Acts 14 14

Acts 14:14 kjv

Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

Acts 14:14 nkjv

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

Acts 14:14 niv

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:

Acts 14:14 esv

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,

Acts 14:14 nlt

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting,

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 14 Meaning

Acts 14:14 profoundly illustrates the apostles Barnabas and Paul's immediate, intense revulsion and vehement spiritual protest against any form of worship directed towards themselves. Upon realizing the Lystrans were about to offer sacrifices to them as gods, their actions—tearing their clothes and rushing into the crowd with a loud cry—signified deep shock and abhorrence, clearly communicating their absolute rejection of being deified and redirecting attention solely to the One true God.

Acts 14 14 Context

Acts 14:14 is a pivotal moment in the First Missionary Journey of Barnabas and Paul. Preceding this verse, Paul miraculously heals a man lame from birth in Lystra (Acts 14:8-10). Witnessing this, the local Lycaonian populace, deeply rooted in pagan mythology—where tales of gods visiting in human form were common (like Zeus and Hermes)—concluded that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul, as the chief speaker, was Hermes (Acts 14:11-12). They swiftly began preparations to offer sacrifices to them at the city gates, involving the priest of Zeus and garlands for the oxen (Acts 14:13). This verse, then, details the apostles' immediate, dramatic, and horrified response to this severe theological misunderstanding and impending act of idolatry, setting the stage for their corrective sermon found in the subsequent verses (14:15-18). It highlights the apostles' unwavering commitment to monotheism and their profound aversion to any glory attributed to themselves that rightly belongs only to God.

Acts 14 14 Word analysis

• But (Greek: dé, δέ): A strong adversative conjunction that signals a sharp contrast or shift in narrative. It emphatically separates the pagan intentions of the Lystrans from the apostles' profound, counteractive response.
• the apostles (Greek: tous apostolous, τοὺς ἀποστόλους): This term, signifying "those sent out," is applied here to both Barnabas and Paul (cf. Acts 14:4). While Paul was an apostle directly called by Christ, Barnabas also served in a foundational, commissioned capacity for this missionary endeavor. Their apostolic authority makes their rejection of deification even more weighty, stemming from a divine mandate to proclaim the true God, not usurp His glory.
• Barnabas and Paul: Their names indicate their partnership and shared spiritual authority. They react in unified shock and urgency, demonstrating common resolve against idolatry.
• heard of it (Greek: akousantes, ἀκούσαντες): Signifies that they fully grasped the intent of the Lystrans' actions – not mere honor or hospitality, but full-blown sacrificial worship intended for divine beings. Their understanding provoked their immediate and visceral reaction.
• they tore their clothes (Greek: dierrēxantes ta himatia autōn, διερρήξαντες τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν): This act, deeply symbolic in ancient Near Eastern and Jewish culture, signified extreme distress, grief, spiritual horror, or indignation, often in response to blasphemy or sacrilege (cf. Mt 26:65, 2 Ki 18:37, Num 14:6). It was a profound, public, and unequivocal rejection of the honor being offered, serving as a powerful visual protest against idolatry.
• and rushed out (Greek: exepēdēsan, ἐξεπήδησαν): Denotes a sudden, impulsive, and urgent bursting forth or leaping out. This emphasizes their immediate, forceful, and non-hesitant intervention. They did not deliberate but acted with passionate intensity.
• into the crowd (Greek: eis ton ochlon, εἰς τὸν ὄχλον): They directly confronted the gathered multitude, going right into the public space where the sacrilege was unfolding. This indicates a direct, courageous, and public address to the source of the misconception, rather than a private retreat.
• crying out (Greek: krazontes, κράζοντες): Implies a loud, earnest, or even desperate shout or exclamation. It denotes speaking with passionate urgency, aiming to command attention and deliver a vital message, signaling the grave importance of their impending declaration (detailed in Acts 14:15-18).

• Words-Group: "tore their clothes and rushed out": These twin actions illustrate the apostles' extreme internal spiritual horror spilling over into a dramatic external demonstration. Their immediate response highlights their complete rejection of any hint of receiving divine honors, aligning their physical reaction with their theological stance.
• Words-Group: "the apostles Barnabas and Paul... crying out": The designation "apostles" underscores the authority and commission behind their fervent reaction. They are not simply distressed individuals, but divinely sent representatives whose "crying out" against idolatry carries the weight of God's truth, providing an authoritative theological corrective.

Acts 14 14 Bonus section

• The Lystrans' mistaken identity of Barnabas and Paul with Zeus and Hermes reflects widespread Greco-Roman beliefs in gods visiting humanity in disguise, as famously depicted in myths like that of Baucis and Philemon in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. This cultural context explains the people's readiness to attribute divinity to the apostles after witnessing a miracle.
• This incident provides a stark contrast to Herod Agrippa I in Acts 12:20-23, who, just chapters earlier, accepted the people's acclamation as a god and was struck down by the Lord for not giving glory to God. Paul and Barnabas's actions serve as an emphatic counter-example, underscoring the severe consequence of accepting divine honors and exemplifying the humility expected of God's true servants.
• The vehemence of their response in tearing clothes indicates not just personal humility, but a deep commitment to guarding the sanctity of God's name and glory against any defilement of idolatry, treating the impending pagan sacrifice as a profound offense against divine truth.

Acts 14 14 Commentary

Acts 14:14 captures a critical moment of theological clarity and fervent conviction in the early Church's mission. Paul and Barnabas's raw and immediate response—tearing their clothes and surging into the crowd—was far more than an expression of discomfort; it was a profound spiritual protest. This powerful Jewish gesture signified abject horror at perceived blasphemy, unequivocally conveying their outrage at being equated with false gods. Their reaction starkly contrasted their humility as Christ's servants with the Lystrans' ingrained pagan polytheism. By rejecting deification and the imminent idolatrous worship, they reaffirmed the absolute supremacy and exclusive claim of the One True God, laying foundational groundwork for their subsequent clear proclamation of the Creator God over vain idols, modeling authentic spiritual leadership and unwavering faithfulness.