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Bible Commentaries

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Acts 14



Verse 1

it came to pass. See note on Acts 4:5.

both together. Greek. kata to auto. Compare epi to auto. Acts 1:15, &c.

synagogue. App-120.

spake. Greek. laleo. App-121.

multitude. Greek. plethos. See note on Acts 2:6.

Greeks. These were Gentiles. Greek. Hellen.

believed. App-150.

Verse 2

unbelieving. Greek. apeitheo. Compare App-150. This is the second occurrence. First occurrence John 3:36. Often translated "disobedient".

stirred up. Greek. epegeiro. See note on Acts 13:50.

Gentiles. Greek. ethnos. The Greek reads, "stirred up and made evil affected the minds of the Gentiles".

made . . . evil affected = embittered, or poisoned. Greek. kakoo. See note on Acts 7:6.

minds = souls. Greek. psuche. App-110.

Verse 3

abode. Greek. diatribo. See note on Acts 12:19.

speaking boldly. Greek. parrhesiazomai. See note on Acts 9:27.

in. Greek. epi. App-104. Indicating the subject of their discourse.

Which. = Who.

gave testimony = witnessed. Greek. martureo. See p. 1511.

unto = to.

word. Greek. logos. App-121.

grace. Greek. charis. App-184.

granted = gave.

signs. Greek. semeion. App-176.

wonders. Greek. teras. App-176.

by. Greek. dia.

Verse 4

divided. Greek. schizo, to rend; hence schisma, division. See John 7:43; John 9:16; John 10:19.

part . . . part = some indeed . . . but others.

held = were.

with. Greek. sun. App-104.

apostles. App-189.

Verse 5

assault = onset. Greek. horme. Only here and James 3:4.

rulers, i.e. of the Jews.

use . . . despitefully = insult. Greek. hubrizo. Occurs Matthew 22:6. Luke 11:45; Luke 18:32. 1 Thessalonians 2:2.

Verse 6

were ware of it, and = having considered it. Greek. suneidon. See note on Acts 5:2.

Lystra, &c. The order in the Greek is "unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra andDerbe".

region, &c. Greek. perichoros. Compare Matthew 3:5. Luke 4:14.

Verse 7

preached, &c. = were preaching the gospel. Greek. euangelizo. App-121. They were itinerating to evangelize the whole district. Timothy was one of the converts, as, on the return visit, he is called a disciple (Acts 16:1).

Verse 8

certain. Greek. tis. App-123.

man. Greek. aner.

at = in. Greek. en.

being. Texts omit.

a cripple = lame.

from. Greek. ek. App-104.

never. Greek. oudepote.

had. Texts omit.

Verse 9

The same = This one.

heard = was hearing.

stedfastly beholding = gazing at. Greek. atenizo App-133. See note on Acts 1:10.

perceiving. Greek. eidon. App-133.

faith. Greek. pistis. App-150.

healed = saved. Greek. sozo.

Verse 10

Stand. Greek. aniatemi. App-178.:1.

upright = straight. Greek. orthos. Only here and Hebrews 12:13.

walked = began to walk. Compare Isaiah 35:6.

Verse 11

people = crowd. Greek. ochlos.

saw. Greek. eidon. Same as "perceive" in Acts 14:9.

had done = did.

in the speech of Lycaonia. Greek. Lukaonisti.

gods. App-98.

in the likeness of = likened to.

men. Greek. anthropos. App-123. The Lycaonians were no doubt familiar with the legend of Jupiter and Mercury"s visit in disguise to the aged couple, Philemon and Baucis, the scene of which was laid in the neighbouring province of Phrygia. See Ovid, Metam. VIII.

Verse 12

Jupiter. Greek. Zeua. The father of the gods.

Mercurius. Greek. Hermes. The messenger of the gods.

chief speaker. Literally the leader of the word (Greek. logos. App-121.), or message.

Verse 13

which, i.e. whose temple.

oxen and garlands = garlanded oxen. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6.

unto. Greek. epi. App-104.

would have, &c. = were desiring (Greek. ethelo. App-102.) to sacrifice.

Verse 14

Which when, &c. = But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, having heard.

rent. Compare Matthew 26:65.

ran in = rushed in. Greek. eiapedao. Only here and Acts 16:29. The texts read ekpedao, rushed out. Used by medical writers of a bounding pulse.

among = to. Greek. eis. App-104.

