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Paul at Iconium. 1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 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, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel. In these verses we have, I. The preaching of the gospel in Iconium, whither the apostles were forced to retire from Antioch. As the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the church, so the banishment of the confessors has helped to scatter that seed. Observe, 1. How they made the first offer of the gospel to the Jews in their synagogues; thither they went, not only as to a place of meeting, but as to a place of meeting with them, to whom, wherever they came, they were to apply themselves in the first place. Though the Jews at Antioch had used them barbarously, yet they did not therefore decline preaching the gospel to the Jews at Iconium, who perhaps might be better disposed. Let not those of any denomination be condemned in the gross, nor some suffer for others' faults; but let us do good to those who have done evil to us. Though the blood-thirsty hate the upright, yet the just seek their soul ( Proverbs 29:10 ), seek the salvation of it. 2. How the apostles concurred herein. Notice is taken of this, that they went both together into the synagogue, to testify their unanimity and mutual affection, that people might say, See how they love one another, and might think the better of Christianity, and that they might strengthen one another's hands and confirm one another's testimony, and out of the mouth of two witnesses every word might be established. They did not go one one day and another another, nor one go at the beginning and the other some time after; but they went in both together. II. The success of their preaching there: They so spoke that a great multitude, some hundreds perhaps, if not thousands, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, that is the Gentiles, believed. Observe here, 1. That the gospel was now preached to Jews and Gentiles together, and those of each denomination that believed came together into the church. In the close of the foregoing chapter it was preached first to the Jews, and some of them believed, and then to the Gentiles, and some of them believed; but here they are put together, being put upon the same level. The Jews have not so lost their preference as to be thrown behind, only the Gentiles are brought to stand upon even terms with them; both are reconciled to God in one body ( Ephesians 2:16 ), and both together admitted into the church without distinction. 2. There seems to have been something remarkable in the manner of the apostles' preaching here, which contributed to their success: They so spoke that a great multitude believed --so plainly, so convincingly, with such an evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, and with such power; they so spoke, so warmly, so affectionately, and with such a manifest concern for the souls of men, that one might perceive they were not only convinced, but filled, with the things they spoke of, and that what they spoke came from the heart and therefore was likely to reach to the heart; they so spoke, so earnestly and so seriously, so boldly and courageously, that those who heard them could not but say that God was with them of a truth. Yet the success was not to be attributed to the manner of their preaching, but to the Spirit of God, who made use of that means. III. The opposition that their preaching met with there, and the trouble that was created them; lest they should be puffed up with the multitude of their converts, there was given them this thorn in the flesh. 1. Unbelieving Jews were the first spring of their trouble here, as elsewhere ( Acts 14:2 ; Acts 14:2 ): they stirred up the Gentiles. The influence which the gospel had upon many of the Gentiles, and their embracing it, as it provoked some of the Jews to a holy jealousy and stirred them up to receive the gospel too ( Romans 11:14 ), so it provoked others of them to a wicked jealousy, and exasperated them against the gospel. Thus as good instructions, so good examples, which to some are a savour of life unto life, to others are a savour of death unto death. See 2 Corinthians 2:15 ; 2 Corinthians 2:16 . 2. Disaffected Gentiles, irritated by the unbelieving Jews, were likely to be the instruments of their trouble. The Jews, by false suggestions, which they were continually buzzing in the ears of the Gentiles, made their minds evil affected against the brethren, whom of themselves they were inclined to think favourably of. They not only took occasion in all companies, as it came in their way, but made it their business to go purposely to such as they had any acquaintance with, and said all that their wit or malice could invent to beget in them not only a mean but an ill opinion of Christianity, telling them how destructive it would certainly be to their pagan theology and worship; and, for their parts, they would rather be Gentiles than Christians. Thus they soured and embittered their spirits against both the converters and the converted. The old serpent did, by their poisonous tongues, infuse his venom against the seed of the woman into the minds of these Gentiles, and this was a root of bitterness in them, bearing gall and wormwood. It is no wonder if those who are ill affected towards good people wish ill to them, speak ill of them, and contrive ill against them; it is all owing to ill will. Ekakosan, they molested and vexed the minds of the Gentiles (so some of the critics take it); they were continually teasing them with their impertinent solicitations. The tools of persecutors have a dog's life, set on continually. IV. Their continuance in their work there, notwithstanding this opposition, and God's owning them in it, Acts 14:3 ; Acts 14:3 . We have here, 1. The apostles working for Christ, faithfully and diligently, according to the trust committed to them. Because the minds of the Gentiles were evil affected against them, one would think that therefore they should have withdrawn, and hastened out of the way, or, if they had preached, should have preached cautiously, for fear of giving further provocation to those who were already enough enraged. No; on the contrary, therefore they abode there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The more they perceived the spite and rancour of the town against the new converts, the more they were animated to go on in their work, and the more needful they saw it to continue among them, to confirm them in the faith, and to comfort them. They spoke boldly, and were not afraid of giving offence to the unbelieving Jews. What God said to the prophet, with reference to the unbelieving Jews in his day, was now made good to the apostles: I have made thy face strong against their faces, Ezekiel 3:7-9 . But observe what it was that animated them: They spoke boldly in the Lord, in his strength, and trusting in him to bear them out; not depending upon any thing in themselves. They were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 2. Christ working with the apostles, according to his promise, Lo, I am with you always. When they went on in his name and strength, he failed not to give testimony to the word of his