Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 14]
natural reaction, even revulsion, in the minds of many who had
come so near to worshipping Paul and Barnabas. The pendulum
swings easily from one extreme to the other. The hostile Jews
from Antioch and Iconium may even have followed Paul and Barnabas
along the fine Roman road on purpose to keep them on the run.
They had driven them out of Antioch and out of Iconium and now
appear at Lystra at an opportune moment for their work. {Having
persuaded the multitudes} (\peisantes tous ochlous\). First
aorist (effective) active participle of \peith•\. They had
complete success with many and struck at the psychological
moment. {They stoned Paul} (\lithasantes ton Paulon\). First
aorist active participle of \lithaz•\, late verb from \lithos\
for throwing stones (used by Paul referring to this one incident
when alone he was stoned, 2Co 11:25). The wounds inflicted may
have left some of the scars (\stigmata\) mentioned in Ga 6:17.
They stoned Paul as the chief speaker (Mercury) and passed by
Barnabas (Jupiter). It was a Jewish mode of punishment as against
Stephen and these Jews knew that Paul was the man that they had
to deal with. Hackett notes that the Jews with two exceptions
incited the persecutions which Paul endured. The exceptions were
in Philippi (16:16-40) and Ephesus (19:23-41). {Dragged him
out of the city} (\esuron ex• t•s pole•s\). They hurled Stephen
outside of the city before stoning him (\7:58\). It was a hurried
and irregular proceeding, but they were dragging (imperfect
active of \sur•\, old verb) Paul out now. {Supposing that he were
dead} (\nomizontes auton tethn•kenai\). Present active participle
with infinitive (second perfect active of \thn•sk•\) in indirect
discourse with accusative of general reference. The Jews are
jubilant this time with memories of Paul's escape at Antioch and
Iconium. The pagan mob feel that they have settled accounts for
their narrow escape from worshipping two Jewish renegade
preachers. It was a good day's work for them all. Luke does not
say that Paul was actually dead.
14:20 {Stood round about him} (\kukl•sant•n auton\). Genitive
absolute with first aorist active participle of \kuklo•\, old
verb from \kuklos\ (circle, cycle) to make a circle round, to
encircle. The would-be murderers left and a group of disciples
gathered round to see if Paul was dead or alive and, if dead, to
bury him. In that group Timothy may very well have been along
with Eunice and Barnabas. Timothy, a lad of about fifteen, would
not soon forget that solemn scene (2Ti 3:11). But Paul suddenly
(apparently a miraculous recovery) rose up (\anastas\) and
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