The Meaning of Acts 14:18 Explained

Acts 14:18

KJV: And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

YLT: and these things saying, scarcely did they restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Darby: And saying these things, they with difficulty kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

ASV: And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  with these  sayings  scarce  restrained they  the people,  that they had  not  done sacrifice  unto them. 

What does Acts 14:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 14:14-28 - Establishing The New Believers
In Paul's address we have distinct anticipations of the early chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. How fickle a mob is! Now, enthusiastic loyalty; again, disappointment and rejection. Today, "Hosanna;" tomorrow, "Crucify." "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils."
It has been supposed by some that the trance of 2 Corinthians 12:1-21 took place at the time of Paul's stoning in Lystra. It must have been sorrow indeed to awaken from such a vision to the suffering of his battered body. But that scene, no doubt, gave him the love and devotion of the young Timothy and his mother and grandmother. See Acts 16:1-2. On Paul's next visit to Lystra, this son, whom he had begotten in the sore anguish of that hour, was to become his devoted attendant.
In spite of the treatment Paul had received, he returned to the city, Acts 14:21. Back to the stones! Naught could stay his ardent spirit, if only disciples were to be won or confirmed in their faith for the Master, Acts 14:22. Everywhere these intrepid missionaries found the blood-stained track of the Cross, but they filled up to the brim the measure of their opportunity. This will be possible for us all only when we are such that God can co-operate with us as our fellow-worker and open the door. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 14

1  Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium
8  At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods
19  Paul is stoned
21  They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience
26  Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them

Greek Commentary for Acts 14:18

Scarce [μολις]
Adverb in same sense as old μογις — mogis from μολος — molos toil. [source]
Restrained [κατεπαυσαν]
Effective first aorist active indicative of καταπαυω — katapauō old verb in causative sense to make abstain from. From doing sacrifice unto them (του μη τυειν αυτοις — tou mē thuein autois). Ablative case of the articular infinitive with redundant negative after κατεπαυσαν — katepausan regular Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1094,1171). It had been a harrowing and well-nigh a horrible ordeal, but finally Paul had won. If only nobody else had interposed! [source]
From doing sacrifice unto them [του μη τυειν αυτοις]
Ablative case of the articular infinitive with redundant negative after κατεπαυσαν — katepausan regular Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1094,1171). It had been a harrowing and well-nigh a horrible ordeal, but finally Paul had won. If only nobody else had interposed! [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:18

John 9:38 Lord, I believe [Πιστευω κυριε]
και προσεκυνησεν αυτωι — Kurie here = Lord (reverence, no longer respect as in John 9:36). A short creed, but to the point. And he worshipped him (προσκυνεω — kai prosekunēsen autōi). Ingressive first aorist active indicative of proskuneō old verb to fall down in reverence, to worship. Sometimes of men (Matthew 18:26). In John (see John 4:20) this verb “is always used to express divine worship” (Bernard). It is tragic to hear men today deny that Jesus should be worshipped. He accepted worship from this new convert as he later did from Thomas who called him “God” (John 20:28). Peter (Acts 10:25.) refused worship from Cornelius as Paul and Barnabas did at Lystra (Acts 14:18), but Jesus made no protest here. [source]
Acts 10:47 That these should not be baptized [του μη βαπτιστηναι τουτους]
Ablative case of the articular first aorist passive infinitive of βαπτιζω — baptizō with the redundant negative after the verb of hindering The redundant negative after the verb of hindering is not necessary though often used in ancient Greek and in the Koiné{[28928]}š (papyri). Without it see note on Matthew 19:14 and note on Acts 8:36, and with it see note on Luke 4:42, note on Luke 24:16; and note on Acts 14:18. Cf. Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1061, 1094, 1171. The triple negatives here are a bit confusing to the modern mind Literally, Can any one cut off the water from the being baptized as to these? Meyer: “The water is in this animated language conceived as the element offering itself for the baptism.” As well as we (ως και ημεις — hōs kai hēmeis). The argument was conclusive. God had spoken. Note the query of the eunuch to Philip (Acts 8:36). [source]
Acts 27:7 Many days [εν ικαναις ημεραις]
See note on Luke 7:6 for hikanos Literally, “in considerable days.” With difficulty (ικανος — molis). Used in old Greek, like μολος — mogis (Luke 9:39) from μολος — molos toil (See note on Acts 14:18). Over against Cnidus “Down along Cnidus.” A hundred and thirty miles from Myra, the southwest point of Asia Minor and the western coast. Here the protection of the land from the northwest wind ceased. The wind not further suffering us (μη προσεωντος ημας του ανεμου — mē proseōntos hēmās tou anemou). Genitive absolute with present active participle of προσεαω — proseaō one of the few words still “not found elsewhere” (Thayer). Regular negative μη — mē with participles. They could not go on west as they had been doing since leaving Myra. We sailed under the lee of Crete See note on Acts 27:4. Instead of going to the right of Crete as the straight course would have been they sailed southwest with Crete to their right and got some protection against the wind there. Over against Salmone (κατα Σαλμωνην — kata Salmōnēn). Off Cape Salmone, a promontory on the east of the island. [source]
Acts 27:7 With difficulty [ικανος]
Used in old Greek, like μολος — mogis (Luke 9:39) from μολος — molos toil (See note on Acts 14:18). [source]
Romans 5:7 Scarcely [μολις]
Common adverb from μολος — molos toil. See note on Acts 14:18. As between δικαιος — dikaios righteous, and αγατος — agathos good, Lightfoot notes “all the difference in the world” which he shows by quotations from Plato and Christian writers, a difference of sympathy mainly, the δικαιος — dikaios man being “absolutely without sympathy” while the αγατος — agathos man “is beneficent and kind.” [source]
Hebrews 4:4 Did rest from all his works [κατέπαυσεν - ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ]
The verb only in Hebrews and Acts 14:18. Works, plural, following lxx. The Hebrew has work. [source]
1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous is scarcely saved [και ει ο δικαιος μολις σωζεται]
First-class condition again with ει — ei and present passive indicative of σωζω — sōzō Quotation from Proverbs 11:31. See 1 Peter 3:12, 1 Peter 3:14; Matthew 5:20. But the Christian is not saved by his own righteousness (Philemon 3:9; Revelation 7:14). For μολις — molis see Acts 14:18 and for ασεβης — asebēs (ungodly, without reverence) see Romans 4:5; 2 Peter 2:5. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 14:18 mean?

And these things saying hardly they stopped the crowds - not sacrificing to them
Καὶ ταῦτα λέγοντες μόλις κατέπαυσαν τοὺς ὄχλους τοῦ μὴ θύειν αὐτοῖς

ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
μόλις  hardly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μόλις  
Sense: with difficulty, hardly.
κατέπαυσαν  they  stopped 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καταπαύω  
Sense: to make quiet, to cause to be at rest, to grant rest.
ὄχλους  crowds 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θύειν  sacrificing 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: θύω 
Sense: to sacrifice, immolate.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 14:18?

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