Commentari biblici

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

And it came to pass in Iconium — See Trapp on " Acts 8:1 "

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But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Made their minds evil affected — Envenomed ( εκακωσαν ) their minds with rage against the brethren, but God made peace, as the ancient copies add here, Beza from Beda. His peace that passeth all understanding guarded their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Which gave testimony to the word — It is usual with St Luke to oppose the good success of the gospel to the malicious actings of the mad world against it; that God’s people might not be discouraged.

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But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

But the multitude was divided — εσχισθη , Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus. Christ came not to send peace, but a sword. Yet is not he the cause of division, but the occasion only, and that by accident. (So sin is the occasion, not the cause, that grace aboundeth.) They that quarrel at God’s ordinances for this may as well quarrel at the Lord’s supper; which though a sacrament of love, a communion, yet hath occasioned much dissension: witness that bellum Sacramentarium, than the which never any kindled sooner is quenched slower.

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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,

And to stone them — Stephen had the maidenhead of this kind of death: as that martyr, who was threatened with whipping, wished that he might have the maidenhead of that kind of suffering (for he had not heard of any that had been so served): and as Basil, threatened by Valens with death, cried out, ειθε γενοιτο μοι , I would it might be so.

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They were ware of it , and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Fled unto Lystra — They had their Lord’s good leave to do so,Matthew 10:23; Matthew 10:23 . He had made them, not as butts, to be perpetually shot at; but as the marks of rovers, movable, as the wind and sun may best serve.

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And there they preached the gospel.

And there they preached the gospel — Which shows that their flying proceeded from prudence, and not from inconstance, lightness, or cowardice.

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And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

And there sat a certain man — This was (likely) one of those many miracles done at Lystra; a signal one, and therefore instanced.

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