grace. Note, (1.) The gospel is a word of grace, the assurance of God's good will to us and the means of his good work in us. It is the word of Christ's grace, for it is in him alone that we find favour with God. (2.) Christ himself has attested this word of grace, who is the Amen, the faithful witness; he has assured us that it is the word of God, and that we may venture our souls upon it. As it was said in general concerning the first preachers of the gospel that they had the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by signs following ( Mark 16:20 ), so it is said particularly concerning the apostles here that the Lord confirmed their testimony, in granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands --in the miracles they wrought in the kingdom of nature--as well as the wonders done by their word, in the greater miracles wrought on men's minds by the power of divine grace. The Lord was with them, while they were with him, and abundance of good was done. V. The division which this occasioned in the city ( Acts 14:4 ; Acts 14:4 ): The multitude of the city was divided into two parties, and both active and vigorous. Among the rulers and persons of rank, and among the common people, there were some that held with the unbelieving Jews, and others that held with the apostles. Barnabas is here reckoned an apostle, though not one of the twelve, nor called in the extra-ordinary manner that Paul was, because set apart by special designation of the Holy Ghost to the service of the Gentiles. It seems, this business of the preaching of the gospel was so universally taken notice of with concern that every person, even of the multitude of the city, was either for it or against it; none stood neuter. "Either for us or for our adversaries, for God or Baal, for Christ or Beelzebub." 1. We may here see the meaning of Christ's prediction that he came not to send peace upon earth, but rather division, Luke 12:51-53 . If all would have given in unanimously into his measures, there would have been universal concord; and, could men have agreed in this, there would have been no dangerous discord nor disagreement in other things; but, disagreeing here, the breach was wide as the sea. Yet the apostles must not be blamed for coming to Iconium, although before they came the city was united, and now it was divided; for it is better that part of the city go to heaven than all to hell. 2. We may here take the measures of our expectations; let us not think it strange if the preaching of the gospel occasion division, nor be offended at it; it is better to be reproached and persecuted as dividers for swimming against the stream than yield ourselves to be carried down the stream that leads to destruction. Let us hold with the apostles, and not fear those that hold with the Jews. VI. The attempt made upon the apostles by their enemies. Their evil affection against them broke out at length into violent outrages, Acts 14:5 ; Acts 14:5 . Observe, 1. Who the plotters were: Both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers. The Gentiles and Jews were at enmity with one another, and yet united against Christians, like Herod and Pilate, Sadducees and Pharisees, against Christ; and like Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, of old, against Israel. If the church's enemies can thus unite for its destruction, shall not its friends, laying aside all personal feuds, unite for its preservation? 2. What the plot was. Having now got the rulers on their side, they doubted not but to carry their point, and their design was to use the apostles despitefully, to expose them to disgrace, and then to stone them, to put them to death; and thus they hoped to sink their cause. They aimed to take away both their reputation and their life, and this was all they had to lose which men could take from them, for they had neither lands nor goods. VII. The deliverance of the apostles out of the hands of those wicked and unreasonable men, Acts 14:6 ; Acts 14:7 . They got away, upon notice given them of the design against them, or the beginning of the attempt upon them, of which they were soon aware, and they made an honourable retreat (for it was not an inglorious flight) to Lystra and Derbe; and there, 1. They found safety. Their persecutors in Iconium were for the present satisfied that they were thrust out of their borders, and pursued them no further. God has shelters for his people in a storm; nay, he is, and will be, himself their hiding place. 2. They found work, and this was what they went for. When the door of opportunity was shut against them at Iconium, it was opened at Lystra and Derbe. To these cities they went, and there, and in the region that lieth round about, they preached the gospel. In times of persecution ministers may see cause to quit the spot, when yet they do not quit the work. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-8-18" class="com-number"
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pericope/per-act-14-001
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bible-text/act-14-1, bible-text/act-14-2, bible-text/act-14-3, bible-text/act-14-4, bible-text/act-14-5, bible-text/act-14-6, bible-text/act-14-7
Source
source-manifest/mhm— Matthew Henry Complete Commentary (PD)- evidence_grade: T_theological
> 이고니온에서도 그들은 함께 유대 사람의 회당에 들어가 말씀을 전했는데, 그렇게 전하니 유대 사람과 그리스 사람의 큰 무리가 믿게 되었다. 그러나 믿지 않는 유대 사람들이 이방 사람들을 선동하여 형제들에게 악감을 품게 만들었다. 그래서 두 사도는 그곳에 오래 머물며 주를 의지하여 담대히 말씀을 전했고, 주께서는 그들의 손으로 표적과 기사를 행하게 하셔서 자기 은혜의 말씀을 친히 증언하셨다. 그러나 그 성읍의 무리가 둘로 나뉘어, 한편은 유대 사람들 편에, 한편은 사도들 편에 섰다. 이방 사람과 유대 사람이 그들의 관리들과 함께 두 사도를 모욕하고 돌로 치려고 난폭하게 달려들자, 두 사도는 이를 알아채고 루가오니아 지방의 성읍 루스드라와 더베와 그 주변 지역으로 피했다. 그곳에서도 그들은 복음을 전했다. (행 14:1-7)
이 구절들에서 우리는 다음을 살펴본다.
**I. 이고니온에서의 복음 전파.** 두 사도는 안디옥에서 쫓겨난 뒤 이고니온으로 피신하였다. 순교자들의 피가 교회의 씨앗이 되었듯이, 고백자들의 추방이 그 씨앗을 흩어 뿌리는 데 도움이 되었다. 주목하라.
1. 두 사도는 어디에 가든지 먼저 유대 사람들에게 복음을 전하기 위해 그들의 회당을 찾아갔다. 회당은 단순한 모임 장소가 아니라, 복음을 먼저 전해야 할 그들을 만나는 장소이기 때문이었다. 안디옥의 유대 사람들이 자신들을 혹독하게 대우했더라도, 두 사도는 이고니온의 유대 사람들에게 복음 전하기를 거부하지 않았다. 아마도 이들은 더 좋은 마음으로 받아들일 수 있을 것이었다. 어떤 집단의 사람을 그 전체로 정죄해서는 안 되며, 일부의 잘못으로 다른 이들이 피해를 입어서는 안 된다. 우리에게 악을 행한 자들에게도 선을 베풀어야 한다. 피를 원하는 자들이 올바른 자들을 미워할지라도, 의인은 그들의 영혼을 구하려 한다(잠 29:10).
2. 두 사도는 함께 행동했다. 그들이 함께 회당에 들어갔다는 사실에 주목하라. 이는 그들의 하나됨과 서로를 향한 사랑을 증거하여, 사람들이 "저들이 서로 얼마나 사랑하는가"라고 말하게 하려는 것이었다. 또한 서로의 손을 붙잡아 주고 서로의 증언을 확증하기 위해서였다. 두 세 증인의 입으로 말마다 확증된다는 원칙을 따른 것이었다.
**II. 이고니온에서의 복음의 성과.** 두 사도가 그렇게 말씀을 전하니 유대 사람과 그리스 사람, 곧 이방 사람 중에서 수백 혹은 수천에 달하는 큰 무리가 믿었다. 주목하라.
1. 복음은 이제 유대 사람과 이방 사람에게 함께 전파되었고, 각 족속 중에서 믿은 자들은 함께 교회를 이루었다. 이전 장 끝부분에서는 먼저 유대 사람에게 전파되어 일부가 믿었고, 그다음 이방 사람에게 전파되어 일부가 믿었다. 그러나 여기서는 두 무리가 함께 나란히 놓여 있다. 유대 사람이 뒤처지지는 않았지만, 이방 사람이 그들과 같은 자리에 서게 된 것이다. 양쪽 다 한 몸 안에서 하나님과 화목하게 되었다(엡 2:16).
2. 두 사도의 설교 방식에 무언가 특별함이 있어서 그것이 성과에 기여한 것 같다. 그들은 그렇게 말씀을 전하여 큰 무리가 믿었다. 얼마나 분명하게, 얼마나 설득력 있게, 성령의 확증과 능력으로 전했던지, 또 얼마나 열정적이고 정다운 마음으로, 사람들의 영혼을 향한 명백한 관심을 가지고 전했던지 알 수 있다. 그러나 성과는 설교 방식에 있지 않고, 그 수단을 사용하신 하나님의 성령에 있었다.
**III. 이고니온에서 설교가 맞닥뜨린 반대.** 많은 회심자들로 인해 교만해지지 않도록 육체의 가시가 주어졌다.
1. 믿지 않는 유대 사람들이 다른 곳에서처럼 이곳에서도 첫 번째 문제의 근원이었다(행 14:2). 그들은 이방 사람들을 선동하였다. 복음이 많은 이방 사람에게 미친 영향, 곧 그들이 복음을 받아들이는 것이 일부 유대 사람들에게는 거룩한 질투심을 일으켜 그들도 복음을 받아들이게 하였지만(롬 11:14), 다른 유대 사람들에게는 악한 질투심을 일으켜 복음을 더욱 대적하게 만들었다. 이처럼 좋은 교훈과 좋은 모범이 어떤 이에게는 살리는 냄새가 되고, 어떤 이에게는 죽이는 냄새가 된다(고후 2:15-16).
