Acts:14
Seeker Overlay ON
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
sai 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
santes \).
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
s \,
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
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
siazomenoi \
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
meia 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
de to pl
thos t
s 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
san \),
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 \).
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
sai \).
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
n 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
san \).
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 \.
rwp @
Acts:14:8 @{
At Lystra } (\
en Lustrois \).
Neuter plural as in strkjv @
16:2 ;
strkjv @
2Timothy:3:11 |
while feminine singular in strkjv @
14:6 ,
21 ;
strkjv @
16:1 |.
There was apparently no synagogue in Lystra and so not many Jews .
Paul and Barnabas had to do open-air preaching and probably had difficulty in being understood by the natives though both Greek and Latin inscriptions were discovered here by Professor Sterrett in 1885 .
The incident narrated here (
verses 8-18 |)
shows how they got a real hearing among these rude heathen . {
There sat } (\
ekath
to \).
Imperfect middle of \
kath
mai \.
Was sitting .
This case is very much like that in strkjv @
3:1-11 |,
healed by Peter .
Possibly outside the gate (
verse 13 |)
or some public place . {
Impotent in his feet } (\
adunatos tois posin \).
Old verbal ,
but only here in the N .
T .
in this sense except figuratively in strkjv @
Romans:15:1 |.
Elsewhere it means "
impossible " (
Matthew:19:26 |).
Locative case .
Common in medical writers in the sense of "
impotent ."
Songs:Tobit strkjv @
2:10 ;
strkjv @
5:9 . {
Had walked } (\
periepat
sen \).
Songs:best MSS .,
first aorist active indicative "
walked ,"
not \
periepepat
kei \, "
had walked " (
past perfect active ).
rwp @
Acts:14:9 @{
The same } (\
houtos \).
Just "
this one ." {
Heard } (\
kouen \).
Imperfect active ,
was listening to Paul speaking (\
lalountos \).
Either at the gate or in the market place (
17:17 |)
Paul was preaching to such as would listen or could understand his Greek (
_Koin
_
).
Ramsay (
_St
.
Paul the Traveller_
,
pp .
114 ,
116 )
thinks that the cripple was a proselyte .
At any rate he may have heard of the miracles wrought at Iconium (
verse 3 |)
and Paul may have spoken of the work of healing wrought by Jesus .
This man was "
no mendicant pretender ,"
for his history was known from his birth . {
Fastening his eyes upon him } (\
atenisas aut
i \).
Just as in strkjv @
13:9 |
of Paul and strkjv @
1:10 |
which see .
Paul saw a new hope in the man '
s eyes and face . {
He had faith } (\
echei pistin \).
Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse . {
To be made whole } (\
tou s
th
nai \).
Genitive of articular first aorist passive infinitive (
purpose and result combined )
of \
s
z \,
to make sound and also to save .
Here clearly to make whole or well as in strkjv @
Luke:7:50 | (
cf .
strkjv @
Acts:3:16 ;
strkjv @
4:10 |).
rwp @
Acts:14:10 @{
Upright } (\
orthos \).
Predicate adjective .
In this sense Galen and Hippocrates frequently use \
orthos \ (
erect ,
straight ).
Paul spoke in a loud (\
megal
i \)
voice so that all could hear and know . {
He leaped up and walked } (\
h
lato kai periepatei \).
Rather ,
He leaped up with a single bound and began to walk .
The second aorist middle indicative (
with first aorist vowel \
a \)
of \
hallomai \ (
late verb ,
in papyri )
and inchoative imperfect active of \
peripate \,
common verb to walk around .
This graphic picture is concealed by the usual English rendering .
It is possible that Luke obtained the vivid report of this incident from Timothy who may have witnessed it and who was probably converted during Paul '
s stay here (
16:3 |).
His father was a prominent Greek and his mother Eunice ,
possibly a widow ,
may have lived here with her mother Lois (
2Timothy:1:5 |).
rwp @
Acts:14:11 @{
Lifted up their voice } (\
ep
ran t
n ph
n
n aut
n \).
