life . The magistrates however must have seen at once that there was no legal case against them ; and by a sentence of acquittal or in some other way the Lord gave peace " (Rackham ). As we have it , the story of Paul and Thecla undoubtedly has apocryphal features , though Thecla may very well be an historical character here at Iconium where the story is located . Certainly the picture of Paul herein drawn cannot be considered authentic though a true tradition may underlie it : "bald , bowlegged , strongly built , small in stature , with large eyes and meeting eyebrows and longish nose ; full of grace ; sometimes looking like a man , sometimes having the face of an angel ." rwp @Acts:14:3 @{Long time therefore } (\hikanon men oun chronon \). Accusative of duration of time (possibly six months ) and note \men oun \. There is an antithesis in \eschisth ˆ de \ (verse 4 |) and in verse 5 | (\egeneto de \). After the persecution and vindication there was a season of great opportunity which Paul and Barnabas used to the full , "speaking boldly " (\parr ˆsiazomenoi \ as in strkjv @13:46 | at Antioch in Pisidia , "in the Lord " (\epi t “i kuri “i \), upon the basis of the Lord Jesus as in strkjv @4:17f |. And the Lord Jesus "bore witness to the word of his grace " as he always does , "granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands " (\didonti s ˆmeia kai terata ginesthai dia t “n cheir “n aut “n \). Present participle (\didonti \) and present infinitive (\ginesthai \) repetition of both signs and wonders (note both words ) just as had happened with Peter and John and the other apostles (2:43 ; strkjv @4:29f .; strkjv @5:12 |; cf . strkjv @Hebrews:2:4 |). The time of peace could not last forever with such a work of grace as this . A second explosion of persecution was bound to come and some of the MSS . actually have \ek deuterou \ (a second time ). rwp @Acts:14:4 @{But the multitude of the city was divided } (\eschisth ˆ de to pl ˆthos t ˆs pole “s \). First aorist passive indicative of \schiz “\, old verb to split , to make a schism or factions as Sadducees and Pharisees (23:7 |). This division was within the Gentile populace . Part held (\hoi men ˆsan \), literally "some were with the Jews " (\sun tois Ioudaiois \), part with the apostles (\hoi de sun tois apostolois \). Common demonstrative of contrast (\hoi men , hoi de \, Robertson , _Grammar_ , p . 694 ). The Jewish leaders made some impression on the Gentiles as at Antioch in Pisidia and later at Thessalonica (17:4f .|). This is the first time in the Acts that Paul and Barnabas are termed "apostles " (see also verse 14 |). Elsewhere in the Acts the word is restricted to the twelve . Certainly Luke does not here employ it in that technical sense . To have followed Jesus in his ministry and to have seen the Risen Christ was essential to the technical use (1:22f .|). Whether Barnabas had seen the Risen Christ we do not know , but certainly Paul had (1Corinthians:9:1f .; strkjv @15:8 |). Paul claimed to be an apostle on a par with the twelve (Galatians:1:1 ,16-18 |). The word originally means simply one sent (John:13:16 |) like messengers of the churches with the collection (2Corinthians:8:23 |). The Jews used it of those sent from Jerusalem to collect the temple tribute . Paul applies the word to James the Lord 's brother (Galatians:1:19 |), to Epaphroditus (Phillipians:2:25 |) as the messenger of the church in Philippi , to Silvanus and Timothy (1Thessalonians:2:6 ; strkjv @Acts:18:5 |), apparently to Apollos (1Corinthians:4:9 |), and to Andronicus and Junias (Romans:16:6f .|). He even calls the Judaizers "false apostles " (2Corinthians:11:13 |). rwp @Acts:14:5 @{An onset } (\horm ˆ\). A rush or impulse as in strkjv @James:3:4 |. Old word , but only twice in the N .T . (here and James ). It probably denotes not an actual attack so much as the open start , the co-operation of both Jews and Gentiles (the disaffected portion ), "with their rulers " (\sun tois archousin aut “n \), that is the rulers of the Jewish synagogue (13:27 |). The city officials would hardly join in a mob like this , though Hackett and Rackham think that the city magistrates were also involved as in Antioch in Pisidia (13:50 |). {To entreat them shamefully } (\hubrisai \). First aorist active infinitive of \hubriz “\, old verb to insult insolently . See on ¯Matthew:22:6 ; strkjv @Luke:18:32 |. {To stone } (\lithobol ˆsai \). First aorist active infinitive of \lithobole “\, late verb from \lithobolos \ (\lithos \, stone , \ball “\, to throw ) to pelt with stones , the verb used of the stoning of Stephen (7:58 |). See on ¯Matthew:21:35 |. The plan to stone them shows that the Jews were in the lead and followed by the Gentile rabble . "Legal proceedings having failed the only resource left for the Jews was illegal violence " (Rackham ). rwp @Acts:14:6 @{They became aware of it } (\sunidontes \). Second aorist (ingressive ) active participle of \sunora “\ (\suneidon \), old word to see together , to become conscious of as already in strkjv @12:12 |. In the N .T . only by Luke and Paul . {Fled } (\katephugon \). Second aorist (effective ) active indicative of \katapheug “\, old verb , but in the N .T . only here and strkjv @Hebrews:6:18 |. Paul and Barnabas had no idea of remaining to be stoned (lynched ) by this mob . It is a wise preacher who always knows when to stand his ground and when to leave for the glory of God . Paul and Barnabas were following the directions of the Lord Jesus given to the twelve on their special tour of Galilee (Matthew:10:23 |). Lystra and Derbe , cities of Lycaonia (still part of the Province of Galatia , though in another _Regio_ ), not far from the base of the Black Mountain . Professor Sterrett has apparently identified Lystra by an inscription about six hours (18 miles ) south-southwest from Iconium near the village Khatyn Serai and Derbe probably near the village Losta or Zosta though its location is really not known . Lystra had been made a colony in B .C . 6 and Derbe was the frontier city of the Roman empire in the southeast . These are the only cities mentioned , but they were of importance and show that Paul kept to his plan of going to centres of influence . The new imperial road from Antioch and Iconium reached these cities . {The region round about } (\t ˆn perich “ron \) was "a high table land , ill-watered , bleak , but suited for sheep pasture " (Page ). rwp @Acts:14:7 @{And there they preached the gospel } (\kakei euaggelizomenoi ˆsan \). Periphrastic imperfect middle . We are to think of extensive evangelistic work perhaps with the assistance of disciples from Antioch and Iconium since Paul and Barnabas could not speak Lycaonian . \Kakei \ is crasis for \kai ekei \.

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