Acts 14:18
in Acts 14Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.
KJV
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
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This verse in Acts 14
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAnd 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 that they persuaded them from it: in four of Beza's manuscripts, and in some other copies, it is added, "but everyone went to his own house", &c.
This site's exposition
He let all nations
on Acts 14:16-18
To a crowd without Scripture Paul argues from what all can see, the method he widens at Athens in 17:22 to 31. God has not left Himself without testimony: He gives rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, a witness in harvest given to every nation.
This site's exposition
could hardly stop the crowds
Codex Bezae ends the verse with the crowds sent home. Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the sacrificing, so deep did the old worship run. That left the crowds open to the Jews from Antioch and Iconium in verse 19.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And saying these things, they scarcely stopped the multitudes"-indeed by this very thing they gained most admiration-"from sacrificing to them." Do you observe that this was the point with them to put an end to that madness?
"And as they stayed there and taught, there came thither certain Jews from Antioch," etc. As Paul and Barnabas were staying in Lystra surrounded by great devotion from the citizens, there came some utterly wicked Jews, who, persuading the multitude, pelted Paul with stones and …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
The outrage of the people against Paul, at the instigation of the Jews, the effect of which was that they stoned him, as they thought, to death; but he was wonderfully restored to life,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Barnabas and Paul heard--Barnabas is put first here, apparently as having been styled the "Jupiter" of the company. they rent their clothes and ran in--rather (according to the true reading), "ran forth." among the people, crying out . . .
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
with these sayings scarce restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice to them--In spite of this, and Peter's repudiation of all such honor (Ac 10:26), how soon idolatrous tendencies began to show themselves in the Christian Church, at length to be systematized and enjoined in the Church of Rome!
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And with these sayings - With these arguments. Scarce restrained they the people - They were so fully satisfied that the gods had appeared, and were so full of zeal to do them honor.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| λέγοντες | legontes | saying | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| μόλις | molis | hardly | G3433 → | 6 times |
| κατέπαυσαν | katepausan | they stopped | G2664 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄχλους | ochlous | crowds | G3793 → | 175 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| θύειν | thuein | sacrificing | G2380 → | 14 times |
| αὐτοῖς.¶ | autois | to them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
λέγοντεςsaying
legontesG3004 →1325 times
μόλιςhardly
molisG3433 →6 times
κατέπαυσανthey stopped
katepausanG2664 →
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ὄχλουςcrowds
ochlousG3793 →175 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
θύεινsacrificing
thueinG2380 →14 times
αὐτοῖς.¶to them.
autoisG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 6:15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
it leads to
- John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
- John 7:3–4
So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
- John 6:15–21
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
- John 18:36
Through
Genesis 11:6And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them.
it leads to
- Psalms 2:1–4
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Genesis 3:22
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life,…
- Genesis 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.
- Luke 1:51
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
- Psalms 2:1–4
Through
Genesis 19:9“Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And…
it leads to
- Exodus 2:14
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done…
- Exodus 2:14
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament.