John Gill

When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”

“And when she knew Peter's voice,.... often heard him preach and converse in the family: she opened not the gate for gladness, filled with joy to hear his voice, and that he was delivered from prison, and in haste to carry the welcome news to…”

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.

“But Peter continued knocking,.... That they might come to him, and let him in; beginning to be impatient, and being very desirous of seeing his friends, as well as being in danger of being taken up, and had to prison again, should any of his…”

But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.

“But the word of God grew and multiplied. The number of those who were converted by it, and embraced and professed it, increased; otherwise the word is the same, whether the professors of it be more or fewer; and this it did, notwithstanding the persecution…”

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

“As they ministered to the Lord,.... That is, the five prophets and teachers before mentioned; and whose ministry lay in preaching the Gospel, teaching the people the doctrines of it, and expounding prophecies, and also in prayer; to which latter the Syriac version restrains their…”

But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

“But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation,.... Not that Magus a sorcerer is by interpretation Elymas; as if Luke was interpreting the Persic word "Magus", which is sometimes used in a good sense, for a wise man, as in Mat 2:1…”

and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery!

“And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief,.... Which may have regard both to his general character as a sorcerer, and a false prophet; in acting up to which he used much deceit and cunning among the people, and did much mischief to…”

And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.

“But when they departed from Perga,.... Where they seemed not to make any long stay; nor is there any account of what they did there; though it is certain here was a church of Christ in after times, and very likely planted by the apostles…”

But God raised Him from the dead,

“But God raised him from the dead. Though his life was taken away by man, and it was a clear case that he was certainly dead, and he was taken down from the cross as such, and buried; yet he could not be held with…”

But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

“But he whom God raised again,.... The Vulgate Latin version adds, "from the dead"; meaning the Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead by God the Father: and saw no corruption; he did not lie so long in the grave as to corrupt…”

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…

“Now when the congregation was broken up,.... Or "the synagogue"; not the place, but the people that met in it; when they were "dismissed", as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions render it; either in a disorderly manner, through the offence the Jews took at…”

On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

“And the next sabbath day,.... The same which is before called the "sabbath between", which was between the first and tenth of Tisri, or between the beginning of the year, and the day of atonement: came almost the whole city together.”

And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. That is, of Pisidia, in which Antioch was; not by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, who seem to go directly to Iconium, after they were expelled the city and suburbs of Antioch; but…”

they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

“They were ware of it,.... They understood it, were apprised of it, and well weighed it, and considered it in their minds, and what was best to be done at this juncture: and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia; according to the orders…”

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

“The same heard Paul speak,.... That is, preach the Gospel; he was one of his hearers, and faith came to hint by hearing; the Arabic version adds, "he cried unto him"; that is, to Paul, whom he heard: who steadfastly beholding him; not the lame…”

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 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 Act 14:4 and is placed before…”

Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.

“And with these sayings,.... Concerning themselves, and concerning the living God, his creation of all things, and his providential goodness: scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them; so resolute were they upon it, that it was with great difficulty…”

Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

“And there came thither certain Jews,.... Either just at the same time, or however whilst the apostles were in this city: in four manuscripts of Beza's, and in some other copies, it is read, "as they abode there, and taught, there came", &c.”

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

“And when they had preached the word in Perga,.... A city in Pamphylia, Act 13:13. The Alexandrian copy, and others, and three manuscripts of Beza's, read, "the word of the Lord"; as do the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions: they went down into "Attalia"; not…”

And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

“And there they abode long time with the disciples. That is, Paul and Barnabas continued a considerable time at Antioch with the believers there, before they set out on another journey; and what might detain them the longer, might be the disputes they had with…”

So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

“And the apostles and elders came together,.... And also the brethren, or private members of the church, even the whole church, as appears from Act 15:22.”

He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

“And put no difference between us and them,.... Neither in the extraordinary gifts, nor special grace, of the Spirit; giving them the same graces of faith, hope, and love, admitting to the same privileges and immunities of the house of God, and giving them a…”

When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

“And after they had held their peace,.... Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking: James answered; or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak.”

Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles,.... James begins with taking notice of Peter's speech, and agrees to it, and confirms it; for by Simeon is not meant, as some have thought, the Simeon that took Christ in his arms…”

The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

“And to this agree the words of the prophets,.... In several of the prophecies of the Old Testament, which plainly speak of the calling of the Gentiles; though James thought it sufficient to produce only one instead of many: as it is written; in Amo…”

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,.... By various things they had reason doubtless to conclude, that they were under the influence and direction of the Holy Ghost in this affair; as by the spirit of prayer that was among them…”