First aorist active of \
epair \.
In their excitement they elevated their voices . {
In the speech of Lycaonia } (\
Lukaonisti \).
Adverb from verb \
lukaoniz \,
to use the language of Lycaonia found here alone ,
but formed regularly like \
Ebraisti \ (
John:5:2 |), \
Hell
nisti \ (
Acts:21:37 |), \
R
maisti \ (
John:19:20 |).
Paul was speaking in Greek ,
of course ,
but the excitement of the crowd over the miracle made them cry out in their native tongue which Paul and Barnabas did not understand .
Hence it was not till preparations for offering sacrifice to them had begun that Paul understood the new role in which he and Barnabas were held . {
In the likeness of men } (\
homoi
thentes anthr
pois \).
First aorist passive participle of \
homoi \,
to liken ,
with the associative instrumental case .
In this primitive state the people hold to the old Graeco-Roman mythology .
The story of Baucis and Philemon tells how Jupiter (
Zeus )
and Mercury (
Hermes )
visited in human form the neighbouring region of Phrygia (
Ovid ,
_Meta_
.
VIII .
626 ).
Jupiter (
Zeus )
had a temple in Lystra .
rwp @
Acts:14:12 @{
They called } (\
ekaloun \).
Inchoative imperfect began to call . {
Barnabas ,
Jupiter } (\
ton Barnaban Dia \).
Because Barnabas was the older and the more imposing in appearance .
Paul admits that he was not impressive in looks (
2Corinthians:10:10 |). {
And Paul ,
Mercury } (\
ton de Paulon Herm
n \).
Mercury (\
Herm
s \)
was the messenger of the gods ,
and the spokesman of Zeus . \
Herm
s \
was of beautiful appearance and eloquent in speech ,
the inventor of speech in legend .
Our word hermeneutics or science of interpretation comes from this word (
Hebrews:7:2 ;
strkjv @
John:1:38 |). {
Because he was the chief speaker } (\
epeid
autos
n ho h
goumenos tou logou \).
Paul was clearly "
the leader of the talk ."
Songs:it seemed a clear case to the natives .
If preachers always knew what people really think of them !
Whether Paul was alluding to his experience in Lystra or not in strkjv @
Galatians:4:14 |,
certainly they did receive him as an angel of God ,
as if "
Mercury "
in reality .
rwp @
Acts:14:13 @{
Whose temple was before the city } (\
tou ontos pro t
s p
le
s \).
The god (
Zeus )
is identified with his temple .
He had a statue and temple there . {
Oxen and garlands } (\
taurous kai stemmata \).
Probably garlands to put on the oxen before they were slain .
It was common to sacrifice bullocks to Jupiter and Mercury . {
Would have done sacrifice } (\
thelen thuein \).
Imperfect indicative ,
wanted to offer sacrifice .
He was planning to do it ,
and his purpose now became plain to Paul and Barnabas .
rwp @
Acts:14:14 @{
Having heard } (\
akousantes \).
Such elaborate preparation "
with the multitudes " (\
sun tois ochlois \)
spread rumours and some who spoke Greek told Paul and Barnabas .
It is possible that the priest of Jupiter may have sent a formal request that the visiting "
gods "
might come out to the statue by the temple gates to make it a grand occasion .
They rent their garments (\
diarr
xantes \).
First aorist active participle from \
diarr
gnumi \,
old verb to rend in two .
Like the high priest in strkjv @
Matthew:26:65 |
as if an act of sacrilege was about to be committed .
It was strange conduct for the supposed gods ! {
Sprang forth } (\
exep
d
san \).
First aorist (
ingressive )
active indicative of \
ekp
da \ (
note \
ek \),
old verb ,
here only in the N .
T .
It was all a sign of grief and horror with loud outcries (\
krazontes \).
rwp @
Acts:14:15 @{
Sirs } (\
andres \).
Literally ,
Men .
Abrupt ,
but courteous . {
We also are men of like passions with you } (\
kai h
meis homoiopatheis esmen humin anthr
poi \).