2. 믿지 않는 유대 사람들에게 자극받은 이방 사람들이 사도들을 위협하는 도구가 되었다. 유대 사람들은 거짓 소문을 이방 사람들의 귀에 끊임없이 흘려 넣어, 형제들에게 악감을 품게 만들었다. 그들은 기회가 나는 대로 모든 모임에서 뿐 아니라, 일부러 아는 사람들을 찾아가서 기독교를 나쁘게 여기게 할 수 있는 온갖 말을 다 늘어놓았다. 그리하여 회심자들과 회심시키는 자들 양쪽을 향한 적대적 분위기를 조성하였다.
**IV. 반대에도 불구하고 계속된 사역과 하나님의 동행(행 14:3).** 우리는 여기서 다음을 본다.
1. 사도들이 그리스도를 위해 충성스럽고 부지런히 일하는 모습. 이방 사람들의 마음이 자기들을 향해 적대적으로 변해 가고 있으니, 물러나거나 도망가야 할 것 같다. 아니면 이미 충분히 분노한 이들을 더 자극하지 않으려고 조심스럽게 전해야 할 것 같다. 아니다. 오히려 그들은 오래 머물며 주를 의지하여 담대히 말씀을 전했다. 성읍이 새 신자들을 향해 원한과 독기를 품는 것을 더 실감할수록, 그들은 더 용기를 얻어 사역을 계속하였고, 신자들 가운데 머물러 믿음을 굳게 하고 위로해야 할 필요성을 더 절실히 느꼈다. 그들은 담대히 말씀을 전했고 믿지 않는 유대 사람들을 두려워하지 않았다. 그들이 담대할 수 있었던 것은 주를 의지하여, 그의 힘으로, 그를 신뢰함으로였지, 자기 자신에게서 나온 것이 아니었다.
2. 그리스도께서 그의 약속대로 사도들과 함께 일하셨다. "보라, 내가 세상 끝날까지 너희와 항상 함께 있으리라." 그들이 그의 이름과 능력으로 나아갈 때, 그는 자기 은혜의 말씀을 증언하셨다. 주목하라. (1) 복음은 은혜의 말씀이다. 이것은 우리를 향한 하나님의 선하신 뜻의 확증이자 우리 안에서 하나님이 하시는 선한 역사의 수단이다. (2) 그리스도 자신이 이 은혜의 말씀을 증언하셨다. 그는 신실한 증인이시다. 그는 그것이 하나님의 말씀임을 확증하셨다. 표적과 기사를 그들의 손으로 행하게 하심으로써 그들의 증언을 확인해 주셨다.
**V. 이 일로 인한 성읍의 분열(행 14:4).** 성읍의 무리가 둘로 나뉘었다. 지도층과 일반 백성 모두에서 어떤 이들은 유대 사람들 편에, 어떤 이들은 사도들 편에 섰다. 바나바도 여기서 사도로 불린다. 비록 열두 사도 중 하나가 아니고 바울처럼 특별한 부름을 받은 것도 아니지만, 성령의 특별한 지명으로 이방인 사역에 파송받았기 때문이다. 복음 전파의 일이 온 성읍 사람들의 관심과 걱정거리가 되어, 무리 중에서도 각자가 이 편이든 저 편이든 반드시 입장을 취했으며, 아무도 중립을 지키지 않았다. 우리는 여기서 다음을 본다.
1. 그리스도께서 땅에 평화가 아니라 분열을 주러 오셨다고 하신 예언의 의미(눅 12:51-53). 모두가 한마음으로 그분의 길에 동조했다면 온 세상이 하나가 되었을 것이다. 그러나 이 점에서 의견이 갈리면서 틈이 생겼다. 그렇다고 두 사도가 이고니온에 온 것을 탓할 수는 없다. 성읍 전체가 지옥으로 가는 것보다 그 일부가 천국으로 가는 것이 더 낫기 때문이다.
2. 복음 전파가 분열을 일으키더라도 이상하게 여기거나 걸려 넘어져서는 안 된다. 흐름을 거슬러 헤엄치다 분열을 일으키는 자로 비난받고 핍박받는 것이, 멸망으로 내려가는 흐름에 그냥 실려 가는 것보다 낫다.
**VI. 적들의 공격 시도(행 14:5).** 유대 사람과 이방 사람이 그들의 관리들과 함께 사도들을 모욕하고 돌로 치려 하였다. 이미 관리들을 자기 편으로 끌어들인 그들은 자기들의 목적을 이룰 수 있다고 여겼다. 헤롯과 빌라도, 사두개인과 바리새인이 그리스도를 대적하여 연합하였듯이, 유대 사람과 이방 사람이 그리스도인들을 대적하여 연합하였다. 교회의 원수들이 이처럼 멸망을 위해 연합한다면, 교회의 친구들은 개인적 불화를 내려놓고 보존을 위해 연합해야 하지 않겠는가?
**VII. 사도들의 탈출(행 14:6-7).** 그 음모 혹은 공격의 시작을 알게 된 두 사도는 루가오니아 지방의 루스드라와 더베로 피했다. 이것은 불명예스러운 도피가 아니라 명예로운 후퇴였다. 거기서 (1) 그들은 안전을 찾았다. 이고니온의 박해자들은 그들이 자기 영역에서 쫓겨났다는 것으로 일단 만족하여 더 이상 뒤쫓지 않았다. 하나님은 폭풍 속에서도 자기 백성을 위한 피신처를 갖고 계신다. (2) 그들은 일을 찾았다. 이고니온의 문이 닫혔을 때 루스드라와 더베의 문이 열렸다. 이 성읍들과 그 주변 지역에서 그들은 복음을 전했다. 박해의 시대에 사역자들은 그 자리를 떠나야 할 이유를 발견할 수 있지만, 그렇다고 사역을 그만두는 것은 아니다.
