Acts 14:16

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, ^athey tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

15 and saying, “Men, ^awhy are you doing these things? ^bWe also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from ^cthese useless things ^dto the living God, ^ewho made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

16 ^awho in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 ^aNevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, ^bgave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ^cfood and gladness.”

18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Stoning, Escape to Derbe

19 ^aThen Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, ^bthey stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be ^cdead.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does Acts 14:16 Mean?

Acts 14:16-17

God's gracious gifts are just that—gracious. They are unearned and unmerited by us who have willingly sinned against Him, desecrated His beautiful creation and either ignored or neglected His awesome purpose. Despite this, His gifts of life are nonetheless unforced, an abundant manifestation of His kind nature. He does not return evil for evil; He does not bear grudges, burn with resentment, or plot to get even. Rather, He freely gives even to evil doers while He patiently works toward the completion of His purpose!

It has always been this way. Despite the Israelites' manifold sins after their rescue from Egypt, He continued to provide food, water, and protection all the way into the Promised Land. Once in the land, they continued their provocations for about another seven hundred years before He finally drove them into captivity. All the while He provided for them so abundantly that Israel became a very wealthy, albeit ungrateful, nation.

Psalm 78:37-39 records this of Israel's relationship with God:

For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Acts 14:8-18

Galatia was not a city but a province in Asia Minor. The church membership was undoubtedly composed mainly of Gentiles, and the males were physically uncircumcised (Galatians 5:2; 6:12-13). In looking at Paul's initial dealings with these people, we find that they had a history of worshipping pagan deities.

In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul (Acts 14:8-18). The people of the area were so astonished at this miracle that they supposed Barnabas and Paul, whom they called Zeus and Hermes (verse 12), to be pagan gods! They wanted to sacrifice to them, and would have, if the apostles had not stopped them (verses 13-18). This shows that the people in Galatia were generally superstitious and worshipped pagan deities.

Earl L. Henn
Does Paul Condemn Observing God's Holy Days?

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Acts 14:16:

Amos 1:3-15
Amos 2:1-3
Acts 14:8-18
Galatians 4:9-10
Galatians 4:9-10

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Stoning, Escape to Derbe

What Does Acts 14:16 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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