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Act_14:1-28
§ I. Their successful labors in Iconium, until ill-treatment compels them to flee from the city; they proceed to Lycaonia
Act_14:1-7
Act_14:4-7. But the multitude of the city was divided.—That seed of distrust and malice, however, which the Jews had sown, had germinated in the mean time, and begun to bear fruit. It led to the formation of parties in the populous city, and while some of the inhabitants adopted the views of the imbittered and hostile Jews, others attached themselves to the apostles. The opposition of the Jewish party assumed a distinct character, and, at length, its members united with the rulers and those Gentiles whose passions they had excited, in secretly devising violent measures against the two strangers who had preached to them. ( ὉñìÞ cannot here signify an assault actually made, for, according to Act_14:6, the two men retired before the storm burst forth; the interpretation of the word, on the other hand, as a plot, is not sustained by the usus loquendi, whereas ὁñìÞ , in the sense of impetus, explained as a strong impulse, very frequently occurs). [“Dicitur etiam de impetu animi, consilio, proposito.” (Kuinoel). Numerous references to passages in the classic writers, are furnished by Kuinoel and Meyer. See also Jam_3:4.—Tr.]. The ἄñ÷ïíôåò áὐôῶí cannot be the civil authorities of the city (Ewald: Ap. Zeitalt., p. 425), for they would not have sanctioned tumultuary proceedings ( ὑâñßóáé ê . ëéèïâïëῆóáé ), but would have adopted legal measures, such as banishment, etc. But ëéèïâïëῆóáé perfectly accords with the Jewish mode of thought [rather than with that of pagan magistrates.—Tr.], and would therefore conform to the views of the rulers and elders of the synagogue. The apostles fortunately obtained intelligence of the purpose of their enemies, and deemed it proper to flee before an outbreak occurred. They took refuge in the cities of Lycaonia, which constitutes a whole only in an ethnographical, and not in a political aspect. [“The district of Lycaonia extends from the ridges of Mount Taurus and the borders of Cilicia, on the south, to the Cappadocian hills, on the north.” (Conyb. and H., I. 199.—Tr.]. These cities were Lystra, in a south-easterly direction from Iconium, and Derbe, which was still further to the south-east. The latter was a small town at the foot of the Isaurian range. Both lay north of Mount Taurus, and to them the apostles retired, with the intention of preaching the Gospel at those points and in the vicinity.
2. Here, too, we see that it is really the exalted Redeemer who performs all things. Paul and Barnabas are his messengers and instruments; they convey his Gospel; they speak the word of his grace ( ὁ ëüãïò ôῆò ÷Üñéôïò áὐôïῦ , præclara definitio evangelii (Bengel); and it is he who gives testimony to their words, as a faithful witness, by signs and wonders. Even as Jesus himself taught and imparted life, so, too, he enables his messengers to infuse life into others, and perform miracles of healing: it is the Lord—the word is the Lord’s word. These miracles are wrought äéὰ ôῶí ÷åéñῶí áὐôῶí , by their hands. They impose their hands, and the sick are restored to health, but they are not the authors of these works, and this miraculous, healing, and life-giving power, does not reside in them. It is He who performs the works; they are simply his instruments.
Act_14:2. But the unbelieving Jews, etc.—He who is not willing to obey the truth himself, is easily tempted to seduce others from it. The words: “Ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered,” [Luk_11:52], were ever afterwards applicable to the envious Jews. (Rieger).—Pilate and Herod, Jews and Gentiles, soon come to an understanding, when the object is—to persecute Jesus and his truth. (Starke).—Against the brethren. Luke here applies this endearing name of “brethren” to the Christians, because nothing was more hateful to the unbelieving Jews, than that believing Jews, and believing Gentiles, should constitute one holy brotherhood in Christ. (Besser).
Act_14:3. Long time … by their hands.—When the servants of God honor Him by boldly bearing witness to His truth, God often honors them in return, by extraordinary manifestations of His divine protection and blessing. 1Sa_2:30. (Starke).—The Lord always possesses the means to put his enemies to silence. Even if the Jews succeeded in casting suspicion on the words of the apostles, all men now beheld works—signs and wonders—which were wrought in public, and which powerfully appealed to the judgment and the hearts of the Gentiles whom the Jews had stirred up. (Williger).—The apostles were not eager to work miracles, for we see that the blessings which their office conferred on the people of Iconium, proceeded simply from the preaching of the Gospel; a large number had been converted, before any miracle was performed. They continued to preach, and God wrought the miracles in order to affix a sign to the preached word of his grace. (Ap. Past.).—The Book of the Acts is not a chronicle of miracles, but a mirror of grace. (Besser).
Act_14:4. But the multitude … was divided.—Such a division is by no means wholly unacceptable to a faithful teacher; the Lord Jesus, indeed, says that he came into the world in order to produce such a division [Luk_12:51]. The Lord fulfils that saying, whenever he convulses the kingdom of darkness through the agency of his servants, creates a salutary disturbance, and teaches men to depart from iniquity. He will hereafter, on the day of judgment, exercise his awful authority, and make that division complete. (Ap. Past.).