Old adjective from \
homoios \ (
like )
and \
pasch \,
to experience .
In the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
James:5:17 |.
It means "
of like nature "
more exactly and affected by like sensations ,
not "
gods "
at all .
Their conduct was more serious than the obeisance of Cornelius to Peter (
10:25f .|). \
Humin \
is associative instrumental case . {
And bring you good tidings } (\
euaggelizomenoi \).
No "
and "
in the Greek ,
just the present middle participle , "
gospelizing you ."
They are not gods ,
but evangelists .
Here we have Paul '
s message to a pagan audience without the Jewish environment and he makes the same line of argument seen in strkjv @
Acts:17:21-32 ;
strkjv @
Romans:1:18-23 |.
At Antioch in Pisidia we saw Paul '
s line of approach to Jews and proselytes (
Acts:13:16-41 |). {
That ye should turn from these vain things } (\
apo tout
n t
n matai
n epistrephein \).
He boldly calls the worship of Jupiter and Mercury and all idols "
vain "
or empty things ,
pointing to the statues and the temple . {
Unto the living God } (\
epi theon z
nta \).
They must go the whole way .
Our God is a live God ,
not a dead statue .
Paul is fond of this phrase (
2Corinthians:6:16 ;
strkjv @
Romans:9:26 |). {
Who made } (\
hos epoi
sen \).
The one God is alive and is the Creator of the Universe just as Paul will argue in Athens (
Acts:17:24 |).
Paul here quotes strkjv @
Psalms:146:6 |
and has strkjv @
Genesis:1:1 |
in mind .
See also strkjv @
1Thessalonians:1:9 |
where a new allegiance is also claimed as here .
rwp @
Acts:14:16 @{
In the generations gone by } (\
en tais par
ich
menais geneais \).
Perfect middle participle from \
paroichomai \,
to go by ,
old verb ,
here alone in the N .
T . {
Suffered } (\
eiasen \).
Constative aorist active indicative of \
ea \ (
note syllabic augment ).
Paul here touches God in history as he did just before in creation .
God '
s hand is on the history of all the nations (
Gentile and Jew ),
only with the Gentiles he withdrew the restraints of his grace in large measure (
Acts:17:30 ;
strkjv @
Romans:1:24 ,
26 ,
28 |),
judgment enough for their sins . {
To walk in their ways } (\
poreuesthai tais hodois aut
n \).
Present middle infinitive ,
to go on walking ,
with locative case without \
en \.
This philosophy of history does not mean that God was ignorant or unconcerned .
He was biding his time in patience .
rwp @
Acts:14:17 @{
And yet } (\
kaitoi \).
Old Greek compound particle (\
kai toi \).
In the N .
T .
twice only ,
once with finite verb as here ,
once with the participle (
Hebrews:4:3 |). {
Without witness } (\
amarturon \).
Old adjective (\
a \
privative and \
martus \,
witness ),
only here in the N .
T . {
Left } (\
aph
ken \).
First aorist active (\
k \
aorist indicative of \
aphi
mi \). {
In that he did good } (\
agathourg
n \).
Present active causal participle of \
agathourge \,
late and rare verb (
also \
agathoerge \
strkjv @
1Timothy:6:18 |),
reading of the oldest MSS .
here for \
agathopoie \,
to do good .
Note two other causal participles here parallel with \
agathourg
n \,
viz ., \
didous \ ("
giving you ")
present active of \
did
mi ,
empipl
n \ ("
filling ")
present active of \
empimpla \ (
late form of \
empimpl
mi \).
This witness to God (
his doing good ,
giving rains and fruitful seasons ,
filling your hearts with food and gladness )
they could receive without the help of the Old Testament revelation (
Romans:1:20 |).
Zeus was regarded as the god of rain (
Jupiter Pluvius )
and Paul claims the rain and the fruitful (\
karpophorous ,
karpos \,
and \
pher \,
fruit bearing ,
old word ,
here alone in N .
