Acts 14:11-12

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 14:11

And when the people saw what Paul had done ,.... In curing the lame man in so marvellous a manner, and concluding it to be a divine work, and what a mere creature could never perform: they lift up their voices ; not in indignation and wrath, but as persons astonished: saying in the speech of Lycaonia ; by which it should seem that Lystra was a city of Lycaonia, since the Lycaonian language was spoken in it; the Arabic version reads, "in their own tongue"; and the Syriac version, "in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 14:12

And they called Barnabas Jupiter ,.... The supreme God; it may be because that Barnabas was the oldest man, of the tallest stature, and largest bulk, and made the best figure; whereas Paul was younger, of a low stature, and mean appearance: and Paul Mercurius , because he was the chief speaker; Mercury was the god of eloquence, and the messenger of the gods, and the interpreter of their will F18 Vid Macrob. Saturnal. l. 1. c. 17,19. ; Paul being chiefly concerned in preaching and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 14:11

Saying, in the speech of Lycaonia - What this language was has puzzled the learned not a little. Calmet thinks it was a corrupt Greek dialect; as Greek was the general language of Asia Minor. Mr. Paul Ernest Jablonski, who has written a dissertation expressly on the subject, thinks it was the same language with that of the Cappadocians, which was mingled with Syriac. That it was no dialect of the Greek must be evident from the circumstance of its being here distinguished from it. We have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 14:12

They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius - The heathens supposed that Jupiter and Mercury were the gods who most frequently assumed the human form; and Jupiter was accustomed to take Mercury with him on such expeditions. Jupiter was the supreme god of the heathens; and Mercury was by them considered the god of eloquence. And the ancient fable, from which I have quoted so largely above, represents Jupiter and Mercury coming to this very region, where they were entertained by Lycaon,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 14:11

Verse 11− 11.Furthermore, the multitude. This history doth abundantly testify how ready and bent men are unto vanity. Paul uttered not that word abruptly, Arise; but he added it as it were a conclusion to the sermon made concerning Christ. Yet the people ascribe the praise of the miracle unto their idols, as if they had heard no word of Christ. Indeed, it is no such wonder, that the barbarous men fell unto superstition which they had learned − (21) from their childhood, so soon as they saw the... 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

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