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Acts 14:5

in Acts 14

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

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,

KJV

And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

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This verse in Acts 14

Commentary

10 notes on this verse
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. Both of the Gentiles ... - Of that part of them which was opposed to the apostles. To use them despitefully - See the notes on Mat 5:44. To reproach them; to bring contempt upon them; to injure them. And to stone them - To put them to death by stoning; probably as blasphemers, Act 7:57-59.

This site's exposition

The people of the city

on Acts 14:4-5

The people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles. Gentiles and Jews, groups elsewhere at odds, join with their rulers to mistreat and stone them.

This site's exposition

set out to mistreat and stone them

Stoning was the penalty for blasphemy in Leviticus 24:16, and here Gentiles and Jews set out to stone Paul and Barnabas as blasphemers. Paul had kept the coats at Stephen's stoning in 7:58, and now the stones are meant for him.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 30 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, they were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: and there they preached the Gospel." Again, as if they purposely wished to extend the preaching after it was increased, they once more sent them out. See on all occasions the persecutions working great good, and defeating the persecutors, and making the persecuted illustrious. For having come to Lystra, he works a great miracle, by raising the lame man.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 30 · Written before 407.

proposed

They went away into the country, not into the cities only. Observe both the simplicity of the Gentiles, and the malignity of the Jews. By their actions they showed that they were worthy to hear: they so honored them from the miracles only. The one sort honored them as gods, the other persecuted them as pestilent fellows: and those not only did not take offence at the preaching.

A commentator

Cassiodorus

Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles · Written before 585.

proposed

"And when there was an assault made by the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers," etc. When the people in the uproar that had been stirred up in Iconium tried to kill Paul and Barnabas, they fled to Lystra and Derbe and other regions …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Who the plotters were: Both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, and yet united against Christians, like Herod and Pilate, Sadducees and Pharisees, against Christ; and like Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, of old, against Israel.
And when there was an assault made,.... Or a strong bias and inclination were in the minds, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers; who encouraged them in it: to use them despitefully, and to stone them; not only to give them reproachful language, but to smite, buffet, and scourge them, and to stone them for blasphemy, which was a punishment among the Jews for such causes.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

an assault made . . . to stone them--rather here, "an impetuous movement" with a view to stoning them: for in 2Co 11:25, Paul says, "Once I was stoned," and that was at Lystra, as expressly related in Ac 14:19. (PALEY'S remarks--Horæ Paulinæ--on this singular coincidence between the Epistle and the history are very striking). fled--(See Mt 10:23).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

An assault made - Ὁρμη, A desperate attempt was made by their rulers, i.e. by the heathen rulers of the people, and the rulers of the synagogue. To use them despitefully - To expose them, bring them into contempt, and make them appear as monsters, or movers of sedition; and then to stone them for this falsely alleged crime.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 14:19Then 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.7 worksLuke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.7 works2 Corinthians 11:26In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,6 works1 Thessalonians 2:16hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.5 works2 Timothy 3:11my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.4 worksActs 4:25–29You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?3 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 17:5The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.3 worksActs 16:19When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.3 worksPsalms 83:5For with one mind they plot together, they form an alliance against You—2 worksPsalms 2:1–3Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?2 worksMatthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,2 worksActs 21:27When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,2 works2 Corinthians 11:25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Luke 6:28

    bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 3:9

      Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

    • 1 Corinthians 4:12

      We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

    • Romans 12:14

      Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

    • Luke 23:34

      Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

    • James 3:10

      Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

  • Through

    Acts 14:19

    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.

    it leads to

    • Acts 13:50–51

      The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Acts 13:45

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

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Timothy 3:11

      my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 14 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 30; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

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