T .)
seasons as coming from God .
Lycaonia was often dry and it would be an appropriate item . "
Mercury ,
as the God of merchandise ,
was also the dispenser of food " (
Vincent ).
Paul does not talk about laws of nature as if they governed themselves ,
but he sees the living God "
behind the drama of the physical world " (
Furneaux ).
These simple country people could grasp his ideas as he claims everything for the one true God . {
Gladness } (\
euphrosun
s \).
Old word from \
euphr
n \ (\
eu \
and \
phr
n \),
good cheer .
In the N .
T .
only strkjv @
Acts:2:28 |
and here .
Cheerfulness should be our normal attitude when we consider God '
s goodness .
Paul does not here mention Christ because he had the single definite purpose to dissuade them from worshipping Barnabas and himself .
rwp @
Acts:14:18 @{
Scarce } (\
molis \).
Adverb in same sense as old \
mogis \,
from \
molos \,
toil . {
Restrained } (\
katepausan \).
Effective first aorist active indicative of \
katapau \,
old verb in causative sense to make abstain from . {
From doing sacrifice unto them } (\
tou m
thuein autois \).
Ablative case of the articular infinitive with redundant negative after \
katepausan \,
regular Greek idiom (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
pp .
1094 ,
1171 ).
It had been a harrowing and well-nigh a horrible ordeal ,
but finally Paul had won .
If only nobody else had interposed !
rwp @
Acts:14:19 @{
But there came thither Jews from Antioch and Iconium } (\
Ep
lthan de apo Antiocheias kai Ikoniou Ioudaioi \).
Came to or upon them , \
ep
lthan \,
second aorist (
ingressive )
indicative of \
eperchomai \.
Whether news of the miracle had reached those cities we do not know .
These may have been travelling grain merchants .
At any rate there was an interval in which Paul and Barnabas won some disciples (
verse 22 |).
There would be a natural reaction ,
even revulsion ,
in the minds of many who had come so near to worshipping Paul and Barnabas .
The pendulum swings easily from one extreme to the other .
The hostile Jews from Antioch and Iconium may even have followed Paul and Barnabas along the fine Roman road on purpose to keep them on the run .
They had driven them out of Antioch and out of Iconium and now appear at Lystra at an opportune moment for their work . {
Having persuaded the multitudes } (\
peisantes tous ochlous \).
First aorist (
effective )
active participle of \
peith \.
They had complete success with many and struck at the psychological moment . {
They stoned Paul } (\
lithasantes ton Paulon \).
First aorist active participle of \
lithaz \,
late verb from \
lithos \
for throwing stones (
used by Paul referring to this one incident when alone he was stoned ,
strkjv @
2Corinthians:11:25 |).
The wounds inflicted may have left some of the scars (\
stigmata \)
mentioned in strkjv @
Galatians:6:17 |.
They stoned Paul as the chief speaker (
Mercury )
and passed by Barnabas (
Jupiter ).
It was a Jewish mode of punishment as against Stephen and these Jews knew that Paul was the man that they had to deal with .
Hackett notes that the Jews with two exceptions incited the persecutions which Paul endured .
The exceptions were in Philippi (
16:16-40 |)
and Ephesus (
19:23-41 |). {
Dragged him out of the city } (\
esuron ex
t
s pole
s \).
They hurled Stephen outside of the city before stoning him (\
7:58 \).
It was a hurried and irregular proceeding ,
but they were dragging (
imperfect active of \
sur \,
old verb )
Paul out now . {
Supposing that he were dead } (\
nomizontes auton tethn
kenai \).
Present active participle with infinitive (
second perfect active of \
thn
sk \)
in indirect discourse with accusative of general reference .
The Jews are jubilant this time with memories of Paul '
s escape at Antioch and Iconium .
The pagan mob feel that they have settled accounts for their narrow escape from worshipping two Jewish renegade preachers .
It was a good day '
s work for them all .
Luke does not say that Paul was actually dead .
rwp @
Acts:14:20 @{
Stood round about him } (\
kukl
sant
n auton \).
