By prof. A.P. Lopukhin
Acts of the Apostles, chapter 14. The preaching of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (1 – 7). The therapeutic of the crippled man in Lystra and the try of the Gentiles to supply sacrifices to the apostles (8 – 18). The persecution of the apostles, the return journey by the newly based communities, and the return to Syrian Antioch (19 – 28)
Acts 14:1. In Iconium they entered collectively into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a method that an important multitude of each Jews and Greeks believed.
The “Greeks” who believed have been undoubtedly proselytes—Gentiles transformed to Judaism, in distinction to the “Gentiles” talked about later (v. 2), who joined the unbelieving Jews towards the apostles.
Acts 14:2. And the unbelieving Jews stirred up and hardened the hearts of the Gentiles towards the brethren.
“stirred up and hardened,” i.e., they slandered the apostles, accused them of many issues, “represented the simple-hearted as treacherous” (St. John Chrysostom).
“towards the brethren,” i.e., not solely towards the apostles, but in addition towards the newly transformed followers of Christ typically, the higher a part of whom have been Jews by delivery, due to this fact brothers by the flesh to the persecutors (Rom. 9:3).
Acts 14:3. However they remained right here for a very long time, talking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the phrase of His grace, granting indicators and wonders to be finished by their palms.
“talking boldly for the Lord.” Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid writes: “This boldness arose from the apostles’ devotion to the work of preaching, and the truth that those that heard them believed was a consequence of the miracles, however to some extent the boldness of the apostles additionally contributed to this.”
Acts 14:4. And the individuals within the metropolis have been divided: some have been with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
“the individuals within the metropolis have been divided.” On this division, it appears, lies the rationale why the incitement of the Gentiles by the Jews remained fruitless for a while.
Acts 14:5. When the Gentiles and the Jews with their leaders, excited, have been getting ready to blaspheme and stone them to loss of life,
“the Jews with their leaders” – cf. Acts 13. In all probability with the archsynagogue and the elders who fashioned the council underneath him.
“they stoned them to loss of life.” The will to “stone them” reveals each the truth that the primary leaders of the assault on the apostles have been the Jews, and that the apostles’ guilt was formulated as blasphemy, for which the Jews had an analogous punishment.
Acts 14:6. once they realized of it, they fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and their environment,
“to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe.” Lycaonia was not a lot a political as an ethnographic area in Asia Minor with the cities of Lystra southeast of Iconium, and Derbe southeast of Lystra.
Acts 14:7. and there they preached the gospel.
Acts 14:8. In Lystra there sat a sure man lame in his ft, who had been lame from his mom’s womb; he had by no means walked.
Acts 14:9. He listened as Paul spoke; and Paul, wanting intently at him and perceiving that he had religion to be healed,
“perceived that he had religion”—seeing with the discernment of a divinely enlightened apostle.
Acts 14:10. stated to him with a loud voice, “I say to you within the identify of the Lord Jesus Christ, stand in your ft!” And instantly he leaped up and walked.
Acts 14:11. And the crowds, seeing what Paul had finished, lifted up their voices and stated within the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come all the way down to us in human type.”
“They spoke within the Lycaonian language.” It’s troublesome to say what this Lycaonian dialect is: some take into account it a dialect near Assyrian, others to be similar with Cappadocian, and nonetheless others to be a corrupted Greek.
Acts 14:12. And so they referred to as Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, as a result of he was the chief speaker.
“they referred to as Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes.” Why individuals noticed these gods in Barnabas and Paul is partly defined by a neighborhood Phrygian story in regards to the look of those gods in human type (Ovid, Metamorphoses VIII), in addition to by the truth that close to the town there was a temple or idol of Zeus, and Hermes (Hermes), as an eloquent interpreter of the gods, was thought-about an compulsory companion of Zeus when he descended from Olympus to mortals. A touch of the latter is given by the historian himself, in accordance with whom Paul was thought-about Hermes, “as a result of he excelled in talking”…. It’s potential that the very look of the apostles had its personal significance: Paul, as a younger man (Acts 7:58), distinguished by an lively character, mirrored in all his speeches and actions, might simply be recognized with Hermes, who was offered as a delicate, vigorous, handsome youth, whereas Barnabas, along with his seriousness, might remind the pagans of Zeus. Relating to the looks of the apostles, St. John Chrysostom writes: “It appears to me that Barnabas had a dignified look.”
Acts 14:13. And the priest of Zeus, whose idol was earlier than their metropolis, having introduced bulls to the gate and introduced garlands, needed to carry out a sacrifice along with the individuals.
“introduced garlands” – to brighten the sacrificial bulls with them, which was often finished to please the gods extra.
Acts 14:14. However the apostles Barnabas and Paul, listening to about this, tore their garments and rushed out into the group, crying out:
“They’ve torn their garments” in signal of deep sorrow and contrition at such blindness of the individuals.
The apostles show the absurdity of their deification by the pagans, they guarantee them of the falsehood of the pagan gods. They level out to them the One residing God, the Creator of all issues, who, though He has allowed all nations to observe false paths, has not disadvantaged them of the chance to know the true path (cf. Rom. 1:20, 11:13-36).