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1~28절 카드 ↗
A C T S. CHAP. XIV. We have, in this chapter, a further account of the progress of the gospel, by the ministry of Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles; it goes on conquering and to conquer, yet meeting with opposition, as before, among the unbelieving Jews. Here is, I. Their successful preaching of the gospel for some time at Iconium, and their being driven thence by the violence of their persecutors, both Jews and Gentiles, and forced into the neighbouring countries, Acts 14:1-7 . II. Their healing a lame man at Lystra, and the profound veneration which the people conceived of them thereupon, which they had much ado to keep from running into an extreme, Acts 14:8-18 . III. The outrage of the people against Paul, at the instigation of the Jews, the effect of which was that they stoned him, as they thought, to death; but he was wonderfully restored to life, Acts 14:19 ; Acts 14:20 . IV. The visit which Paul and Barnabas made to the churches which they had planted, to confirm them, and put them into order, Acts 14:21-23 . V. They return to Antioch, whence they were sent forth; the good they did by the way, and the report they made to the church of Antioch of their expedition, and, if I may so say, of the campaign they had made, Acts 14:24-28 . return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-1-7" class="com-number"
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source-manifest/mhm— Matthew Henry Complete Commentary (PD)- evidence_grade: T_theological
사도행전 14장은 바울과 바나바의 이방인 선교 사역이 더욱 전진하는 모습을 담고 있다. 복음은 거침없이 나아가며 이기고 또 이기지만, 믿지 않는 유대 사람들의 방해로 이전과 마찬가지의 반대에 부딪힌다. 이 장에 담긴 내용은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 이고니온에서 한동안 복음을 성공적으로 전하다가, 유대 사람과 이방 사람 양쪽 박해자들의 폭력에 의해 쫓겨나 이웃 지방으로 피신하는 이야기(행 14:1-7). 둘째, 루스드라에서 다리 저는 사람을 고쳐 주자 그 백성들이 두 사도를 지극히 공경하여 거의 극단까지 치달을 뻔한 이야기(행 14:8-18). 셋째, 유대 사람들의 선동으로 백성들이 바울에게 폭행을 가한 일, 곧 그를 돌로 쳐서 죽은 줄로 여겼지만 놀랍게도 되살아난 이야기(행 14:19-20). 넷째, 바울과 바나바가 자기들이 세운 교회들을 다시 찾아가 굳건히 세우고 질서를 잡아 준 이야기(행 14:21-23). 다섯째, 두 사도가 파송된 안디옥으로 돌아와 도중에 선한 일을 하고, 자기들의 사역 결과를 안디옥 교회에 보고하는 이야기(행 14:24-28).
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commentary-section/mhm-act-14-intro(Matthew Henry, PD) - CC0-1.0 · Sonnet 위탁 번역 · 성경 인용은 WEB(PD) 기반
8~18절 카드 ↗
The Lame Man Healed at Lystra; Paul and Barnabas at Lystra. 8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. In these verses we have, I. A miraculous cure wrought by Paul at Lystra upon a cripple that had been lame from his birth, such a one as was miraculously cured by Peter and John, Acts 3:2 ; Acts 3:2 . That introduced the gospel among the Jews, this among the Gentiles; both that and this were designed to represent the impotency of all the children of men in spiritual things: they are lame from their birth, till the grace of God puts strength into them; for it was when we were yet without strength that Christ died for the ungodly, Romans 5:6 . Observe here, 1. The deplorable case of the poor cripple ( Acts 14:8 ; Acts 14:8 ): He was impotent in his feet, disabled (so the word is) to such a degree that it was impossible he should set his foot to the ground, to lay any stress upon it. It was well known that he had been so from his mother's womb, and that he never had walked, nor could stand up. We should take occasion hence to thank God for the use of our limbs; and those who are deprived of it may observe that their case is not singular. 2. The expectation that was raised in him of a cure ( Acts 14:9 ; Acts 14:9 ): He heard Paul preach, and, it is likely, was much affected with what he heard, believed that the messengers, having their commission thence, had a divine power going along with them, and were therefore able to cure him of his lameness. This Paul was aware of, by the spirit of discerning that he had, and perhaps the aspect of his countenance did in part witness for him: Paul perceived that he had faith to be healed; desired it, hoped for it, had such a thing in his thoughts, which it does not appear that the lame man Peter healed had, for he expected no more than an alms. There was not found such great faith in Israel as was among the Gentiles, Matthew 8:10 . 3. The cure wrought: Paul, perceiving that he had faith to be healed, brought the word and healed him, Psalms 107:20 . Note, God will not disappoint the desires that are of his own kindling, nor the hopes of his own raising. Paul spoke to him with a loud voice, either because he was at some distance, or to show that the true miracles, wrought by the power of Christ, were far unlike the lying wonders wrought by deceivers, that peeped, and muttered, and whispered, Isaiah 8:19 . God saith, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth, Isaiah 45:19 . Paul spoke to him with a loud voice, that the people about might take notice, and have their expectations raised of the effect. It does not appear that this cripple was a beggar; it is said ( Acts 14:8 ; Acts 14:8 ) that he sat, not that he sat begging. But we may imagine how melancholy it was to him to see other people walking about him, and himself disabled; and therefore how welcome Paul's word was to him, " Stand upright on thy feet; help thyself, and God shall help thee; try whether thou hast strength, and thou shalt find that thou hast." Some copies read it, I say unto thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Stand upright on thy feet. It is certain that this is implied, and very probably was expressed, by Paul, and power went along with this word; for presently he leaped and walked, leaped up from the place where he sat, and not only stood upright, but to show that he was perfectly cured, and that immediately, he walked to and fro before them all. Herein the scripture was fulfilled, that when the wilderness of the Gentile world is made to blossom as the rose then shall the lame man leap as a hart, Isaiah 35:1 ; Isaiah 35:6 . Those that by the grace of God are cured of their spiritual lameness must show it by leaping with a holy exultation and walking in a holy conversation. II. The impression which this cure made upon the people: they were amazed at it, had never seen nor heard the like, and fell into an ecstacy of wonder. Paul and Barnabas were strangers, exiles, refugees, in their country; every thing concurred to make them mean and despicable: yet the working of this one miracle was enough to make them in the eyes of this people truly great and honourable, though the multitude of Christ's miracles could not screen him from the utmost contempt among the Jews. We find here, 1. The people take them for gods ( Acts 14:11 ; Acts 14:11 ): They lifted up their voices with an air of triumph, saying in their own language (for it was the common people that said it), in the speech of Lycaonia, which was a dialect of the Greek, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. They imagined that Paul and Barnabas had dropped down to them out of the clouds, and that they were some divine powers, no less than gods, though in the likeness of men. This notion of the thing agreed well enough with the pagan theology, and the fabulous account they had of the visits which their gods made to this lower world; and proud enough they were to think that they should have a visit made to them. They carried this notion so far here that they pretended to tell which of their gods they were, according to the ideas their poets had given them of the gods ( Acts 14:12 ; Acts 14:12 ): They called Barnabas Jupiter; for, if they will have him to be a god, it is as easy to make him the prince of their gods as not. It is probable that he was the senior, and the more portly comely man, that had something of majesty in his countenance. And Paul they called Mercury, who was the messenger of the gods, that was sent on their errands; for Paul, though he had not the appearance that Barnabas had, was the chief speaker, and had a greater command of language, and perhaps appeared to have something mercurial in his temper and genius. Jupiter used to take Mercury along with him, they said, and, if he make a visit to their city, they will suppose he does so now. 2. The priest thereupon prepares to do sacrifice to them, Acts 14:13 ; Acts 14:13 . The temple of Jupiter was, it seems, before the gate of their city, as its protector and guardian; and the priest of that idol and temple, hearing the people cry out thus, took the hint presently, and thought it was time for him to bestir himself to do his duty: many a costly sacrifice he had offered to the image of Jupiter, but if Jupiter be among them himself--in propria persona, it concerns him to do him the utmost honours imaginable; and the people are ready to join with him in it. See how easily