Genitive absolute with first aorist active participle of \
kuklo \,
old verb from \
kuklos \ (
circle ,
cycle )
to make a circle round ,
to encircle .
The would-be murderers left and a group of disciples gathered round to see if Paul was dead or alive and ,
if dead ,
to bury him .
In that group Timothy may very well have been along with Eunice and Barnabas .
Timothy ,
a lad of about fifteen ,
would not soon forget that solemn scene (
2Timothy:3:11 |).
But Paul suddenly (
apparently a miraculous recovery )
rose up (\
anastas \)
and entered the city to the surprise and joy of the disciples who were willing to brave persecution with Paul . {
With Barnabas } (\
sun t
i Barnab
i \).
With the assistance of Barnabas .
It was plainly unwise to continue in Lystra so that they set out on the next day (\
t
i epaurion \,
ten times in Acts ),
shaken and bruised as Paul was .
Derbe was some forty miles distant ,
near the pass to the Cilician Gates .
rwp @
Acts:14:21 @{
When they had preached the gospel to that city } (\
euaggelisamenoi t
n polin ekein
n \).
Having evangelized (
first aorist middle participle )
that city ,
a smaller city and apparently with no trouble from the Jews . {
Had made many disciples } (\
math
teusantes hikanous \).
First aorist active participle of \
math
teu \
from \
math
t
s \,
a learner or disciple .
Late verb in Plutarch ,
to be a disciple (
Matthew:27:57 |
like strkjv @
John:19:38 |)
and then to disciple (
old English ,
Spenser ),
to make a disciple as in strkjv @
Matthew:28:19 |
and here .
Paul and Barnabas were literally here obeying the command of Jesus in discipling people in this heathen city . {
They returned to Lystra and to Iconium ,
and to Antioch } (\
hupestrepsan eis t
n Lustran kai eis Ikonion kai eis Antiocheian \).
Derbe was the frontier city of the Roman empire .
The quickest way to return to Antioch in Syria would have been by the Cilician Gates or by the pass over Mt .
Taurus by which Paul and Silas will come to Derbe in the second tour (
Acts:15:41-16:1 |),
but difficult to travel in winter .
But it was necessary to revisit the churches in Lystra ,
Iconium ,
Antioch in Pisidia and to see that they were able to withstand persecution .
Paul was a Roman citizen though he had not made use of this privilege as yet for his own protection .
Against mob violence it would count for little ,
but he did not hesitate .
Paul had been stoned in Lystra ,
threatened in Iconium ,
expelled in Antioch .
He shows his wisdom in conserving his work .
rwp @
Acts:14:22 @{
Confirming } (\
epist
rizontes \).
Late verb (
in LXX ),
in N .
T .
only in strkjv @
Acts:14:22 ;
strkjv @
15:32 ,
41 |,
to make more firm ,
to give additional (\
epi \)
strength .
Each time in Acts the word is used concerning these churches . {
To continue in the faith } (\
emmenein t
i pistei \).
To remain in with locative ,
old verb .
It is possible that \
pistis \
here has the notion of creed as Paul uses it later (
Colossians:1:23 |
with \
epimen \;
strkjv @
1Timothy:5:8 |).
It seems to be here more than trust or belief .
These recent converts from heathenism were ill-informed ,
were persecuted ,
had broken family and social ties ,
greatly needed encouragement if they were to hold out . {
We must } (\
dei h
m
s \).
It does not follow from this use of "
we "
that Luke was present ,
since it is a general proposition applying to all Christians at all times (
2Timothy:3:12 |).
Luke ,
of course ,
approved this principle .
Knowling asks why Timothy may not have told Luke about Paul '
s work .
It all sounds like quotation of Paul '
s very language .
Note the change of construction here after \
parakalountes \ (
infinitive of indirect command , \
emmenein \,
but \
hoti dei \,
indirect assertion ).
They needed the right understanding of persecution as we all do .
