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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 14:8-18

In these verses we have, I. A miraculous cure wrought by Paul at Lystra upon a cripple that had been lame from his birth, such a one as was miraculously cured by Peter and John, Acts 3:2. That introduced the gospel among the Jews, this among the Gentiles; both that and this were designed to represent the impotency of all the children of men in spiritual things: they are lame from their birth, till the grace of God puts strength into them; for it was when we were yet without strength that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 14:8-18

14:8-18 There was a man who sat in Lystra who had no power in his feet. He had been a cripple from his birth and he had never walked. He was in the habit of listening to Paul speaking. Paul fixed his gaze on him. He saw that he had faith that he could be cured and he said to him in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." He leaped up and kept walking about. When the crowds saw what Paul had done they exclaimed in the Lycaonian dialect, "The gods have taken the form of men and have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 14:17

He left not himself without witness - Though he gave the Gentiles no revelation of his will, yet he continued to govern them by his gracious providence; doing them good in general; giving then rain to fertilize their grounds, and fruitful seasons as the result; so that grass grew for the cattle and corn for the service of man. Filling our hearts with food - Giving as much food as could reasonably be wished, so that gladness, or general happiness, was the result. Such was the gracious... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 14:17

Verse 17− 17.− Notwithstanding, he did not suffer himself to be without witness. Paul and Barnabas take from the Gentiles in this place the cloak [pretext] of ignorance. For how greatly soever men please themselves in their own inventions, being at length convicted of error, they fly unto this fortress, [asylums] that they ought to bear no blame; − (35) but that God was rather cruel, who did not vouchsafe so much as. with one hiss to call those back whom he saw perish, [perishing.] Paul and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 14:1-28

The Word and the miracle. In the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth, whether by our Lord himself in the days of his flesh, or by the apostles after his ascension, two great instruments were in constant and simultaneous use—the preaching of the Word of God and the working of miracles. In the Gospels it is difficult to say which was the most prominent feature of our Lord's life—his preaching the Word or his mighty works of power. He himself places them side by side in his description... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 14:7-20

The insufficient and the efficacious. We ask such questions as these—What is it that will convince the minds and convert the souls of men? What avails to establish the kingdom of Christ in any town or neighborhood? What will secure the practical acceptance of Divine truth? The answer is that some things are strong but insufficient; one thing only is efficacious. I. THE INSUFFICIENT . 1. The hand of God in nature does not suffice. "The living God which made heaven and earth,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 14:8-18

The light shining in darkness—Lystra. The heathenish state of the population. So much the brighter seemed the light. The effect of the miracle on the cripple. A warning against making a superstitious use of men's credulity—as the Romish Church has done. I. A REAL TRIAL OF THE APOSTLES . 1. Of their faithfulness to the truth. Had they been willing, as the Church afterwards was, to mingle heathenism with Christianity, they might have accomplished more in captivating the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 14:8-18

Three instances of faith. The contents of these verses are very diversified and very full. Yet a certain unity attaches to them, and from this point of view they will be now regarded. Paul and Barnabas have now reached a people who arc almost exclusively Gentiles, and Gentiles of the Gentiles. The miracle with which this paragraph opens may be supposed to find its place here by the mind of the Spirit, less for its own particulars, interesting and instructive as they are, than for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 14:8-20

Healing of the lame man at Lystra. The event is chiefly remarkable for the effect it produced upon the minds of the people of the country and the illustration of the apostolic temper and spirit thereby called forth. I. THE SUFFERER AND HIS FAITH . 1. His complaint was congenital, and, according to ordinary ways of thinking, incurable. This brings all the more his faith into relief. It is the very power and property of faith to conquer what seems to reason unconquerable.... read more

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