vain minds are carried away with a popular outcry. If the crowd give a shout, Here is Jupiter, the priest of Jupiter takes the first hint, and offers his service immediately. When Christ, the Son of God, came down, and appeared in the likeness of men, and did many, very many miracles, yet they were so far from doing sacrifice to him that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice: He was in the world, and the world knew him not; he came to his own, and his own received him not; but Paul and Barnabas, upon the working of one miracle, are immediately deified. The same power of the god of this world which prejudices the carnal mind against truth makes errors and mistakes to find easy admission; and both ways his turn is served. They brought oxen, to be sacrificed to them, and garlands, with which to crown the sacrifices. These garlands were made up of flowers and ribbons; and they gilded the horns of the oxen they sacrificed. Victimæ ad supplicium saginantur, hostiæ ad pœnam corenantur. So beasts for sacrifice do feed, First to be crown'd, and then to bleed. So Octavius in Minutius Felix. III. Paul and Barnabas protest against this undue respect paid them, and with much ado prevent it. Many of the heathen emperors called themselves gods, and took a pride in having divine honours paid them: but Christ's ministers, though real benefactors to mankind, while these tyrants only pretended to be so, refused those honours when they were so tendered. Whose successor therefore he is who sits in the temple of God, and shows that he is god ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ), and who is adored as our lord god, the pope, it is easy to say. Observe, 1. The holy indignation which Paul and Barnabas conceived at this: When they heard this, they rent their clothes. We do not find that they rent their clothes when the people vilified them, and spoke of stoning them; they could bear this without disturbance: but when they deified them, and spoke of worshipping them, they could not bear it, but rent their clothes, as being more concerned for God's honour than their own. 2. The pains they took to prevent it. They did not connive at it, nor say, "If people will be deceived, let them be deceived," much less suggest to themselves and one another that it might contribute both to the safety of their persons and the success of their ministry if they suffered the people to continue in this mistake, and so they might make a good hand of an ill thing. No, God's truth needs not the service of man's lie. Christ had put honour enough upon them in making them apostles, they needed not assume either the honour of princes or the honour of gods; they appeared with much more magnificent titles when they were called the ambassadors of Christ, and the stewards of the mysteries of God, than when they were called Jupiter and Mercury. Let us see how they prevented it. (1.) They ran in among the people, as soon as they heard of it, and would not so much as stay awhile to see what the people would do. Their running in, like servants, among the people, showed that they were far from looking upon themselves as gods, or taking state upon them; they did not stand still, expecting honours to be done them, but plainly declined them by thrusting themselves into the crowd. They ran in, as men in earnest, with as much concern as Aaron ran in between the living and the dead, when the plague was begun. (2.) They reasoned with them, crying out, that all might hear, " Sirs, why do you these things? " Why do you go about to make gods of us? It is the most absurd thing you can do; for, [1.] "Our nature will not admit it: We also are men of like passions with you " homoiopatheis : it is the same word that is used concerning Elias, James 5:18 , where we render it, subject to like passions as we are. "We are men, and therefore you wrong yourselves if you expect that from us which is to be had in God only; and you wrong God if you give that honour to us, or to any other man, which is to be given to God only. We not only have such bodies as you see, but are of like passions with you, have hearts fashioned like as other men ( Psalms 33:15 ); for, as in water face answers to face, so doth the heart of man to man, Proverbs 27:19 . We are naturally subject to the same infirmities of the human nature, and liable to the same calamities of the human life; not only men, but sinful men and suffering men, and therefore will not be deified." [2.] "Our doctrine is directly against it. Must we be added to the number of your gods whose business it is to abolish the gods you have? We preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God. If we should suffer this, we should confirm you in that which it is our business to convert you from:" and so they take this occasion to show them how just and necessary it was that they should turn to God from idols, 1 Thessalonians 1:9 . When they preached to the Jews, who hated idolatry, they had nothing to do but to preach the grace of God in Christ, and needed not, as the prophets in dealing with their fathers, to preach against idolatry: but, when they had to do with the Gentiles, they must rectify their mistakes in natural religion, and bring them off from the gross corruptions of that. See here what they preached to the Gentiles. First, That the gods which they and their fathers worshipped, and all the ceremonies of their worship of them were vanities, idle things, unreasonable, unprofitable, which no rational account could be given of, nor any real advantage gained from. Idols are often called vanities in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 32:21 ; 1 Kings 10:13 . An idol is nothing in the world ( 1 Corinthians 8:4 ): it is not at all what it is pretended to be, it is a cheat, it is a counterfeit; it deceives those that trust to it and expect relief from it. Therefore turn from these vanities, turn from them with abhorrence and detestation, as Ephraim did ( Hosea 14:8 ): " What have I to do any more with idols? I will never again be thus imposed upon." Secondly, That the God to whom they would have them turn is the living God. They had hitherto worshipped dead images, that were utterly unable to help them ( Isaiah 64:9 ), or (as they now attempted) dying men, that would soon be disabled to help them; but now they are persuaded to worship a living God, who has life in himself, and life for us, and lives for evermore. Thirdly, That this God is the creator of the world, the fountain of all being and power: "He made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things therein, even those things which you worship as gods, so that he is the God of your gods. You worship gods which you made, the creatures of your own fancy, and the work of your own hands. We call you to worship the true God, and cheat not yourselves with pretenders; worship the Sovereign Lord of all, and disparage not yourselves in bowing down to his creatures and subjects." Fourthly, That the world owed it to his patience that he had not destroyed them long ere this for their idolatry ( Acts 14:16 ; Acts 14:16 ): In times past, for many ages, unto this day, he suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. These idolaters, that were called from the service of other gods, might think, "Have we not served these gods hitherto, and our fathers before us, time out of mind; and why may we not as well go on to serve them still?"--No, your serving them was a trial of God's patience, and it was a miracle of mercy that you were not cut off for it. But, though he did not destroy you for it while you were in ignorance, and knew no better ( Acts 17:30 ; Acts 17:30 ) yet now that he has sent his gospel into the world, and by it has made a clear discovery of himself and his will to all nations, and not to the Jews only, if you still continue in your idolatry he will not bear with you as he has done. All the nations that had not the benefit of divine revelation, that is, all but the Jews, he suffered to walk in their own ways, for they had nothing to check them, or control them, but their own consciences, their own thoughts ( Romans 2:15 ), no scriptures, no prophets; and then they were the more excusable if they mistook their way: but now that God has sent a revelation into the world which is to be published to all nations the case is altered. We may understand it as a judgment upon all nations that God suffered them to walk in their own ways, gave them up to their own hearts' lusts; but now the time is come when the veil of the covering spread over all nations should be taken off ( Isaiah 25:7 ), and now you will no longer be excused in these vanities, but must turn from them. Note, 1. God's patience with us hitherto should lead us to