Acts 14:15 kjv
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Acts 14:15 nkjv
and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
Acts 14:15 niv
"Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Acts 14:15 esv
"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Acts 14:15 nlt
"Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings ? just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. | God as Creator |
| Exo 20:3 | Thou shalt have no other gods before me. | First Commandment, against idolatry |
| Psa 115:3-8 | But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever... idols... have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: | Contrast between Living God and dead idols |
| Isa 44:9-20 | They that make a graven image are all of them vanity... He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside... | Futility of idol worship, their inability to help |
| Jer 10:10-13 | But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king... When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters... | God as the living and true King, Creator |
| Dan 6:26 | ...I make a decree, That in every dominion... men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever... | God as the living and eternal one, contrasted with pagan deities |
| Zec 8:8 | ...they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. | God establishing a true relationship with His people |
| Acts 10:25-26 | And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. | Similar humility from Peter, refusing worship |
| Rom 1:21-23 | ...they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image... | Rejection of God leading to idolatry and futile thinking |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | ...we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. | Idols are worthless, there is only one God |
| Gal 4:8-9 | Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye served them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements... | Abandoning former worship of "no-gods" for the true God |
| 1 Thess 1:9-10 | For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. | Conversion from idolatry to serve the living God, looking to Jesus' return |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; | Only one God, emphasized by the unique role of Christ |
| Heb 9:14 | How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? | Turning from dead works/idols to serve the Living God through Christ |
| Rev 14:7 | Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. | Call to worship the Creator God before judgment |
| Psa 33:6 | By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. | God created all things by His word |
| Jon 1:9 | And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. | God as Creator of sea and land acknowledged by Jonah |
| Rom 1:25 | Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. | Worshipping creation rather than the Creator is a central error |
| Acts 17:24-25 | God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; | God as supreme Creator, needing nothing from man, sustaining all life |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. | God's uniqueness and refusal to share His glory with idols |
| Eph 2:1-5 | And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world... Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) | From deadness in sin (idolatry context) to life in Christ |
| Hos 14:1-2 | O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity... So will we render the calves of our lips. | Call to repentance from spiritual adultery/idolatry to God |
| Exo 34:14 | For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: | God's exclusive claim to worship due to His nature |
Acts 14 verses
Acts 14 15 Meaning
Paul and Barnabas urgently plead with the Lycaonian crowd, who mistook them for gods, asserting that they are merely mortal men, not divine beings. They proclaim the true "Good News" that the people should abandon their empty idolatry and turn to the one true Living God, the Creator of all things in heaven, on earth, and in the sea. Their message is a clear call to repentance from pagan practices and an invitation to worship the real God.
Acts 14 15 Context
The immediate context for Acts 14:15 is the city of Lystra in Lycaonia, during Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. After Paul miraculously healed a man lame from birth, the local Lycaonian populace, being polytheistic and superstitious, believed that Paul and Barnabas were gods who had descended to them in human form. They specifically identified Barnabas as Zeus (the chief god) and Paul as Hermes (the messenger god, due to his eloquent speaking). In their zeal, the priest of Zeus from outside the city brought oxen and garlands to sacrifice to the apostles, intending to perform an act of divine worship. This act directly led to the desperate and urgent response of Paul and Barnabas in verse 15, as they rent their clothes in distress to stop the pagan worship, asserting their humanity and redirecting the people to the one true God. Historically, the region was Hellenistic, embracing Greek deities, and the incident reflects the deep-seated paganism Paul and Barnabas confronted, which starkly contrasted with monotheistic biblical faith. It also shows a common Roman-era syncretism where local deities could be identified with Olympian gods.
Acts 14 15 Word analysis
- And saying: Paul and Barnabas's words are an immediate, urgent response to the attempted idol worship. This reflects their deep conviction against blasphemy.
