Acts 14:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

[Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

Complete Jewish Bible:

When the emissaries Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd, shouting,

Berean Standard Bible:

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

American Standard Version:

But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Which when^{G1161} the apostles^{G652}, Barnabas^{G921} and^{G2532} Paul^{G3972}, heard^{G191} of, they rent^{G1284} their^{G846} clothes^{G2440}, and ran^{G1530} in among^{G1519} the people^{G3793}, crying out^{G2896},

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Acts 14:14

Acts 14:14 is a verse set within the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, which is part of the larger narrative of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. This book, attributed to Luke the Evangelist, details the early history of the Christian church and the spread of the Gospel following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

In the verse, we find Paul and Barnabas in the city of Lystra, where they have just performed a miraculous healing. The local people, misunderstanding the source of the apostles' power, begin to venerate them as gods, identifying Paul as Hermes and Barnabas as Zeus due to their roles in the miracle. The verse captures the apostles' dramatic response to this misdirected worship: they tear their clothes, a traditional Jewish sign of grief, horror, or anger, and rush into the crowd to stop the people from worshipping them.

The themes present in this verse include the opposition to idolatry and the importance of giving glory to God alone. Paul and Barnabas' reaction underscores a central tenet of Christian teaching: only God is to be worshipped, and apostles and believers are merely His servants. This incident also highlights the cultural and religious challenges faced by early Christian missionaries as they sought to spread the Gospel in a world filled with diverse religious practices and beliefs. The apostles' urgency in correcting the misconception of their divinity reflects the early church's commitment to the truth of the Gospel and the apostolic mission to direct all worship and honor to God.

Historically, this event illustrates the tensions that arose as Christianity emerged within the religious and cultural landscape of the Roman Empire. The confusion of Paul and Barnabas with pagan deities reflects the syncretism of the time, where various religious traditions could intermingle. The verse serves as a snapshot of the early church's struggle against such syncretism and the apostles' dedication to maintaining the distinctiveness of Christian faith and practice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G652
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀπόστολος
   Transliteration: apóstolos
   Pronunciation: ap-os'-tol-os
   Description: from ἀποστέλλω; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
   
3. Strong's Number: G921
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Βαρνάβας
   Transliteration: Barnábas
   Pronunciation: bar-nab'-as
   Description: of Chaldee origin (בַּר and נְבִיא); son of Nabas (i.e. prophecy); Barnabas, an Israelite:--Barnabas.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: G3972
   There are 160 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Παῦλος
   Transliteration: Paûlos
   Pronunciation: pow'-los
   Description: of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of παύω, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.
   
6. Strong's Number: G191
   There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀκούω
   Transliteration: akoúō
   Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
   
7. Strong's Number: G1284
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διαῤῥήσσω
   Transliteration: diarrhḗssō
   Pronunciation: dee-ar-hrayce'-so
   Description: from διά and ῥήγνυμι; to tear asunder:--break, rend.
   
8. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2440
   There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἱμάτιον
   Transliteration: himátion
   Pronunciation: him-at'-ee-on
   Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of ennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer):--apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.
   
10. Strong's Number: G1530
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰσπηδάω
    Transliteration: eispēdáō
    Pronunciation: ice-pay-dah'-o
    Description: from εἰς and (to leap); to rush in:--run (spring) in.
    
11. Strong's Number: G1519
    There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰς
    Transliteration: eis
    Pronunciation: ice
    Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
    
12. Strong's Number: G3793
    There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὄχλος
    Transliteration: óchlos
    Pronunciation: okh'los
    Description: from a derivative of ἔχω (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot:--company, multitude, number (of people), people, press.
    
13. Strong's Number: G2896
    There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κράζω
    Transliteration: krázō
    Pronunciation: krad'-zo
    Description: a primary verb; properly, to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, i.e. (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat):--cry (out).