Acts 14:14

14 But [when] the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about [it], they tore their clothing [and] rushed out into the crowd, shouting

Acts 14:14 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 14:14

Which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of
As they quickly did, such a multitude being about the doors of the house, where they were: it may be observed, that Barnabas is here called an apostle, as in ( Acts 14:4 ) and is placed before Paul, not as being greater than he, but because of the opinion these Heathens had of him: they rent their clothes; as the Jews did, and were obliged to do, when they heard any blasphemy; (See Gill on Matthew 26:65).

And ran in among the people;
in great haste, showing great concern of mind, and much indignation and resentment, at what they were about to do:

crying out;
aloud, and with great vehemence, that all might hear, and to express the greater dislike of the action.

Acts 14:14 In-Context

12 And they began calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the {principal speaker}.

13 And the priest of the [temple] of Zeus that was just outside the city brought bulls and garlands to the gates [and] was wanting to offer sacrifice, along with the crowds.

14 But [when] the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about [it], they tore their clothing [and] rushed out into the crowd, shouting

15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these [things]? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news [that] you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things [that are] in them--

16 who in generations that are past permitted all the nations to go their [own] ways.

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard about") which is understood as temporal
• [b] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [c] *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("tore") has been translated as a finite verb