repentance, and not encourage us to presume upon the continuance of it, while we continue to provoke him. 2. Our having done ill while we were in ignorance will not bear us out in doing ill when we are better taught. Fifthly, That even when they were not under the direction and correction of the word of God, yet they might have known, and should have known, to do better by the works of God, Acts 14:17 ; Acts 14:17 . Though the Gentiles had not the statutes and judgments that the Jews had to witness for God against all pretenders, no tables of testimony or tabernacle of testimony, yet he left not himself without witness; besides the witness for God within them (the dictates of natural conscience), they had witnesses for God round about them--the bounty of common providence. Their having no scriptures did in part excuse them, and therefore God did not destroy them for their idolatry, as he did the Jewish nation. This however did not wholly excuse them, but that notwithstanding this they were highly criminal and deeply guilty before God; for there were other witnesses for God, sufficient to inform them that he and he only is to be worshipped, and that to him they owed all their services from whom they received all their comforts, and therefore that they were guilty of the highest injustice and ingratitude imaginable, in alienating them from him. God, having not left himself without witness, has not left us without a guide, and so has left us without excuse; for whatever is a witness for God is a witness against us, if we give that glory to any other which is due to him only. 1. The bounties of common providence witness to us that there is a God, for they are all dispensed wisely and with design. The rain and fruitful seasons could not come by chance, nor are there any of the vanities of the heathen that can give rain, neither can the heavens of themselves give showers, Jeremiah 14:22 . All the powers of nature witness to us a sovereign power in the God of nature, from whom they are derived, and on whom they depend. It is not the heaven that gives us rain, but God that gives us rain from heaven, he is the Father of the rain, Job 38:28 . 2. The benefits we have by these bounties witness to us that we ought to make our acknowledgments not to the creatures who are made serviceable to us, but to the Creator who makes them so. He left not himself without witness, in that he did good. God seems to reckon the instances of his goodness to be more pregnant, cogent proofs of his title to our homage and adoration than the evidences of his greatness; for his goodness is his glory. The earth is full of his goodness; his tender mercies are over all his works; and therefore they praise him, Psalms 145:9 ; Psalms 145:10 . God does us good, in preserving to us his air to breathe in, his ground to go upon, the light of his sun to see by; but, because the most sensible instance of the goodness of Providence to each of us in particular is that of the daily provision made by it of meat and drink for us, the apostle chooses to insist upon that, and shows how God does us good, (1.) In preparing it for us, and that by a long train of causes which depend upon him as the first cause: The heavens hear the earth; the earth hears the corn, and wine, and oil; and they hear Jezreel. Hosea 2:21 ; Hosea 2:22 . He does us good in giving us rain from heaven--rain for us to drink, for if there were no rain there would be no springs of water and we should soon die for thirst--rain for our land to drink, for our meat as well as drink we have from the rain; in giving us this, he gives us fruitful seasons. If the heavens be as iron, the earth will soon be as brass, Leviticus 26:19 . This is the river of God which greatly enriches the earth, and by it God prepares us corn, Psalms 65:9-13 . Of all the common operations of providence, the heathen chose to form their notion of the supreme God by that which bespeaks terror, and is proper to strike an awe of him upon us, and this was the thunder; and therefore they called Jupiter the thunderer, and represented him with a thunderbolt in his hand; and it appears by Psalms 29:3 that this ought not to be overlooked; but the apostle here, to engage us to worship God, sets before us his beneficence, that we may have good thoughts of him in every thing wherein we have to do with him--may love him and delight in him, as one that does good, does good to us, does good to all, in giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons; and if at any time rain be withheld, or the seasons be unfruitful, we may thank ourselves; it is our sin that turns away these good things from us which were coming to us, and stops the current of God's favours. (2.) In giving us the comforts of it. It is he that fills our hearts with food and gladness. God is rich in mercy to all ( Romans 10:12 ): he gives us richly all things to enjoy ( 1 Timothy 6:17 ), is not only a benefactor, but a bountiful one, not only gives us the things we need, but gives us to enjoy them ( Ecclesiastes 2:24 ): He fills our hearts with food, that is, he gives us food to our hearts' content, or according to our hearts' desire; not merely for necessity, but plenty, dainty, and variety. Even those nations that had lost the knowledge of him, and worshipped other gods, yet he filled their houses, filled their mouths, filled their bellies ( Job 22:18 ; Psalms 17:14 ) with good things. The Gentiles that lived without God in the world, yet lived upon God, which Christ urges as a reason why we should do good to those that hate us, Matthew 5:44 ; Matthew 5:45 . Those heathen had their hearts filled with food; this was their felicity and satisfaction, they desired no more; but these things will not fill the soul ( Ezekiel 7:19 ), nor will those that know how to value their own souls be satisfied with them; but the apostles put themselves in as sharers in the divine beneficence. We must all own that God fills our hearts with food and gladness; not only food, that we may live, but gladness, that we may live cheerfully; to him we owe it that we do not all our days eat in sorrow. Note, We must thank God, not only for our food, but for our gladness--that he gives us leave to be cheerful, cause to be cheerful, and hearts to be cheerful. And, if our hearts be filled with food and gladness, they ought to be filled with love and thankfulness, and enlarged in duty and obedience, Deuteronomy 8:10 ; Deuteronomy 28:47 . Lastly, The success of this prohibition which the apostles gave to the people ( Acts 14:18 ; Acts 14:18 ): By these sayings, with much ado, they restrained the people from doing sacrifice to them, so strongly were these idolaters set upon their idolatry. It was not enough for the apostles to refuse to be deified (this would be construed only a pang of modesty), but they resented it, they showed the people the evil of it, and all little enough, for they could scarcely restrain them from it, and some of them were ready to blame the priest, that he did not go on with his business notwithstanding. We may see here what gave rise to the pagan idolatry; it was terminating those regards in the instruments of our comfort which should have passed through them to the Author. Paul and Barnabas had cured a cripple, and therefore the people deified them, instead of glorifying God for giving them such power, which should make us very cautious that we do not give that honour to another, or take it to ourselves, which is due to God only. return to ' Top of Page ' <a name="verses-19-28" class="com-number"
Pericope (part_of)
- part_of
pericope/per-act-14-002
절 (explains)
bible-text/act-14-8, bible-text/act-14-9, bible-text/act-14-10, bible-text/act-14-11, bible-text/act-14-12, bible-text/act-14-13, bible-text/act-14-14, bible-text/act-14-15, bible-text/act-14-16, bible-text/act-14-17, bible-text/act-14-18
Source
source-manifest/mhm— Matthew Henry Complete Commentary (PD)- evidence_grade: T_theological
> 루스드라에 한 사람이 앉아 있었는데, 그는 발에 힘이 없어 어머니의 태에서부터 걷지 못하는 장애인이어서 한 번도 걸어 본 적이 없었다. 그가 바울이 말하는 것을 듣고 있었는데, 바울이 그를 주목하여 보니 그에게 나음을 받을 만한 믿음이 있는 것을 보고, 큰 소리로 "당신의 두 발로 똑바로 일어서시오!" 하고 말했다. 그러자 그가 벌떡 일어나 걸었다. 무리가 바울이 행한 일을 보고 루가오니아 말로 소리를 높여 "신들이 사람의 모습으로 우리에게 내려오셨다!" 하고 외쳤다. 그들이 바나바는 "제우스"라 부르고, 바울은 주로 말하는 사람이었으므로 "헤르메스"라 불렀다. 성읍 앞에 신전이 있던 제우스의 제사장이 황소와 화환을 성문 앞으로 가져와서 무리와 함께 제사를 드리려고 했다. 그러나 사도 바나바와 바울이 이 일을 듣고 자기 옷을 찢고 무리 가운데로 뛰어들어가 외쳤다. "여러분, 어찌하여 이런 일을 합니까? 우리도 여러분과 똑같은 본성을 지닌 사람일 뿐입니다. 우리는 여러분에게 복음을 전하여, 여러분이 이런 헛된 것들을 버리고 살아 계신 하나님께로 돌아오게 하려는 것입니다. 그분은 하늘과 땅과 바다와 그 안에 있는 모든 것을 지으신 분입니다. 지나간 세대에는 모든 민족이 자기들의 길을 걷도록 그분께서 내버려 두셨으나, 그러면서도 자신을 증언 없이 두지 않으셨으니, 선을 행하시고 하늘에서 비를 내려 주시며 결실의 철을 주셔서 여러분의 마음을 양식과 기쁨으로 채워 주신 것입니다." 두 사도가 이런 말을 했는데도 무리가 자기들에게 제사 드리는 것을 겨우 말렸다. (행 14:8-18)
이 구절들에서 우리는 다음을 살펴본다.
