TRV
John Chrysostom
Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 7,356 passages across 56 books
Commentary
Acts 13:43
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
See the Apostles on all occasions exhorting, not merely accepting men, nor courting them, but, "speaking unto them," it says, "they persuaded them to continue in the grace of God."
Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
"And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." Not merely were the multitudes drawn to them, but how? they besought to have the same words spoken to them again, and by their actions they showed their earnestness.
Acts 13:45
· 2 passages
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.
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and contradicted the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." See malice wounded in wounding others: this made the Apostles more conspicuous - the contradiction which those offered. In the first instance then they of their own accord besought them to speak (and now they opposed them): "contradicting," it says, "and blaspheming." O recklessness!
Why did they not contradict before this? Do you observe who on all occasions they were moved by passion? And they not only contradicted, but blasphemed also. For indeed malice stops at nothing.
Acts 13:46
· 3 passages
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." Do you mark how by their contentious behavior they the more extended the preaching, and how the Apostles here gave themselves the more to the Gentiles, having by this very thing pleaded their justification, and made themselves clear of all blame with their own people at Jerusalem? See how by their "envy" they bring about great things, other than they looked for: they brought it about that the Apostles spake out boldly, and came to the Gentiles! For this is why he says, "And speaking out boldly, Paul and Barnabas said."
But see what boldness of speech! "It was necessary," he says, "that the word should have been spoken first to you, but since ye put it from you" - it is not put as affronting though it is in fact what they did in the case of the prophets: "Talk not to us," said they, "with talk": "but since ye put it from you" - it, he saith, not us: for the affront on your part is not to us. For that none may take it as an expression of their piety that he says, "Ye judge not yourselves worthy," therefore he first says, "Ye put it from you," and then, "We turn unto the Gentiles." The expression is full of gentleness. He does not say, We abandon you, but so that it is possible - he would say - that we may also turn hither again: and this too is not the consequence of the affront from you, "for so hath the Lord commanded us."
They were to go out to the Gentiles: but observe the boldness coming with measure: for if Peter pleaded in his justification, much more these needed a plea, none having called them there. But by saying "To you first," he showed that to those also it was their duty to preach, and in saying "Necessary," he showed that it was necessary to be preached to them also. "But since ye turn away from it" - he does not say, "Woe unto you," and "Ye are punished," but "We turn unto the Gentiles." With great gentleness is the boldness fraught! Also he does not say, "Ye are unworthy," but "Have judged yourselves unworthy. Lo, we turn unto the Gentiles."
Acts 13:47
· 2 passages
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
"For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have sent thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." For that the Gentiles might not be hurt at hearing this, as if the case were so that, had the Jews been in earnest, they themselves would not have obtained the blessings, therefore he brings in the prophecy, saying, "A light of the Gentiles," and, "for salvation unto the ends of the earth."
"Then why have ye not done this?" It was indeed needful that the Gentiles should hear, and this not before you: it is your own doing, the "before you." "For so hath the Lord commanded us: I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation," i.e. for knowledge which is unto salvation, and not merely of the Gentiles, but of all men, "unto the ends of the earth."
Acts 13:48
· 2 passages
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
"As many as were ordained unto eternal life": this is also a proof, that their having received these Gentiles was agreeable with the mind of God. But "ordained," not in regard of necessity: "whom He foreknew," saith the Apostle, "He did predestinate."
"And hearing this the Gentiles" - this, while it was more cheering to them, seeing the case was this, that whereas those were of right to hear first, they themselves enjoy the blessing, was at the same time more stinging to those - "and the Gentiles," it says, "hearing this were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and believed, as many as were ordained unto eternal life": i.e., set apart for God. Observe how he shows the speediness of the benefit.
Acts 13:49
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
"And the word of the Lord was borne through all the region." No longer in the city only were their doctrines disseminated, but also in the whole region. For when they of the Gentiles had heard it, they also after a little while came over.
Acts 13:50
· 2 passages
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.
"But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts." "The devout women," instead of the proselyte-women. They did not stop at "envy," but added deeds also. Do you see what they effected by their opposing the preaching? to what dishonor they brought these "honorable women"?
"But the Jews stirred up the devout women, and raised persecution" - observe even of what is done by the women, they are the authors - "and cast them," it says, "out of their coasts," not from the city merely.
Acts 13:51
· 2 passages
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Then, what is more terrible, "they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. But the disciples, it says, were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." The teachers were suffering persecution, and the disciples rejoiced.
"But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium." Here now they used that terrible sign which Christ enjoined, "If any receive you not, shake off the dust from your feet"; but these did it upon no light ground, but because they were driven away by them. This was no hurt to the disciples; on the contrary, they the more continued in the word.
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
"And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost," for the suffering of the teacher does not check his boldness, but makes the disciple more courageous.
Acts 14:1
· 2 passages
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
"And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews." Again they entered into the synagogues. See how far they were from becoming more timid! Having said, "We turn unto the Gentiles," nevertheless by going into the synagogues they superabundantly fortify their own justification with their Jewish brethren. "So that," it says, "a great multitude both of Jews and Greeks believed." For it is likely they discoursed as to Greeks also.
"And so spake, that a great multitude," etc. Do you mark the nature of the Gospel, the great virtue it has?
Acts 14:2
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
"Made their minds evil-affected," it says, "against the brethren": i.e. slandered the Apostles, raised numberless accusations against them: these people, being simple, they "made evil-affected," disposed them to act a malignant part.