Acts 14:4 kjv
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:4 nkjv
But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:4 niv
The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.
Acts 14:4 esv
But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
Acts 14:4 nlt
But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
Acts 14 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 10:34-36 | "Do not think that I have come to bring peace... but a sword... division." | Jesus Himself brings division through truth. |
| Lk 12:51-53 | "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, but rather division." | Christ's mission often leads to relational splits. |
| Jn 15:18-19 | "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you." | Believers are hated for their allegiance to Christ. |
| Acts 13:45 | "But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy..." | Jewish opposition and jealousy to the gospel. |
| Acts 13:50 | "...stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas..." | Incitement by religious leaders against apostles. |
| Acts 17:4-5 | "some of them were persuaded... But the Jews were jealous..." | Division and jealousy occurring in other cities. |
| Acts 17:32 | "Now when they heard of the resurrection... some mocked, others said..." | Diverse responses to Christian doctrine. |
| Lk 2:34-35 | "He is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel... sign that will be opposed." | Jesus provokes diverse reactions and opposition. |
| Jn 14:17 | "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive..." | The world's inability to accept spiritual truth. |
| Jas 4:4 | "Friendship with the world is hostility toward God." | Clear demarcation between worldly values and divine allegiance. |
| 1 Cor 1:23-24 | "Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles." | The gospel message is inherently divisive. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-15 | "What fellowship has light with darkness? ...Christ with Belial?" | Call for separation from unbelief. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." | Persecution as an expected outcome of faithfulness. |
| Rom 16:17-18 | "Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles..." | Warnings against internal divisions within the church. |
| Amos 7:10-13 | "Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam saying, Amos has conspired against you." | Religious leaders opposing prophets with state power. |
| Gal 4:16 | "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" | The consequence of speaking truth can be hostility. |
| Jn 9:16 | "Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God... Others said, 'How can a sinner perform such signs?'" | Division even among religious leaders concerning Jesus. |
| Jude 1:19 | "It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit." | Divisive figures who lack spiritual discernment. |
| Phil 1:15-18 | "Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry... but Christ is proclaimed." | Even motivations for preaching can cause tension/division. |
| Prov 29:27 | "An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and one who is upright in way is an abomination to the wicked." | Inherent opposition between good and evil. |
Acts 14 verses
Acts 14 4 Meaning
Acts 14:4 reveals that the preaching of the gospel in Iconium led to a significant internal division within the city's populace. Some aligned themselves with the Jews who opposed the message, while others chose to side with the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, and their proclamation of Christ. This verse highlights the immediate polarizing effect of the truth upon a diverse population.
Acts 14 4 Context
This verse appears in the context of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. Having faced intense opposition and expulsion from Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:50), they moved on to Iconium (Acts 14:1). Here, they again preached in the synagogue with great power, leading to a large number of Jews and Greeks believing. However, the unbelieving Jews swiftly reacted, inciting the Gentiles and poisoning their minds against the apostles. Acts 14:4 immediately follows this incitement, demonstrating its impact: the entire city became a battleground of opinions, directly polarized by the apostles' presence and the challenging nature of the gospel message they presented. The tension escalates, leading to a plot against the apostles, necessitating their flight (Acts 14:5-6).
Acts 14 4 Word analysis
- But (μέν): A particle indicating a transition or contrast from the previous statement. It emphasizes a shift, highlighting the consequence of the "unbelieving Jews" (Acts 14:2) poisoning the minds of the Gentiles.
- the multitude (ὁ πλῆθος, ho plēthos): Refers to the general assembly or crowd of the city, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles who were hearing the gospel. It denotes the broad public opinion.
- of the city (τῆς πόλεως, tēs poleōs): Specifically refers to Iconium, grounding the event in a particular locale. This detail emphasizes the local impact and pervasive nature of the division.
- was divided (ἐσχίσθη, eschisthē): From the Greek verb schizō, meaning "to tear," "to split," "to cleave apart." This is a strong and active verb, indicating a deep, definitive rift or schism, not merely a disagreement. It suggests an undeniable tearing apart of the social fabric. It can describe a physical split (like a tearing cloth or a seismic crack) or a profound intellectual and relational divide. The use of this verb underscores the forceful polarization brought about by the apostles' ministry.
- and (καί): Connects the state of division to the resulting factions.
- some were (οἱ μὲν ἦσαν, hoi men ēsan): Introduces the first group, indicating one side of the clear split. The men here is a correlative particle that signals an antithetical parallel to the following de.
- with the Jews (σὺν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, syn tois Ioudaiois): Literally "with the Jews." This signifies alignment and solidarity with the opposing, unbelieving Jewish faction, who were actively instigating against the apostles and rejecting Christ. It implies not just ethnic background but shared hostile intent towards the Christian message.
- and some (οἱ δὲ, hoi de): Introduces the second, contrasting group. The de functions in conjunction with the earlier men to present the two distinct parts of the divided multitude.
- with the apostles (σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις, syn tois apostolois): Meaning alignment and solidarity with Paul and Barnabas, who were the authoritative messengers of the Christian faith. This implies siding with their message, which centered on Jesus Christ as Messiah and Lord.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "the multitude of the city was divided": This phrase powerfully conveys the pervasive impact of the gospel. It implies that the core fabric of the urban society was fundamentally fractured by the presentation of new truth, forcing a choice upon everyone, not just a few individuals.
- "some were with the Jews and some with the apostles": This antithetical parallelism vividly portrays the two distinct and opposing camps that emerged. It encapsulates the core conflict: adherence to the traditional, anti-Christian Jewish perspective versus allegiance to the revolutionary message of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by His emissaries.
Acts 14 4 Bonus section
The term schizō (ἐσχίσθη), translated as "was divided," is the root for our English word "schism," signifying a deep split or separation within a body. Its usage here emphasizes that the impact of the apostles' preaching was not superficial disagreement but a tearing apart of the city's social cohesion along the lines of belief. This was not the apostles' goal (their goal was reconciliation through Christ), but an inevitable outcome when the Light confronts darkness (Jn 3:19-21). This also subtly illustrates the power of spiritual truth to penetrate and reorder society, often through conflict and the establishment of new alliances based on faith, transcending ethnic or social bonds that previously held communities together. This pattern of gospel-induced division would continue throughout Acts, revealing the intense spiritual battle accompanying the spread of the early church.
Acts 14 4 Commentary
Acts 14:4 is a concise yet profound statement on the inherent nature of the gospel. When the truth of Christ is proclaimed with power, it invariably acts as a divisive force. It challenges pre-existing beliefs, comforts, and social structures, forcing individuals and communities to make a decisive choice. This verse demonstrates that genuine conversion to Christ involves a realignment of loyalties, often pitting one against their prior allegiances or even their community's majority. The "splitting" of Iconium reflects how God's truth brings separation, revealing hearts and creating clear distinctions between those who accept the divine call and those who reject it. This division is not necessarily an intended outcome but a natural consequence of the Gospel's uncompromising demands for exclusive allegiance to Christ.
- Example 1: A family member embraces Christ, leading to alienation from other relatives who reject faith, paralleling the "some with the Jews" vs. "some with the apostles" dynamic.
- Example 2: In an workplace, discussing Christian ethics may naturally cause some colleagues to align in agreement and others to openly oppose, creating a noticeable division of thought and association.