Acts 14:15. Males, why are you doing these items? And we’re males topic to you and preach to you that it is best to flip from these false gods to the residing God, who made heaven and earth, the ocean, and all that’s in them,
Acts 14:16. Who in previous generations suffered all nations to stroll in their very own methods,
Acts 14:17. though He didn’t depart Himself with out witness in good works, giving us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with meals and gladness.
“With out forcing free will,” says Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid, “the Lord allowed all individuals to behave in accordance with their very own discretion; however He Himself continuously carried out such works from which they, as rational beings, might perceive the Creator.”
Acts 14:18. And saying this, they hardly persuaded the individuals to not provide sacrifice to them, however to go every to his personal home. Whereas they remained there and taught,
“they hardly persuaded.” So enormously have been the individuals moved by what had occurred, and so firmly have been they satisfied that earlier than their eyes they have been gods, and never males.
Acts 14:19. Some Jews got here from Antioch and Iconium, and when the apostles have been talking boldly, they persuaded the individuals to go away them, saying: You communicate nothing true, however every little thing is fake; having persuaded the individuals, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, pondering him lifeless.
“some Jews got here” from among the many unbelievers and hostile to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:50 and 14:5).
“they stoned Paul,” not Barnabas – maybe as a result of he, because the chief in talking (Acts 14:12), appeared to the Jews probably the most harmful and hated enemy. In all probability the apostle mentions the identical stoning in 2 Cor. 11:25. Such is the wonderful fickleness of the group, which simply succumbs to the evil speech of the instigators. Solely not too long ago they have been able to honor the apostles as gods, and now they have been able to coping with probably the most hardened villains. The power of the instigators to impact such a flip within the temper of the plenty is undoubtedly spectacular.
Acts 14:20. And when the disciples gathered round him, he rose up and went into the town, and the following day he withdrew with Barnabas to Derbe.
“the disciples gathered round him” in all probability with the intention of seeing what was taking place to him, in what situation he was, and even to bury him if he was lifeless.
“he rose up and went into the town”. There isn’t a doubt that this strengthening of Paul’s bodily power was a miraculous motion, though the creator solely hints at it – with the quick and powerful expression – “he rose up and went”! Right here the firmness of the apostle’s spirit, who fearlessly returns to the town the place he had simply been in mortal hazard, deserves consideration.
Acts 14:21. After preaching the Gospel on this metropolis and gaining fairly just a few disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
Acts. 14:22. confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to proceed within the religion, and instructing that by many tribulations we should enter the dominion of God.
From Derbe, after a profitable sermon, the apostles set out on a return journey to Syrian Antioch, by all of the locations they’d beforehand visited (Acts 13, and many others.), strengthening the believers in order that they might be able to hold the religion of Christ, regardless of all of the persecutions, tribulations, and trials, which characterize for believers the surest strategy to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 7:14).
Acts 14:23. And once they had ordained elders for them in every church, they prayed with fasting and recommended them to the Lord in whom they’d believed.
“they ordained elders” – leaders and leaders of every neighborhood, which on this method receives a steady exterior group. The ordination, i.e. the laying on of palms (Acts 6:2-6) exhibits the significance of the ministry of the elders, in addition to the gracious nature of this consecration (cf. Acts 11:30).
“they prayed with fasting” – as they do on all essential events (Acts 13, and many others.)
“they dedicated them” – i.e. the newly transformed Christians, along with their newly appointed leaders
“to the Lord”, i.e. to His grace, favor and safety.
Acts 14:24. And once they had handed by Pisidia, they got here to Pamphylia;
Acts 14:25. and once they had spoken the phrase of the Lord in Perga, they went all the way down to Attalia;
By means of Pisidia and Pamphylia the apostles returned to Perga, the primary metropolis they got here to after arriving on the coast of Asia Minor (Acts 13:13).
“they went all the way down to Attalia” – a seaside metropolis in Pamphylia, southeast of Perga, the place the Cataract River flows into the ocean. Town is called after Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamum, by whom it was constructed.
Acts 14:26. and from there they sailed to Antioch, from the place they have been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they’d achieved.
From Perga the apostles traveled by Seleucia to Syrian Antioch, from the place, guided by the grace of God, they started their first apostolic journey.
Acts 14:27. Once they arrived and gathered the church collectively, they reported all that God had finished with them and the way He had opened the door of religion to the Gentiles.
“they gathered the church collectively,” that’s, the Christian neighborhood in Antioch, and “they reported all that God had finished with them.” The apostles humbly confess that the ability of God had been at work in all of them this time, and never they alone.
“opened the door of religion.” A figurative expression of the acceptance of the Gentiles into the bosom of the Church of Christ (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3). St. John Chrysostom remembers that the Jews forbade even talking to Gentiles.
Acts 14:28. And so they stayed there a very long time with the disciples.
Thus ends the account of the primary apostolic journey to the Gentiles of the nice apostles Paul and Barnabas.
How lengthy this primary journey of Paul lasted, the creator doesn’t say. It’s assumed that it lasted about two years.
Supply in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all of the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Previous and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.
