The Meaning of Acts 14:5 Explained

Acts 14:5

KJV: 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,

YLT: and when there was a purpose both of the nations and of the Jews with their rulers to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

Darby: And when an assault was making, both of those of the nations and the Jews with their rulers, to use them ill and stone them,

ASV: And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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, 

What does Acts 14:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 14:1-13 - Varying Treatment Of The Message
From Antioch the Apostles passed to Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia. It is most illuminating to note the source of their success: The Lord bore witness unto the word of His grace. We must not expect success if that divine witness is absent. There is nothing more vital than this. The secret of joyful and successful service is the consciousness that, in every sermon and address, there is an unseen fellow-worker who is listening to each sentence and punctuating with his strong affirmation each utterance which magnifies the grace of God.
Lystra was situated in the highlands, amid a wild, mountainous country. In Paul's audience here he saw a cripple who had faith to be healed, Acts 14:9. What quick insight God gives the soul that lives in fellowship with Him! There was an old tradition that the gods had frequented this very region. Jupiter, the father of the gods, was the guardian deity of Lystra. There was, accordingly, an especial reason for the excitement among these simple and untutored folk. Man has ever longed for a daysman, and believed that there might be commerce between heaven and earth. Oh, that we were as quick to worship and adore the Son of God! [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 14:5

An onset [ορμη]
A rush or impulse as in James 3:4. Old word, but only twice in the N.T. (here and James). It probably denotes not an actual attack so much as the open start, the co-operation of both Jews and Gentiles (the disaffected portion), “with their rulers” The city officials would hardly join in a mob like this, though Hackett and Rackham think that the city magistrates were also involved as in Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50). [source]
To entreat them shamefully [υβρισαι]
First aorist active infinitive of υβριζω — hubrizō old verb to insult insolently. See Matthew 22:6; Luke 18:32. To stone (λιτοβολησαι — lithobolēsai). First aorist active infinitive of λιτοβολεω — lithoboleō late verb from λιτοβολος — lithobolos (λιτος — lithos stone, βαλλω — ballō to throw) to pelt with stones, the verb used of the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58). See Matthew 21:35. The plan to stone them shows that the Jews were in the lead and followed by the Gentile rabble. “Legal proceedings having failed the only resource left for the Jews was illegal violence” (Rackham). [source]
To stone [λιτοβολησαι]
First aorist active infinitive of λιτοβολεω — lithoboleō late verb from λιτοβολος — lithobolos See Matthew 21:35. The plan to stone them shows that the Jews were in the lead and followed by the Gentile rabble. “Legal proceedings having failed the only resource left for the Jews was illegal violence” (Rackham). [source]
Assault [ὁρμὴ]
Too strong, as is also the Rev., onset. In case an actual assault had been made, it would have been absurd for Luke to tell us that “they were ware of it.” It is rather the purpose and intention of assault beginning to assume the character of a movement. See on James 3:4. [source]
To stone []
Paul says he was stoned once (2 Corinthians 11:25). This took place at Lystra (see Acts 14:19). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:5

Acts 14:19 Stoned []
See on Acts 14:5. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:25 Once was I stoned [απαχ ελιταστην]
Once for all απαχ — hapax means. At Lystra (Acts 14:5-19). On λιταζω — lithazō Koiné{[28928]}š verb from λιτος — lithos see note on Acts 5:26. Thrice I suffered shipwreck (τρις εναυαγησα — tris enauagēsa). First aorist active of ναυαγεω — nauageō from ναυαγος — nauagos shipwrecked (ναυς — naus ship, αγνυμι — agnumi to break). Old and common verb, in N.T. only here and 1 Timothy 1:19. We know nothing of these. The one told in Acts 27 was much later. What a pity that we have no data for all these varied experiences of Paul. Night and day Have I been in the deep (εν τωι βυτωι πεποιηκα — en tōi buthōi pepoiēka). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of ποιεω — poieō “I have done a night and day in the deep.” The memory of it survives like a nightmare. υτος — Buthos is old word (only here in N.T.) for bottom, depth of the sea, then the sea itself. Paul does not mean that he was a night and day under the water, not a Jonah experience, only that he was far out at sea and shipwrecked. This was one of the three shipwrecks-already named. [source]
Galatians 3:4 Did ye suffer? [επατετε]
Second aorist active indicative of πασχω — paschō to experience good or ill. But alone, as here, it often means to suffer ill In North Galatia we have no record of persecutions, but we do have records for South Galatia (Acts 14:2, Acts 14:5, Acts 14:19, Acts 14:22). [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:2 Having been shamefully entreated [ὑβρισθέντες]
Comp. Luke href="/desk/?q=lu+18:32&sr=1">Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5. This may have been added because προπαθόντες alone might denote the experience of something good; but it is more probably intended as an expansion and illustration of that word. Paul's sensitiveness to personal indignity appears in the narrative in 1Thessalonians href="/desk/?q=1th+1:5&sr=1">1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:2. [source]
James 3:4 The governor listeth [ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντες βούλεται]
Lit., the impulse or desire of the steersman wisheth. Ὁρμὴ , impulse, only here and Acts 14:5, of an assault, onset. [source]
James 3:4 Though they are so great [τηλικαυτα οντα]
Concessive participle of ειμι — eimi The quantitative pronoun τηλικουτος — tēlikoutos occurs in the N.T. only here, 2 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 2:3; Revelation 16:18. If James had only seen the modern mammoth ships. But the ship on which Paul went to Malta carried 276 persons (Acts 27:37).And are driven (και ελαυνομενα — kai elaunomena). Present passive participle of ελαυνω — elaunō old verb, in this sense (2 Peter 2:17) for rowing (Mark 6:48; John 6:19).Rough Old adjective (from σκελλω — skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται — metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω — metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο — hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο — hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου — Pēdaliou (from πηδον — pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου — Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς — elachus for μικρος — mikros).The impulse (η ορμη — hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω — euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς — euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται — bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι — boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
James 3:4 The impulse [η ορμη]
Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people). [source]
James 3:4 Rough [σκληρον]
Old adjective (from σκελλω — skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται — metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω — metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο — hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο — hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου — Pēdaliou (from πηδον — pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου — Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς — elachus for μικρος — mikros).The impulse (η ορμη — hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω — euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς — euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται — bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι — boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
James 3:4 By a very small rudder [υπο ελαχιστου πηδαλιου]
For the use of υπο — hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο — hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου — Pēdaliou (from πηδον — pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου — Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς — elachus for μικρος — mikros).The impulse (η ορμη — hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω — euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς — euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται — bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι — boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 14:5 mean?

When then there was a rush of the Gentiles both and Jews with the rulers of them to mistreat to stone them
ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο ὁρμὴ τῶν ἐθνῶν τε καὶ Ἰουδαίων σὺν τοῖς ἄρχουσιν αὐτῶν ὑβρίσαι λιθοβολῆσαι αὐτούς

ἐγένετο  there  was 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ὁρμὴ  a  rush 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ὁρμή  
Sense: a violent motion, impulse.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐθνῶν  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
τε  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: τέ  
Sense: not only … but also.
Ἰουδαίων  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.
ἄρχουσιν  rulers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄρχων  
Sense: a ruler, commander, chief, leader.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὑβρίσαι  to  mistreat 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ὑβρίζω  
Sense: to be insolent, to behave insolently, wantonly, outrageously.
λιθοβολῆσαι  to  stone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: λιθοβολέω  
Sense: to kill by stoning, to stone.