Atos 14:17

17 Contudo não deixou de dar testemunho de si mesmo, fazendo o bem, dando-vos chuvas do céu e estações frutíferas, enchendo-vos de mantimento, e de alegria os vossos corações.

Atos 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 14:17

Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness
Of his kindness and goodness to them, during this long interval and period of time; for they had not the written law, yet they were not destitute of the law of nature; and had, besides, many instances of providential goodness, by which they might have known God: and should have been thankful to him, and glorified him as God, and not have worshipped the idols of their own hands; the goodness of God should have led them to repentance, and not have been abused to so many wicked purposes as it had been:

in that he did good;
in a providential way, to persons very undeserving of it, of which some particular instances follow:

and gave us rain from heaven,
which none of the gods of the Gentiles could, do, ( Jeremiah 14:22 ) . So (Mymvg xtpm) , "the key of rains", is by the Jews F1 said to be one of the keys which God has in his own hands, and which he does not commit to any other: and a wonderful blessing is this to mankind, and which God gives to the just and to the unjust, and did give to the ignorant and idolatrous Gentiles. Beza's most ancient copy, and four other ancient copies of his, and some others, read "you", instead of "us"; which reading seems most agreeable:

and fruitful seasons;
spring, summer, harvest, and autumn, at which several times, different fruits of the earth appear:

filling our hearts with food and gladness;
giving a sufficiency of food, and even an abundance of it, and that for pleasure and delight, as well as for support and refreshment: the Syriac version reads, "their hearts"; some copies read, "your hearts".


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Targum Jerus. in Gen. xxx. 22. & Jon. in Deut. xxviii. 12.

Atos 14:17 In-Context

15 e dizendo: Senhores, por que fazeis estas coisas? Nós também somos homens, de natureza semelhante � vossa, e vos anunciamos o evangelho para que destas práticas vãs vos convertais ao Deus vivo, que fez o céu, a terra, o mar, e tudo quanto há neles;
16 o qual nos tempos passados permitiu que todas as nações andassem nos seus próprios caminhos.
17 Contudo não deixou de dar testemunho de si mesmo, fazendo o bem, dando-vos chuvas do céu e estações frutíferas, enchendo-vos de mantimento, e de alegria os vossos corações.
18 E dizendo isto, com dificuldade impediram as multidões de lhes oferecerem sacrifícios.
19 Sobrevieram, porém, judeus de Antioquia e de Icônio e, havendo persuadido as multidões, apedrejaram a Paulo, e arrastaram-no para fora da cidade, cuidando que estava morto.
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