Acts 14

Acts 14:2

But the refractory Jews incensed the Gentiles against the apostles (ver. 4.) and all others which received the faith of Christ from them.

b preaching the gospel in their public assemblies, (see note [a] John vii.,) and God added his testimony to their preaching, (see note [d] Heb. xiii.,) by enabling them to work miracles.

Acts 14:12

And Barnabas they looked on as Jupiter, the supreme god, (see ch. viii. 10,) and Paul as Mercury, the interpreter of the will of the gods, because Paul did speak more than Barnabas did.

Acts 14:13

And the priest of Jupiter, whose statue was worshipped before the city as the president of it, came presently to the gates of the house where Paul and Barnabas lodged, and brought oxen to sacrifice, and garlands to put upon their horns when they were to be killed, verily purposing to offer sacrifice to them. ’ they looked upon it as an abhorred blasphemous thing, and rent their garments to express their sense and detestation of it, and ran—

Acts 14:17

And yet, while he did so, left he not off to evidence himself sufficiently to them by that great goodness of his in temporal things, the rain and the like, which are acts of his particular power and bounty, by those means inviting and drawing them off from their impieties.

[a] rain from heaven] The reason of St. Paul’s naming of rain from heaven, as a peculiar testimony of God’s power and goodness, seems to be taken from that notion which the Jews had of it, expressed by this ancient saying in Sanhedr. and in Chelek Taani, c. 8. §. 2, in Ein Israel, that there be three keys not given to any legate or proxy, (kept peculiarly in God’s own hand,) של חיה ושל נשמים ושל תחיית, of life, of rain, of the resurrection of the dead; making rain as immediate and incommunicable a gift of God as either giving or restoring of life. Hence it is frequently styled by them גבורת נשמים, the power of rain, because, say they, “it descends not but by power;” and it is one of the things in which the power of God shows itself. The difference of it from other the like acts of power, they say, is this, that it belongs to the just and unjust, (whereas, say they, the resurrection belongs to the just only,) and so saith our Saviour of it, Matt. v. 45.

Acts 14:18

All which discourse of Paul and Barnabas could hardly restrain the people— ¹ gained by fair words the multitude to be on their side, and to join with them against the apostles: and so in a furious tumultuary manner they threw stones at Paul, and verily believed they had killed him: in which posture they took him, as a dead man, and dragged him out of the gates of the city.

Acts 14:20

But as the Christians there came piously and solemnly to inter him, Paul being not dead all this while, ver. 19, made use of that opportunity, when there were none but believers present, and he rose up, and went thence with them into the city: and the next day Barnabas and he went together to Derbe.

Acts 14:21

And having preached at Derbe, and converted many to the faith, they returned—

Acts 14:22

And in all those cities gave confirmation to those whom before they had baptized, and exhorted them to persevere, and hold out against all terrors, counting and resolving with themselves that Christianity bringeth many tribulations necessarily along with it.

Acts 14:23

And having consecrated bishops for them, (see note [b] ch. xi.,) one in every city, by fasting and prayer and imposition of hands, they then took their leave of them, referring them to the good providence ¹ made a good many disciples, μαθητεύσαντες ἱκανεῖς.

[b] ordained them elders] The word πρεσβύτεροι here is not (as some think) the description or notation of the state of the men before they were ordained, or of the qualifications which made them fit to be