- Sirs: (ἀνδρες -
andres) – A polite, yet firm, address to men, common in New Testament speeches. It signifies addressing people, not deities. - why are ye doing these things?: Expresses shock and protest at the profound theological error and misdirection of worship. It challenges the assumption behind their actions.
- We also are men: (ἡμεῖς καὶ ἄνθρωποι -
hēmeis kai anthrōpoi) – This directly refutes the crowd's mistaken belief that Paul and Barnabas were gods. It emphasizes their shared human nature. - of like passions with you, (ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ὑμῖν -
homoiopatheis hymin) – Means "having the same affections/sufferings/experiences as you." This reinforces their full humanity, vulnerability, and mortality, clearly distinguishing them from divine beings. It suggests they experience human needs, pain, and limits, just like the Lystrans. - and bring you good tidings, (εὐαγγελιζόμενοι -
euangelizomenoi) – Translates to "evangelizing" or "proclaiming good news." This highlights their mission not as deities but as messengers of God. The "good news" is about turning from dead idols to the living God. - that ye should turn from these vain things: (
apo toutōn tōn mataiōn) – "Vain things" (μάταιος -mataios) specifically refers to idols, pagan worship, and empty, worthless religious practices. This is a direct polemic against their polytheistic idolatry, portraying it as futile and without substance, in contrast to the reality of the true God. - unto the living God, (ἐπὶ Θεὸν ζῶντα -
epi Theon zōnta) – This term (ζῶντα -zōnta, "living") directly contrasts with the "dead" or inanimate nature of idols (Psa 115:3-8; Isa 44:9-20; 1 Cor 8:4). It emphasizes God's active, dynamic, and personal nature, His existence, and His power to act. - who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that in them is: This refers to God as the sole Creator (Psa 146:6; Isa 45:18). By identifying God as Creator of all things (creation, cosmos), Paul and Barnabas appeal to a universal truth discoverable in creation (Rom 1:20), affirming God's absolute sovereignty and challenging the limited scope of pagan deities associated with specific aspects of nature. This comprehensive description underlines His singular supremacy over all things.
Acts 14 15 Bonus section
The scene in Lystra, and specifically Paul and Barnabas's response, stands as a strong example of how the apostles defended God's glory and refused self-exaltation. This incident highlights the stark difference between apostolic ministry and that of false prophets or spiritual opportunists who seek personal glory or veneration. It underscores the danger of syncretism and the human tendency to worship the creature rather than the Creator. The Lycaonian dialect being different from Greek might have contributed to the initial misunderstanding (Acts 14:11), implying that while the miracle was understood, the verbal proclamation that followed might not have been fully grasped, necessitating Paul and Barnabas's urgent actions and verbal clarification in Greek (the lingua franca). This verse is a concise theological statement on monotheism and Creator worship for a Gentile audience, distinct from arguments usually employed when speaking to Jews.
Acts 14 15 Commentary
Acts 14:15 encapsulates a pivotal moment revealing the core of apostolic preaching to a pagan audience. Paul and Barnabas, confronted with a profound misunderstanding of their identity, emphatically deny divinity and firmly reject any form of worship directed towards them. Their immediate response, tearing their clothes, signifies profound grief and abhorrence at blasphemy. This demonstrates their steadfast adherence to the First Commandment—worship God alone. The passage then transitions into the kerygma: a call to repent from the "vain things" of idolatry. This is not merely a call to abandon statues but to forsake the entire worldview rooted in superstition, human-made rituals, and deities with human failings. Instead, they present the "living God" – a direct contrast to lifeless idols, emphasizing His dynamic presence, truth, and unique power. This living God is revealed as the omnipotent Creator of "heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is," laying the foundation for a proper understanding of His unparalleled sovereignty and rightful claim to worship. The apostles are not revealing a new god but the one true God universally manifest in creation, inviting Lystra to a life-transforming relationship with Him. Their preaching illustrates the essential move from a worldview centered on false deities to a worldview centered on the singular, living Creator, urging the recognition that true worship belongs only to Him.