who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them: who in past generations suffered all nations to walk in their own way. Nevertheless, He left not Himself without testimony, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
Having heard this, many believed in the word of God. But some Jews who had come from Antioch and Iconium stirred up [1] the people against Paul. They stoned him until they thought he was dead, and cast him out[2] of the city.
But while the disciples of the city, who had gone out, stood weeping around him, he arose[3] and went back[4] with them to the city. Then he and Barnabas, having announced the Gospel in Derbe, returned to the cities where they had already preached. They exhorted the disciples to persevere, ordained priests for them in every church, and with fasting and prayer commended them to the Lord. Finally, they returned to Antioch[5], and related the great things which God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
COMMENTARY.
God the Creator of heaven and earth. “God”, in St. Paul’s words, “made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them.”
The Justice and Mercy of God. The avenging hand of God (Acts 14, n) struck the sorcerer with blindness. He was deprived of the light of the sun, because he shut his eyes to the heavenly light of truth. God, however, showed mercy towards him as well as justice, for he was not deprived of sight for the rest of his life, but only “for a time”. His blindness was intended by God to be the means of his salvation, and, having served for his conversion, was removed.
The ordination of priests and bishops. Our Lord Himself called Paul to be an apostle, even as He had Himself directly converted him to the true faith. We have seen that, in spite of his conversion by the direct intervention of God, it was necessary that he should be baptized and received into the Church by one of her ministers; for which purpose our Lord sent Ananias to him. Now in the same way that Paul
- ↑ Stirred up. By bribery and calumny directed especially against St. Paul, who was the chief spokesman.
- ↑ Cast him out. Bleeding from a hundred wounds, they did not even carry him, but threw out his body, to be devoured by the wild beasts.
- ↑ Arose. Well and strong.
- ↑ Went back. Full of confidence in God.
- ↑ Antioch. In Syria, the Antioch from whence they had started.