Paul frankly warned these new converts in this heathen environment of the many tribulations through which they must enter the Kingdom of God (
the culmination at last )
as he did at Ephesus (
Acts:20:20 |)
and as Jesus had done (
John:16:33 |).
These saints were already converted .
rwp @
Acts:14:23 @{
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church } (\
cheiroton
santes de autois kat '
ekkl
sian presbuterous \).
They needed also some form of organization ,
though already churches .
Note distributive use of \
kata \
with \
ekkl
sian \ (
2:46 ;
strkjv @
5:42 ;
strkjv @
Titus:1:5 |). \
Cheirotone \ (
from \
cheirotonos \,
extending the hand , \
cheir \,
hand ,
and \
tein \,
to stretch )
is an old verb that originally meant to vote by show of the hands ,
finally to appoint with the approval of an assembly that chooses as in strkjv @
2Corinthians:8:19 |,
and then to appoint without regard to choice as in Josephus (
_Ant_
.
XIII .
2 ,
2 )
of the appointment of Jonathan as high priest by Alexander .
Songs:in strkjv @
Acts:10:41 |
the compound \
procheiratone \
is used of witnesses appointed by God .
But the seven (
deacons )
were first selected by the Jerusalem church and then appointed (\
katast
somen \)
by the apostles .
That is probably the plan contemplated by Paul in his directions to Titus (
Titus:1:5 |)
about the choice of elders .
It is most likely that this plan was the one pursued by Paul and Barnabas with these churches .
They selected the elders in each instance and Paul and Barnabas "
ordained "
them as we say ,
though the word \
cheirotone \
does not mean that . "
Elders "
were mentioned first in strkjv @
11:30 |.
Later Paul will give the requirements expected in these "
elders "
or "
bishops " (
Phillipians:1:1 |)
as in strkjv @
1Timothy:3:1-7 ;
strkjv @
Titus:1:5-9 |.
It is fairly certain that these elders were chosen to correspond in a general way with the elders in the Jewish synagogue after which the local church was largely copied as to organization and worship .
Paul ,
like Jesus ,
constantly worshipped and spoke in the synagogues .
Already it is plain ,
as at Antioch in Syria (
11:26 |),
that the Christians can no longer count on the use of the Jewish synagogue .
They must have an organization of their own .
The use of the plural here implies what was true at Philippi (
Phillipians:1:1 |)
and Ephesus (
Acts:20:17 ,
28 |)
that each church (
one in each city ) "
had its college of elders " (
Hackett )
as in Jerusalem (
21:18 |).
Elder (\
presbuteros \)
was the Jewish name and bishop (\
episkopos \)
the Greek name for the same office . "
Those who are called elders in speaking of Jewish communities are called bishops in speaking of Gentile communities " (
Hackett ).
Hovey rightly holds against Hackett that teaching was a normal function of these elders ,
pastors or bishops as they were variously called (
1Timothy:3:2 ;
strkjv @
Titus:1:9 ;
strkjv @
1Corinthians:12:28 ,
30 ;
strkjv @
Ephesians:4:11 |). {
Had prayed with fasting } (\
proseuxamenoi meta n
stei
n \).
It was a serious matter ,
this formal setting apart of these "
elders "
in the churches .
Songs:it was done in a public meeting with prayer and fasting as when Paul and Barnabas were sent forth from Antioch in Syria (
13:3 |)
on this mission tour . {
They commended them to the Lord } (\
parethento autous t
i kuri
i \).
Second aorist middle indicative of \
paratith
mi \.
Old and solemn word ,
to entrust ,
to deposit as in a bank (
1Timothy:1:18 ;
strkjv @
2Timothy:2:2 |).
Cf . \
parath
k \
in strkjv @
1Timothy:6:20 ;
strkjv @
2Timothy:1:12 ,
14 |.
It was all that they could now do ,
to commit them to the Lord Jesus .
Jesus used this word on the cross (
Luke:22:32 |). {
On whom they had believed } (\
eis hon pepisteukeisan \).
Past perfect indicative (
without augment )
of \
pisteu \.
