Acts 14

1. Iconium. Iconium was a large city, about ninety miles east of Antioch in Pisidia. It is still an important place, called Konieh, containing a population of about 30,000.

2 the unbelieving Jews. A better reading is, “the Jews that were disobedient.”

3 therefore. Some scholars read here “however.”

4 apostles. Missionaries or messengers: see note on ch. xiii. 3.

5. And when there was an assault, etc. Rather, “And when there was a hostile movement” (Weymouth, Moffatt). The design to assault the apostles was frustrated by their withdrawal. Paul was actually stoned only once: cp. ver. 19 with 2 Cor. xi. 25.

6. Lystra and Derbe. These two towns, which were probably small, lay south-east of Iconium, among the highlands of Mount Taurus, and were inhabited chiefly by a rough hardy race, who had been but little affected by Greek, Roman, or Jewish influences. Lystra was probably at a place now known as Bin Bir Kilissih, “The Thousand and One Churches,” on the northern slope of Kara Dugh, “The Black Mountain.”

11 in the speech of Lycaonia. “The use of the Lycaonian language shows that the worshippers were not the Roman coloni, the aristocracy of the colony, but the natives, the less educated and more superstitious part of the population (incolæ),” (Ramsay).

12. Jupiter. Zeus (or Jupiter), the chief of the gods, was probably the tutelary deity of Lystra; his temple or altar being “in front of the city.” Hermes (or Mercury) was his attendant messenger and spokesman. These two gods were believed to have appeared as men in the neighbouring region. (See the well-known story of Baucis and Philemon: Ovid. Met. viii. 611.)

14 rent their clothes. See Gen. xxxvii. 29; Matt. xxvi. 65, and notes.

ran in. R.V., “sprang forth.”

15 and saying, etc. This speech contains the thoughts more fully developed in Rom. i. 19, etc. See Rom. i. 18-21; iii. 25, and note: cp. also xvii. 22, etc.

of like passions. Having the same human nature: cp. Jas. v. 17.

vanities. “These unreal things” (Weymouth); “such futile ways” (Moffatt): see Deut. xxxii. 21.

17 rain . . . and fruitful seasons. An argument specially adapted to an agricultural people. In Rom. i. 20; ii. 15, it is further proved that God gave the heathen also an internal moral witness of Himself.

19 having stoned Paul, etc. They had no such scruple here as they had in Jerusalem (see vii. 58) about shedding the blood of their victim within the city.

20 disciples. Paul’s labours in Lystra had not been fruitless. The youthful Timothy was probably in the group; see xvi. 1, and note. Paul reminds him of these persecutions many years afterwards (2 Tim. iii. 11).

21 had taught many. Or, as R.V., “had made many disciples” (Matt. xxviii. 19), of whom Gaius (mentioned in xx. 4) was probably one. There is no account of any open opposition at Derbe; and this place is omitted in 2 Tim. iii. 11, where Paul enumerates the scenes of his sufferings in this country.

they returned again to Lystra, etc. Instead of taking the nearest road through Tarsus to Syria, they retraced their steps through the places where they had suffered, in order to “strengthen” the new converts, who had to endure many tribulations in entering “the kingdom of God” (22).

23 ordained them. “They selected elders by show of hands” (Weymouth). The Greek is χειροτονήσαντες. The method of selection may perhaps have been the same as in vi. 5, 6, where the people chose, and the apostles ordained.

elders. The “elders,” or “presbyters,” were persons appointed in the first churches to watch over their general discipline and welfare, as well as, in many instances, to teach (1 Tim. v. 17). The term was a Jewish appellation, transferred from the synagogue. The corresponding designation in the Gentile churches, derived from Greek usage, is “bishops” or “superintendents”; which consequently is more frequently found in Paul’s Epistles.

25 into Attalia. Rather, “to” Attalia; a seaport of Pamphylia, built by Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamos, in the second century B.C. It is now Antali or Satalia.

27 gathered the church together. This church in the Syrian Antioch had become the headquarters of missions to the heathen and “the mother church of Gentile Christendom”: it now accordingly receives the first of “missionary reports.”

had done with them. That is, in connexion with their efforts: His grace co-operating.

opened the (a) door of faith. This figure is a favourite one with the Apostle Paul: see 1 Cor. xvi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12; Col. iv. 3. The results of this mission showed that access to the Saviour was as free and ready to Gentiles as to Jews.

28 long time. It is supposed that they had spent about two years in their missionary tour; and that they returned to Antioch about the close of the year A.D. 47, and remained there during the years 48 and 49.