Atti 14

1 Or avvenne che in Iconio pure Paolo e Barnaba entrarono nella sinagoga dei Giudei e parlarono in maniera che una gran moltitudine di Giudei e di Greci credette.

2 Ma i Giudei, rimasti disubbidienti, misero su e inasprirono gli animi dei Gentili contro i fratelli.

3 Essi dunque dimoraron quivi molto tempo, predicando con franchezza, fidenti nel Signore, il quale rendeva testimonianza alla parola della sua grazia, concedendo che per le lor mani si facessero segni e prodigi.

4 Ma la popolazione della città era divisa; gli uni tenevano per i Giudei, e gli altri per gli apostoli.

5 Ma essendo scoppiato un moto dei Gentili e dei Giudei coi loro capi, per recare ingiuria agli apostoli e lapidarli,

6 questi, conosciuta la cosa, se ne fuggirono nelle città di Licaonia, Listra e Derba e nel paese d’intorno;

7 e quivi si misero ad evangelizzare.

8 Or in Listra c’era un certo uomo, impotente nei piedi, che stava sempre a sedere, essendo zoppo dalla nascita, e non aveva mai camminato.

9 Egli udì parlare Paolo, il quale, fissati in lui gli occhi, e vedendo che avea fede da esser sanato,

10 disse ad alta voce: Lèvati ritto in piè. Ed egli saltò su, e si mise a camminare.

11 E le turbe, avendo veduto ciò che Paolo avea fatto, alzarono la voce, dicendo in lingua licaonica: Gli dèi hanno preso forma umana, e sono discesi fino a noi.

12 E chiamavano Barnaba, Giove, e Paolo, Mercurio, perché era il primo a parlare.

13 E il sacerdote di Giove, il cui tempio era all’entrata della città, menò dinanzi alle porte tori e ghirlande, e volea sacrificare con le turbe.

14 Ma gli apostoli Barnaba e Paolo, udito ciò, si stracciarono i vestimenti, e saltarono in mezzo alla moltitudine, esclamando:

15 Uomini, perché fate queste cose? Anche noi siamo uomini della stessa natura che voi; e vi predichiamo che da queste cose vane vi convertiate all’Iddio vivente, che ha fatto il cielo, la terra, il mare e tutte le cose che sono in essi;

16 che nelle età passate ha lasciato camminare nelle loro vie tutte le nazioni,

17 benché non si sia lasciato senza testimonianza, facendo del bene, mandandovi dal cielo piogge e stagioni fruttifere, dandovi cibo in abbondanza, e letizia ne’ vostri cuori.

18 E dicendo queste cose, a mala pena trattennero le turbe dal sacrificar loro.

19 Or sopraggiunsero quivi de’ Giudei da Antiochia e da Iconio; i quali, avendo persuaso le turbe, lapidarono Paolo e lo trascinaron fuori della città, credendolo morto.

20 Ma essendosi i discepoli raunati intorno a lui, egli si rialzò, ed entrò nella città; e il giorno seguente, partì con Barnaba per Derba.

21 E avendo evangelizzata quella città e fatti molti discepoli se ne tornarono a Listra, a Iconio ed Antiochia,

22 confermando gli animi dei discepoli, esortandoli a perseverare nella fede, dicendo loro che dobbiamo entrare nel regno di Dio attraverso molte tribolazioni.

23 E fatti eleggere per ciascuna chiesa degli anziani, dopo aver pregato e digiunato, raccomandarono i fratelli al Signore, nel quale aveano creduto.

24 E traversata la Pisidia, vennero in Panfilia.

25 E dopo aver annunziata la Parola in Perga, discesero ad Attalia;

26 e di là navigarono verso Antiochia, di dove erano stati raccomandati alla grazia di Dio, per l’opera che aveano compiuta.

27 Giunti colà e raunata la chiesa, riferirono tutte le cose che Dio avea fatte per mezzo di loro, e come avea aperta la porta della fede ai Gentili.

28 E stettero non poco tempo coi discepoli.

Atti 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. (1-7) A cripple healed at Lystra, The people would have sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas. (8-18) Paul stoned at Lystra, The churches visited again. (19-28)

Verses 1-7 The apostles spake so plainly, with such evidence and proof of the Spirit, and with such power; so warmly, and with such concern for the souls of men; that those who heard them could not but say, God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be reckoned to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God who used that means. Perseverance in doing good, amidst dangers and hardships, is a blessed evidence of grace. Wherever God's servants are driven, they should seek to declare the truth. When they went on in Christ's name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. He has assured us it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, yet united against Christians. If the church's enemies join to destroy it, shall not its friends unite for its preservation? God has a shelter for his people in a storm; he is, and will be their Hiding-place. In times of persecution, believers may see cause to quit a spot, though they do not quit their Master's work.

Verses 8-18 All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, that most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinful habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and walk cheerfully in the ways of the Lord. When Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of men, and did many miracles, men were so far from doing sacrifice to him, that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice; but Paul and Barnabas, upon their working one miracle, were treated as gods. The same power of the god of this world, which closes the carnal mind against truth, makes errors and mistakes find easy admission. We do not learn that they rent their clothes when the people spake of stoning them; but when they spake of worshipping them; they could not bear it, being more concerned for God's honour than their own. God's truth needs not the services of man's falsehood. The servants of God might easily obtain undue honours if they would wink at men's errors and vices; but they must dread and detest such respect more than any reproach. When the apostles preached to the Jews, who hated idolatry, they had only to preach the grace of God in Christ; but when they had to do with the Gentiles, they must set right their mistakes in natural religion. Compare their conduct and declaration with the false opinions of those who think the worship of a God, under any name, or in any manner, is equally acceptable to the Lord Almighty. The most powerful arguments, the most earnest and affectionate addresses, even with miracles, are scarcely enough to keep men from absurdities and abominations; much less can they, without special grace, turn the hearts of sinners to God and to holiness.

Verses 19-28 See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it. All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. The grace of God, and nothing less, effectually establishes the souls of the disciples. It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is encouragement that we shall not be lost and perish in it. The Person to whose power and grace the converts and the newly-established churches are commended, clearly was the Lord Jesus, "on whom they had believed." It was an act of worship. The praise of all the little good we do at any time, must be ascribed to God; for it is He who not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but also worketh with us to make what we do successful. All who love the Lord Jesus, will rejoice to hear that he has opened the door of faith wide, to those who were strangers to him and to his salvation. And let us, like the apostles, abide with those who know and love the Lord.