Acts 14:2

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

But {G1161} the unbelieving {G544} Jews {G2453} stirred up {G1892} the Gentiles {G1484}, and {G2532} made {G2559} their minds {G5590} evil affected {G2559} against {G2596} the brethren {G80}.

But the Jews who would not be persuaded stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.

Context

Acts 14:2 finds the Apostle Paul and Barnabas ministering in Iconium, a city in Lycaonia. Immediately preceding this verse, Acts 14:1 describes their initial success: they entered the synagogue and spoke with such power that a great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles believed. However, the rapid spread of the Gospel often ignited strong opposition. This verse details the swift and malicious response from those who rejected their message, setting the stage for further persecution faced by the early church missionaries.

Key Themes

  • Opposition to the Gospel: This verse starkly illustrates the immediate and often intense hostility that the preaching of the Gospel can provoke. It highlights that divine truth, while saving some, simultaneously hardens others.
  • Incitement and Manipulation: The "unbelieving Jews" actively "stirred up" (Greek: epegeiro, meaning "to rouse against") the Gentiles. This was not merely passive disagreement but a deliberate and malicious effort to poison minds and incite violence against the nascent Christian community.
  • Unity in Opposition: The verse shows an unusual alliance between unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, united in their animosity towards the Christian message and its adherents. This incident highlights a recurring pattern in the early church's mission, where the world's rejection of Christ often leads to hostility towards His followers.
  • Persecution of Believers: The ultimate outcome of this stirring up was that the Gentiles' minds were "evil affected against the brethren," leading to persecution and eventually an attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:5). This foreshadows the persecution that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "made their minds evil affected" translates the Greek verb kakoo (κακόω), which means "to treat ill," "to harm," "to malign," or "to make bad." It suggests a deliberate and successful effort to corrupt or prejudice the minds of the Gentiles, turning their initial openness (as seen in Acts 14:1) into hostility and ill-will towards the Christian believers ("the brethren"). This was a psychological and social attack, aiming to undermine the apostles' credibility and incite public anger.

Practical Application

Acts 14:2 serves as a reminder that the spread of the Gospel has always faced, and continues to face, opposition. Believers today may not always encounter physical persecution, but they can expect to encounter prejudice, manipulation, and efforts to malign their faith or character. This verse encourages Christians to:

  1. Discern Malicious Influence: Be aware that negative narratives about believers or the Gospel can be deliberately spread to turn public opinion.
  2. Stand Firm in Truth: Despite opposition, the apostles continued to preach (Acts 14:3). This calls us to remain steadfast in sharing the truth, even when it is unpopular or provokes hostility.
  3. Expect Resistance: Understanding that opposition is a natural byproduct of proclaiming Christ helps believers to not be surprised or discouraged when it arises.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 13:50

    But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

  • Acts 21:27

    ¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

  • Acts 21:30

    And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

  • Acts 17:5

    But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

  • Acts 13:45

    But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

  • Acts 14:19

    ¶ And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

  • Acts 17:13

    But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
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