**I. 바울이 루스드라에서 태어날 때부터 다리를 저는 사람을 기적으로 고친 일.** 베드로와 요한이 비슷한 기적으로 유대 사람들 가운데 복음을 열었듯이(행 3:2), 이 기적은 이방 사람들 가운데 복음을 여는 역할을 하였다. 두 기적 모두 영적인 일에 있어서 모든 사람이 무력하다는 것을 나타내려는 것이었다. 사람들은 날 때부터 다리를 저는 것과 같다. 하나님의 은혜가 힘을 불어넣어 주기 전에는 그러하다. 우리가 아직 연약할 때 그리스도께서 경건하지 않은 자들을 위해 죽으셨다(롬 5:6). 주목하라.
1. 그 불쌍한 장애인의 처절한 상황(행 14:8). 그는 발이 힘을 잃어 땅에 한 발짝도 디딜 수 없는 상태였다. 그가 어머니의 태에서부터 그러했으며 한 번도 걸어 본 적이 없다는 것은 모든 이가 잘 알고 있었다. 우리는 이것을 보며 사지를 사용할 수 있음을 하나님께 감사해야 한다. 사지를 빼앗긴 자들은 자신의 처지가 특별한 것이 아님을 기억할 수 있다.
2. 그에게 치유에 대한 기대감이 생겨난 것(행 14:9). 그는 바울이 말씀 전하는 것을 들었고, 아마도 크게 감동받았을 것이다. 그는 이 사람들이 하늘의 권위로 보내진 자들이며 따라서 자신의 다리 저는 병을 고칠 수 있는 신적인 능력을 가지고 있다고 믿었다. 바울은 가지고 있던 분별의 영으로 이것을 알아채고, 아마도 그의 표정도 어느 정도 그것을 증거해 주었을 것이다. 바울은 그에게 나음을 받을 만한 믿음이 있는 것을 보았다.
3. 이루어진 치유. 바울은 큰 소리로 그에게 말했다. 아마도 그가 멀리 있었기 때문에, 또는 그리스도의 능력으로 일어나는 진정한 기적들은 속삭이고 중얼거리는 거짓 이적과는 전혀 다르다는 것을 보여 주기 위해서였다(사 8:19). 어떤 사본들은 "내가 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 네게 말하노니"라고 읽기도 한다. 이것이 분명히 함의되어 있고 바울이 실제로 그렇게 말했을 것이다. 그리고 그 말씀과 함께 능력이 임했다. 즉시 그가 벌떡 일어나 걸었다. 앉아 있던 자리에서 훌쩍 일어나, 완전히 나았음을 모든 이 앞에서 보여 주려는 듯이 이리저리 걸었다. 이로써 이방인 세계라는 광야가 장미처럼 꽃 피울 때 다리 저는 사람이 사슴처럼 뛰리라는 말씀이 성취되었다(사 35:1, 6). 하나님의 은혜로 영적 다리 저는 상태가 고침받은 자들은 거룩한 기쁨으로 뛰며 거룩한 삶 가운데 걸음으로써 그것을 증명해야 한다.
**II. 이 치유가 백성들에게 미친 인상.** 그들은 이를 보고 놀라 경탄의 황홀경에 빠져들었다. 바울과 바나바는 그 나라에 낯선 자들이요 유랑자들이요 피난민들이었다. 모든 것이 그들을 보잘것없고 경멸스러운 존재로 만들었다. 그런데도 이 한 번의 기적이 이 백성들의 눈에 그들을 진정으로 위대하고 존귀한 자들로 만들기에 충분하였다.
1. 백성들이 그들을 신으로 여겼다(행 14:11). 그들은 자기 고장 말인 루가오니아 말로 소리를 높여 외쳤다. "신들이 사람의 모습으로 우리에게 내려오셨다!" 그들은 바울과 바나바가 하늘에서 뚝 떨어진 것이고, 사람의 모습을 한 신적인 존재라고 상상하였다. 이 생각은 이교 신학과 잘 들어맞았다. 그들의 신들이 이 하계를 방문한다는 이교의 신화적 이야기와 일치하였던 것이다.
2. 그들은 더 나아가 어느 신인지까지 특정하려 했다(행 14:12). 바나바는 "제우스"라 불렸다. 아마도 그가 더 나이 들었고 풍채가 더 당당하여 얼굴에 위엄이 있었을 것이다. 바울은 "헤르메스"라 불렸다. 신들의 심부름꾼이었던 헤르메스는 그들의 사명을 수행하기 위해 파송된다. 바울이 외모는 바나바만큼 출중하지 않았지만, 주로 말하는 사람이었고 언어를 더 잘 구사했기 때문이다.
3. 이에 제사장이 그들에게 제사를 드리려 준비하였다(행 14:13). 성읍 앞에 있던 제우스 신전의 제사장이 백성들의 외침을 듣고 즉각 나서서 자신의 직무를 다하려 했다. 황소와 화환을 가져왔다. 이 화환들은 꽃과 리본으로 만들어졌고, 제물로 바칠 황소의 뿔을 금으로 칠하기도 하였다. 허황된 마음을 가진 자들이 군중의 외침에 얼마나 쉽게 쓸려 가는지 보라. 군중이 "여기 제우스가 있다"고 외치면, 제우스의 제사장은 즉각 그 힌트를 받아들여 자신의 역할을 다하려 한다.
**III. 바울과 바나바가 이 과도한 공경을 거부하며 적극적으로 막은 일.** 많은 이교 황제들이 스스로 신이라 부르고 신적 공경을 받는 것에 자긍심을 가졌다. 그러나 그리스도의 종들은 인류에게 진정한 은인이면서도, 그 폭군들이 은인을 자처할 때와 달리, 제공된 그 영예를 거부하였다.
1. 바울과 바나바의 거룩한 분노. 이 일을 듣고 그들은 옷을 찢었다. 사람들이 그들을 욕하고 돌로 치려 할 때는 옷을 찢지 않았다. 그것은 평정심을 잃지 않고 감당할 수 있었다. 그런데 사람들이 그들을 신으로 추켜세우고 경배하려 하자, 그것은 도저히 참을 수 없어 옷을 찢었다. 이는 자신의 명예보다 하나님의 영예를 더 소중히 여겼기 때문이다.