Verse 15

Sirs. Greek. andres. App-123. Compare Acts 7:26.

of like passions. Greek. homoiopathes. Only here and James 5:17.

and preach unto you. Literally evangelizing you. See Acts 14:7.

that ye should = to.

vanities = vain things. Greek. mataios. Here, 1 Corinthians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 15:17. Titus 3:9. James 1:26. 1 Peter 1:18. Used in the Septuagint 1 Kings 16:13, 1 Kings 16:26. Jeremiah 8:19. Jonah 2:9, &c. Figure of speech Metonymy of Adjunct. App-6.

the living God. This notable expression occurs fifteen times in the O.T., on thirteen occasions (2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:16 being the same as Isaiah 37:4, Isaiah 37:17), viz. Deuteronomy 5:26. Joshua 3:10. 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36; 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:16. Psalms 42:2; Psalms 84:2. Isaiah 37:4, Isaiah 37:17. Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 23:36. Daniel 6:20, Daniel 6:26. Hosea 1:10; and sixteen times in the N.T. Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:63. John 6:69, here, Romans 9:26. 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:16. 1 Thessalonians 1:9. 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Timothy 6:17. Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:31; Hebrews 12:22. Revelation 7:2. It is noteworthy that it is used twice by Peter, once by Caiaphas, once in the Revelation, and the remaining twelve times by Paul. The Lord once uses the words "the living Father" in John 6:67. It is of course in contrast with idols. Compare Deuteronomy 32:40.

God. App-98.

heaven = the heaven. See Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

earth. Greek. ge. App-129.

therein = in (Greek. en.) it.

Verse 16

times = generations. Greek. genea.

past = passed away. Greek. paroichomai. Only here.

nations. Greek. ethnos.

Verse 17

Nevertheless = And yet.

left. Greek. aphiemi. App-174.

without witness. Greek. amarturos. Only here.

in that He did, &c. = doing good. Greek. agathopoieo. Here, Mark 3:4. Luke 6:9, Luke 6:33, Luke 6:35; 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 3:6, 1 Peter 3:17, 3 John 1:11.

gave = giving.

from heaven. Greek. ouranothen. An adverb. Only here and Acts 26:13.

fruitful = fruit-bearing. Greek. karpophoros. Only here.

filling = satisfying, Greek. empiplemi. Here, Luke 1:53; Luke 6:25. John 6:12. Romans 15:24. A medical word.

gladness. Greek. euphrosune. Only here and Acts 2:28.

Verse 18

with these sayings = saying these things.

scarce = with difficulty. Greek. molis.

restrained = made to cease. Greek. katapauo. Only here and Hebrews 4:4, Hebrews 4:8, Hebrews 4:10.

Verse 19

And = But.

who persuaded = and having persuaded. Greek. peitho. App-150.

stoned. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:25.

drew = dragged. Greek. suro. See note on John 21:8.

out of = outside. Greek. exo.

supposing = reckoning. Greek. nomizo. This word, which occurs fifteen times, always means to conclude from custom, law, or evidence, never to imagine. See note on Luke 3:23.

had been dead = was dead, as was the fact.

Verse 20

Howbeit = But.

stood round about = encircled. Greek. kukloo. Only here, Luke 21:20. John 10:24. Hebrews 11:30. Revelation 20:9.

rose up, and = having risen up, i.e. by Divine power. Greek. anistemi. App-178. Same word as "stand" in Acts 14:10.

the, next day = on the morrow. Compare Matthew 10:23.

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104.

Verse 21

when they had = having.

had taught = having made disciples of. Greek. matheteuo. Only here, Matthew 13:52; Matthew 27:57; Matthew 28:19.

Verse 22

confirming. Greek. episterizo. Only here, Acts 15:32, Acts 15:41; Acts 18:23. The simple verb sterizo occurs thirteen times, first occurance Luke 9:51. The kindred verb stereoo only in Acts. See Acts 3:7.

souls. Greek. psuche. App-110.

exhorting. Greek. parakaleo. App-134.

continue. Greek. emmeno. Only here, Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:10. Hebrews 8:9. Compound of meno. See p. 1511.

the faith. Greek. pistis. App-150. Compare Acts 6:7; Acts 13:8.

that. Ellipsis of "saying".

tribulation. Greek. thlipsis. See note on Acts 7:10.

the kingdom of God. App-114.

Verse 23

when they had = having.

ordained = chosen. Greek. cheirotoneo. Only here and 2 Corinthians 8:19.

elders. App-189. Compare Titus 1:5.

church. App-186.

and had prayed = having prayed. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134.

fasting = fastings. Compare Acts 13:2.

commended. Greek. paratithemi. Compare Luke 23:46.

believed. App-150.

Verse 24

after they had = having.

Verse 25

preached = spoken. Greek. laleo. App-121.

Attalia. A town on the coast of Pamphylia. Greek. Attaleia.

Verse 26

sailed = sailed away. Greek. apopleo. See note on Acts 13:4.

recommended = committed. Greek. paradidomi. See note on John 19:30. grace. Greek. charis. App-184.

Verse 27

when they were = having.

had = having.

rehearsed = recited. Greek. anangello. Compare App-121Acts 5:6.

all that = whatsoever.

had done = did.

the = a.

Verse 28

long time = no (Greek. ou. App-105. I) little time. About two years and a half.


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These files are public domain.
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Bibliography Information
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Acts 14:4". "E.W. Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". 1909-1922.

Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 14th, 2019
the Second Week of Advent
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