Albert Barnes

And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

“And when he had destroyed - Subdued, cast out, or extirpated them as nations. It does not mean that all were put to death, for many of them were left in the land; but that they were subdued as nations, they were broken up and…”

Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin.

“And afterward they desired a king - See 1Sa 8:5; Hos 13:10. It was predicted that they would have a king, Deu 17:14-15. Saul, the son of Cis - is the Greek mode of writing the Hebrew name Kish.”

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

“Because they knew him not - The statement in this verse is designed, not to reproach the Jews at Jerusalem, but to introduce the fact that Jesus had died, and had risen again.”

When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

“They took him down ... - That is, it was done by the Jews. Not that it was done by those who put him to death, but by Joseph of Arimathea, and by Nicodemus, who were Jews.”

and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.

“And he was seen - See the notes at the end of Matthew. Many days - Forty days, Act 1:3. Of them which came up - By the apostles particularly.”

So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’

“Wherefore - Διὸ Dio. To the same intent or end. In proof of the same thing - that he must rise and live forever. He saith - God says by David, or David spake the promises made by God. In another psalm - Psa 16:10.”

‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

“Behold, ye despisers - Hebrew, “Behold, ye among the pagan.” The change from this expression to “ye despisers” was made by the Septuagint translators by a very slight alteration in the Hebrew word - probably from a variation in the copy which they used.”

After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace…

“When the congregation - Greek: when the synagogue was dissolved. Broken up - Dismissed. It does not mean that it was broken up by violence or disorder. It was dismissed in the usual way.”

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

“They were filled with envy - Greek: “zeal.” The word here denotes “wrath in dignation,” that such multitudes should be disposed to hear a message which they rejected, and which threatened to overthrow their religion.”

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

“For so ... - Paul, as usual, appeals to the Scriptures to justify his course. Here he appeals to the Old Testament rather than to the command of the Saviour, because the Jews recognized the authority of their own Scriptures, while they would have turned…”

So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

“But they shook off the dust ... - See the notes on Mat 10:14. And came unto Iconium - This was the capital of Lycaonia. It is now called Konieh, and is the capital of Caramania.”

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

“In Iconium - See the notes on Act 13:51. In this place, and in Antioch and Lystra, Timothy became acquainted with Paul and his manner of life, 2Ti 3:10-11.”

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

“Long time therefore - It seems probable that there were here no forcible or public measures to expel them, as there had been at Antioch Act 13:50, and they therefore regarded it as their duty to remain.”

But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,

“An assault made - Greek: a “rush” - ὁρμή hormē. It denotes “an impetuous excitement and aggression; a rush to put them to death.” It rather describes a popular tumult than a calm and deliberate purpose. There was a violent, tumultuous excitement.”

This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.

“Who stedfastly beholding him - Fixing his eyes intently on him. See the notes on Act 1:10. And perceiving - How he perceived this is not said. Perhaps it was indicated by the ardor, humility, and strong desire depicted in his countenance.”

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

“They lifted up their voices - They spoke with astonishment, such as might be expected when it was supposed that the gods had come down. In the speech of Lycaonia - What this language was has much perplexed commentators.”

The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

“Then the priest of Jupiter - He whose office it was to conduct the worship of Jupiter by offering sacrifices, etc. Which was before their city - The word “which” here refers not to the priest, but to Jupiter.”

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

“Which, when the apostles - Barnabas is called an apostle because he was sent forth by the church on a particular message (Act 13:3; compare Act 14:26), not because he had been chosen to the special work of the apostleship - to Dear witness to…”

“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.

“And saying, Sirs - Greek: Men. Why do ye these things? - This is an expression of solemn remonstrance at the folly of their conduct in worshipping those who were human.”

Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

“Nevertheless - Though he gave them no revelation. He left not himself without witness - He gave demonstration of his existence and of his moral character. In that he did good - By doing good. The manner in which he did it, Paul immediately specifies.”

They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

“Had taught many - Or, rather, had made many disciples (margin). To Lystra - Act 14:6. And to Iconium - Act 14:1. We have here a remarkable instance of the courage of the apostles.”

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

“And widen they had ordained - χειροτονήσαντες cheirotonēsantes. The word “ordain” we now use in an ecclesiastical sense, to denote “a setting apart to an office by the imposition of hands.” But it is evident that the word here is not employed in that sense.”

And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

“In Perga - See the notes on Act 13:13. They went down into Attalia - “Attalia had something of the same relation to Perga which Cadiz has to Seville.”

When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

“They rehearsed ... - Act 11:4. They related what had happened; their dangers and their success. This they did because they had been sent out by the church, and it was proper that they should give an account of their work; and because it furnished…”

Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

“And certain men - These were undoubtedly men who had been Jews, but who were now converted to Christianity.”