They had "
trusted "
in Jesus (
2Timothy:1:12 |)
and Paul now "
entrusts "
them to him with confidence .
It was a solemn and serious occasion in each instance as it always is to set apart men for the ministry .
These men may not have been ideal men for this service ,
but they were the only ones available and they were chosen from the actual membership in each instance ,
men who knew local conditions and problems .
rwp @
Acts:14:24 @{
When they had spoken the word in Perga } (\
lal
santes en Perg
i ton logon \).
Now they stopped and preached in Perga which they had apparently not done before (
see strkjv @
13:13f .|).
After leaving Antioch they passed on through Pisidia ,
as if Antioch was not strictly in Pisidia (
see on strkjv @
13:14 |)
and into Pamphylia .
They crossed from Perga to Attaleia ,
the port of Perga ,
sixteen miles down the Cestus ,
and capital of Pamphylia ,
to find a ship for Antioch in Syria .
It is now called Adala and for long was the chief harbour of the south coast of Asia Minor .
We do not know why they did not revisit Cyprus ,
perhaps because no permanent Gentile churches were founded there .
rwp @
Acts:14:26 @{
They sailed away to Antioch } (\
apepleusan eis Antiocheian \).
Effective aorist active indicative of \
apople \,
to sail off .
They had been gone some eighteen months . {
They had been committed } (\
san paradedomenoi \).
Periphrastic past perfect passive of \
paradid
mi \,
old and common verb .
High and serious thoughts filled the hearts of these first returned missionaries as they neared home .
The grace of God had been with them .
They had fulfilled (\
epl
r
san \)
the work to which they had been set apart by the Holy Spirit with the prayers of the Antioch church .
They now had a wondrous story to tell .
rwp @
Acts:14:27 @{
Gathered the church together } (\
sunagagontes t
n ekkl
sian \).
Second aorist active participle of \
sunag \.
It "
was the first missionary meeting in history " (
Furneaux ).
It was not hard to get the church together when the news spread that Paul and Barnabas had returned . "
The suitability of the Gospel to become the religion of the world had not before been put to the test " (
Furneaux ).
Doubtless many "
wise-acres "
had predicted failure as they did for William Carey and for Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice . {
Rehearsed } (\
an
ggellon \).
Imperfect active .
It was a long story for they had many things to tell of God '
s dealings "
with them " (\
met '
aut
n \)
for God had been "
with them "
all the while as Jesus had said he would be (
Matthew:28:20 |, \
meth '
h
m
n \).
Paul could recount some of the details given later in strkjv @
2Corinthians:11 |. {
And how } (\
kai hoti \).
Or "
and that "
in particular ,
as the upshot of it all . {
He had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles } (\
noixen tois ethnesin thuran piste
s \).
Three times in Paul '
s Epistles (
1Corinthians:16:9 ;
strkjv @
2Corinthians:2:12 ;
strkjv @
Colossians:4:3 |)
he employed the metaphor of "
door ,"
perhaps a reminiscence of the very language of Paul here .
This work in Galatia gained a large place in Paul '
s heart (
Galatians:4:14f .|).
The Gentiles now ,
it was plain ,
could enter the kingdom of God (
verse 22 |)
through the door of faith ,
not by law or by circumcision or by heathen philosophy or mythology .
rwp @
Acts:14:28 @{
And they tarried no little time } (\
dietribon de chronon ouk oligon \).
Imperfect active of \
diatrib \,
old verb to rub hard ,
to consume ,
with accusative of extent of time .
It was a happy time of fellowship .
The experiment entered upon by the church of Antioch was now a pronounced success .
It was at the direct command of the Holy Spirit ,
but they had prayed for the absent missionaries and rejoiced at their signal success .
There is no sign of jealousy on the part of Barnabas when Paul returns as the chief hero of the expedition .
A new corner has been turned in the history of Christianity .
There is a new centre of Christian activity .
What will Jerusalem think of the new developments at Antioch ?
Paul and Barnabas made no report to Jerusalem .