Act_14:5. And when there was an assault made, etc.—After sufficient time had been granted to the apostles for scattering the seed in Iconium, God permitted a storm of persecution to burst forth, doubtless with the design that the seed should be carried further, and be wafted to Lystra and Derbe. (Ap. Past.).—How wonderful are the ways of God, both when his people conquer, and when they succumb! Even when they seem to succumb, they are not defeated. Here, the apostles regard the intelligence concerning the plan devised by their enemies, simply as a divine passport that enables them to continue their journey. (Williger).
Act_14:6. And fled.—We should not always quietly submit to shame and disgrace; still, we must learn to distinguish which course will most of all promote the honor of God. (Quesnel).
Act_14:7. And there they preached the gospel.—The apostles did not spend their time in uttering complaints respecting the wrong which they had suffered, but, with a cheerful spirit, resumed at once the work which God had assigned to them.(Rieger).
On Act_14:1-7. The word of God does not return unto him void [Isa_55:11]: for, I. It is always received by many in faith, Act_14:1, when it is proclaimed with boldness and in purity, Act_14:3, and is accompanied by the signs of a holy walk and of self-denying love, on the part of its heralds, Act_14:3; even if, II. All men do not receive it, Act_14:4, since the malice of some restrains others from believing, Act_14:2, and all men of an ungodly spirit combine in opposing the Gospel, Act_14:5; but, III. Even such hostility becomes the means of extending the word more widely, Act_14:6-7. (Lisco).—When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into another [Mat_10:23]: I. Those who preach the Gospel to pagans, should not obstinately continue their work, when the word is persecuted (that is, when renewed efforts would be equivalent to tempting God); II. Persecution should not deter them from making new attempts (id.).—Genuine martyrdom: I. In what does it consist? (a) Not in the great extent of external sufferings which man endures for the sake of faith, but in the measure of fidelity which he exhibits for Christ’s sake. (b) The apostles discharge the duties of their office with perseverance and joyful courage, Act_14:1; Act_14:3, and thus demonstrate their fidelity. (c) They retire from the post which they had learned to love, as soon as they understand that the Lord no longer called for their services there, Act_14:5-6. II. Why is it so painful to endure? (a) Because it exhibits no features which can gratify a carnal self-love. It lacks a halo in the eyes of the world, since fidelity assumes an ordinary and unostentatious garment. (b) Because it completely crushes man’s own will. The apostles would possibly have preferred to die rather than to flee, even as John the Baptist might have found it easier to engage in self-sacrificing labors of the most painful kind, for Christ, than to pine away in inaction-in the prison. III. Wherein does the blessing which attends it consist? (a) Through its means the will of God, and not that of man, is done. (b) Hence, it produces the richest fruits of every kind; thus, the preaching of the apostles produces faith, Act_14:1; the Lord gives testimony to them, Act_14:3; their flight is a source of blessing—they carry the word to a wider field of labor, Act_14:6. (Lisco).—Divisions in the church which are salutary in their influence, Act_14:4 : I. The cause that leads to them—the faithful and fearless preaching of the divine word, which is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. [Heb_4:12]. II. Their results—the church undergoes a sifting process; the real sentiments of the heart are manifested; it is during the struggle that truth demonstrates its value, that faith reveals its power, that love exhibits new energy, and that the church is edified.—Under what circumstances is the flight of a servant of God allowable? I. After the contest, as in the case of Paul and Barnabas (Act_14:1-4), but not previously, as in the case of Jonah; II. In obedience to the Lord, but not in consequence of the fear of man, or of a carnal love of ease; III. With weapons in the hand; (so the apostles continued to preach, with faith and boldness, and never dropped their weapons). IV. In order to enter a new battle-field (Lystra and Derbe), but not to seek a place of rest.—The servants of God conquerors, even when they succumb: I. Internally (their faith and courage are firmly maintained, in the midst of external afflictions and shame); II. Externally (the righteous cause cannot be ruined; when oppressed in one place, it finds a refuge elsewhere; even when prostrated, it arises with augmented power;) III. Eternally (to faithful soldiers of the cross, a heavenly crown of victory is promised.)
Footnotes:
Act_14:2. ἀðåéèÞóáíôåò is far better sustained [by A. B. C. Cod. Sin., and adopted by Lach., Tisch., Born., Alf.] than ἀðåéèïῦíéåò [of text. rec., from E. G.—Tr.]
Act_14:3. [ êáὶ before äéäüíôé , found in C. G. and inserted in text. rec., is omitted by Griesb., Lach., Tisch., Alf., in accordance with A. B. D. E., Vulg., thus making the clause which begins with äéä . epexegetical of the preceding, i. e., by granting, etc.; Cod. Sin. omits êáὶ but reads äéäüíôïò , as if áὑôïῦ expressed its subject, and the two words were in the gen. absolute.—Tr.]