Acts 14:14
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Their immediate act of tearing their garments wasn't just shock; it was a drastic, public sign of horror and grief, a visceral rejection of being mistaken for gods that transcended mere words and aimed to physically stop the misguided worship. The way they "sprang forth" into the crowd, rather than calmly walking, emphasizes their desperate urgency to prevent such a blasphemous act.
The people of Lystra, stirred by a miraculous healing, are convinced Barnabas and Paul are gods, specifically Jupiter and Mercury. As a religious procession approaches to offer sacrifices, Barnabas and Paul hear the commotion and realize the terrifying extent of the people's misunderstanding. In horror and utter grief, they tear their own clothes as a sign of protest before rushing out to stop the misguided worship.
Imagine being mistaken for a god! What would your reaction be? For Paul and Barnabas, it was anything but flattered acceptance.
When the people of Lystra, awestruck by a miracle, began to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, mistaking them for the gods Jupiter and Mercury, the apostles' response was immediate and visceral.
A Visible Outburst
They 'tore their garments.' This wasn't a polite disagreement; it was an ancient, dramatic expression of extreme shock, grief, and horror. It was a sign of profound distress, especially when used to reject blasphemy or great sin.
More Than Disagreement
This wasn't just about wanting credit for themselves. It was a passionate, even desperate, attempt to stop the people from offering divine honor to mere humans. They were repulsed by the idea of being worshipped, showing a deep reverence for the one true God.
It wasn't enough to just be horrified. Paul and Barnabas acted instantly to dismantle this dangerous misunderstanding.
The apostles didn't just stand by; they 'rushed out into the crowd, crying out.' This wasn't a calm explanation; it was an urgent, almost explosive, intervention.
A Desperate Dash
The Greek word used suggests they 'sprang forth' or 'leapt out' into the midst of the people. This paints a picture of incredible haste and eagerness to stop the idolatrous act before it went any further.
A Public Declaration
Their 'crying out' was intended to grab everyone's attention immediately. It was a public, forceful repudiation of the people's mistaken worship. Their actions and words were a combined effort to dismantle the false idea that they were gods and redirect the people to the true God.
Understand the original words
apostolos · Greek Noun
A term derived from the Greek apostellō, meaning 'one sent' with a mandate or commission. It designates a special messenger authorized by Christ to proclaim the Gospel and establish the church.
diarrhēgnumi · Greek Verb
An act of ritual destruction symbolizing intense grief, repentance, or, in this case, abhorrence of blasphemy. Tearing garments was a culturally significant way of expressing deep emotional or religious distress.
This event highlights the profound shock and horror of Barnabas and Paul at being mistaken for gods, showcasing their deep reverence for God's honor and their understanding of the gravity of idolatry, especially within a Gentile culture. Their immediate, visceral reaction demonstrates their commitment to redirecting worship to the true God.
c. AD 40
Paul's Ministry in Tarsus
After escaping persecution in Jerusalem, Paul returns to his hometown of Tarsus, likely ministering there for several years. This period would have grounded him in his Jewish heritage and prepared him for wider ministry.
c. AD 45
Barnabas Recruits Paul
Barnabas travels to Tarsus to find Paul and brings him to Antioch to help lead the burgeoning church there. This marks the beginning of their significant collaborative ministry.
c. AD 46-49
First Missionary Journey
Barnabas and Paul embark on their first major missionary journey, traveling through Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preach the gospel, establish churches, and face various challenges and opposition.
c. AD 49— this verse
Miracle at Lystra
During their journey, Paul heals a man crippled from birth in Lystra. This miraculous event leads the astonished onlookers to believe Barnabas and Paul are divine beings.
This passage describes the high priest tearing his robes in a moment of horror and perceived blasphemy, mirroring the apostles' action in Acts 14 as an extreme expression of revulsion to being worshipped.
2 Kings 18:37Here, officials tear their clothes and cover themselves with sackcloth as a sign of grief and alarm when hearing blasphemous words against God, similar to the apostles' urgent, distressed reaction to the people's idolatry.
1 Corinthians 8:4Paul explains that 'an idol is nothing in the world' and that there is only one God, directly addressing the core issue in Acts 14 where the people were worshipping false gods (Hermes and Zeus).
Galatians 3:11This verse emphasizes that no one is justified before God by the law, but by faith, highlighting the radical difference between the righteousness found in Christ and the self-effort or idolatry the crowd in Lystra was engaged in.
Acts 17:29Paul's speech in Athens echoes the message he and Barnabas delivered in Lystra, as he corrects the Athenians' idolatry by pointing them to the Creator God, who is not made by human hands.
ellicottActs 14:14: "Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,"
(14) Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of. —They were, we may believe, in the house, within the court-yard, and therefore did not see the sacrificial procession; but they heard the noise of the multitude, perhaps also of some sacrificial hymn, and asked what it meant. They rent their clothes.—The act is obviously recorded as that of men who are st…
barnesActs 14:14: "Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,"
Which, when the apostles - Barnabas is called an apostle because he was sent forth by the church on a particular message ( Acts 13:3 ; compare Acts 14:26 ), not because he had been chosen to the special work of the apostleship - to Dear witness to the life and resurrection of Christ. See the notes on Acts 1:22 . They rent their clothes - As an expression of their…
Their immediate act of tearing their garments wasn't just shock; it was a drastic, public sign of horror and grief, a visceral rejection of being mistaken for gods that transcended mere words and aimed to physically stop the misguided worship. The way they "sprang forth" into the crowd, rather than calmly walking, emphasizes their desperate urgency to prevent such a blasphemous act.
The people of Lystra, stirred by a miraculous healing, are convinced Barnabas and Paul are gods, specifically Jupiter and Mercury. As a religious procession approaches to offer sacrifices, Barnabas and Paul hear the commotion and realize the terrifying extent of the people's misunderstanding. In horror and utter grief, they tear their own clothes as a sign of protest before rushing out to stop the misguided worship.
The people of Lystra, stirred by a miraculous healing, are convinced Barnabas and Paul are gods, specifically Jupiter and Mercury. As a religious procession approaches to offer sacrifices, Barnabas and Paul hear the commotion and realize the terrifying extent of the people's misunderstanding. In horror and utter grief, they tear their own clothes as a sign of protest before rushing out to stop the misguided worship.
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c. AD 49
Paul and Barnabas React to Worship
Upon hearing the crowd's intent to worship them, Barnabas and Paul tear their clothes in horror and rush out to declare they are merely men. They emphasize that their power comes from the living God.
c. AD 49
Opposition and Departure from Lystra
Following the incident, hostile Jews from Antioch and Iconium incite the Lystran crowd against Paul and Barnabas. Paul is stoned and dragged out of the city, presumed dead.
"But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out," — Their immediate act of tearing their garments wasn't just shock; it was a drastic, public sign of horror and grief, a visceral rejection of being mistaken for gods that transcended mere words and aim…