2. 그들이 막기 위해 기울인 노력. 그들은 이 일을 묵인하거나 "사람들이 속으려 하면 속게 내버려 두자"라고 하지 않았다. 하나님의 진리는 사람의 거짓말을 필요로 하지 않는다. 그리스도가 그들을 사도로 세우신 것으로 충분히 영예롭게 해 주셨다. 그들은 그리스도의 사신, 하나님의 비밀을 맡은 청지기라 불릴 때 훨씬 더 위엄 있는 칭호를 가졌다. 그들이 막은 방법을 살펴보자.
(1) 그들은 이 소식을 듣자마자 무리 가운데로 뛰어들어갔다. 종처럼 무리 사이로 뛰어드는 것은 그들이 자신을 신으로 여기거나 위엄을 취하려는 마음이 전혀 없음을 보여 주었다. 아론이 산 자와 죽은 자 사이에서 전염병을 막으러 달려갔듯이(민 16:48), 그들은 진지하게, 큰 관심을 가지고 달려갔다.
(2) 그들은 백성들과 논리로 맞섰다. 모두가 들을 수 있도록 크게 외쳤다. "여러분, 어찌하여 이런 일을 합니까?" 어찌하여 우리를 신으로 만들려 하는가? 그것은 가장 터무니없는 일이다.
[1] "우리의 본성이 그것을 허용하지 않습니다. 우리도 여러분과 똑같은 본성을 지닌 사람일 뿐입니다." 야고보서 5장 17절에서 엘리야에 대해 쓴 것과 같은 단어이다. "우리는 사람입니다. 그러므로 여러분이 하나님께만 구해야 하는 것을 우리에게서 기대한다면 스스로를 해치는 것입니다. 또한 하나님께만 드려야 할 영예를 우리에게, 혹은 다른 사람에게 드린다면 하나님을 해치는 것입니다. 우리는 사람일 뿐 아니라 죄 있는 사람이요 고난받는 사람이므로 신으로 추앙받아서는 안 됩니다."
[2] "우리의 가르침이 바로 그것에 정면으로 반대합니다. 여러분이 가진 신들의 수를 줄이는 것이 우리의 사명인데, 우리가 그 신들의 수에 더해져야 하겠습니까? 우리는 여러분에게 복음을 전하여, 이런 헛된 것들을 버리고 살아 계신 하나님께로 돌아오게 하려는 것입니다." 그들은 이 기회를 빌려 이방 사람들이 우상을 버리고 하나님께 돌아오는 것이 얼마나 정당하고 필요한지를 보여 주었다(살전 1:9). 그들은 유대 사람들에게 전할 때는 이미 우상 숭배를 싫어하는 자들이었으므로 그리스도 안에 있는 하나님의 은혜를 전하기만 하면 되었다. 그러나 이방 사람들을 상대로 할 때는 자연 종교의 잘못들을 바로잡아야 했다.
그들이 이방 사람들에게 전한 내용을 살펴보자. 첫째, 이방 사람들과 그 조상들이 예배하던 신들, 그 모든 예배 의식은 헛된 것들이라는 것이다. 쓸모없고 비합리적이며 아무런 실익도 없는 것들. 우상들은 구약에서 자주 헛된 것이라 불린다(신 32:21; 왕상 16:13). 우상은 세상에 아무것도 아니다(고전 8:4). 그것이 주장하는 바가 전혀 없고, 속임이며, 위조품이다. 따라서 헛된 것들을 버리라고 한다. 에브라임이 그리했듯이(호 14:8). "내가 우상들과 무슨 상관이 있으리요?"
둘째, 그들에게 돌아오라고 권하는 하나님은 살아 계신 하나님이라는 것이다. 그들은 지금까지 전혀 도움이 될 수 없는 죽은 형상들을 예배했다(사 46:7). 그러나 이제 살아 계신 하나님을 예배하도록 권유받는다. 자신 안에 생명이 있고 우리를 위한 생명을 가지시며 영원히 사시는 하나님.
셋째, 이 하나님이 세상의 창조주, 모든 존재와 능력의 근원이라는 것이다. "그분은 하늘과 땅과 바다와 그 안에 있는 모든 것을 지으신 분입니다." 여러분은 스스로의 상상력의 산물이요 손으로 만든 작품인 신들을 예배한다. 우리는 여러분에게 참 하나님을 예배하라고 권한다.
넷째, 이방 사람들이 오랫동안 우상 숭배를 해 왔어도 하나님이 그들을 멸망시키지 않으신 것은 그의 인내 덕분이라는 것이다(행 14:16). 지나간 세대에, 오랜 세월 동안, 하나님은 모든 민족이 자기들의 길을 걷도록 내버려 두셨다. 이 우상 숭배자들은 이렇게 생각할 수 있다. "우리는 지금까지 이 신들을 섬겨 왔고, 우리 조상들도 그랬는데 왜 계속 섬기면 안 되는가?" 아니다. 여러분이 그들을 섬긴 것은 하나님의 인내에 대한 시험이었고, 그 기간에 멸망당하지 않은 것이 은혜의 기적이었다. 그러나 하나님이 세상에 복음을 보내시어 모든 민족에게 자신을 분명히 알리신 지금, 만약 여러분이 계속 우상 숭배를 하면 그는 이전처럼 참고 기다리지 않으실 것이다. 주목하라. 지금까지의 하나님의 인내는 우리를 회개로 이끌어야 한다. 계속 그를 자극하면서 인내가 계속될 것이라고 방심해서는 안 된다.
다섯째, 이방 사람들이 하나님의 말씀의 지도와 교정을 받지 못했던 시절에도, 하나님의 행하심으로 더 잘 알 수 있었고 또 알았어야 했다는 것이다(행 14:17). 그들에게 율법과 말씀이 없었다 하더라도 하나님은 자신을 증언 없이 두지 않으셨다. 그들 안의 자연 양심의 증거 외에도, 주변의 일반 섭리의 선하심이 하나님을 증거하였다. 이방 사람들에게 율법이 없었다는 것은 어느 정도 그들의 우상 숭배를 변명해 주어, 하나님이 유대 민족에게 하신 것처럼 그것으로 인해 그들을 멸망시키지 않으셨다. 그러나 그것이 그들을 완전히 변명해 주지는 않는다. 하나님에 대한 다른 증인들이 있었으며, 그것들은 하나님만이 예배받으셔야 한다는 것, 그리고 모든 위로의 근원이신 그에게 모든 섬김을 드려야 한다는 것을 알리기에 충분하였다.
1. 일반 섭리의 선하심이 하나님이 계시다는 것을 증거한다. 비와 결실의 철은 우연히 올 수 없고, 이교의 신들 중 누구도 비를 줄 수 없다(렘 14:22). 자연의 모든 능력은 그것이 유래하고 그것이 의존하는 자연의 하나님 안에 있는 주권적 능력을 증거한다. 하늘이 비를 주는 것이 아니라, 하나님이 하늘에서 비를 주시는 것이다. 그는 비의 아버지이시다(욥 38:28).
2. 이 선하심으로 우리가 받는 유익이, 봉사하게 된 피조물이 아니라 그것들을 봉사하게 하신 창조주께 감사를 드려야 한다는 것을 증거한다. 하나님은 선을 행하심으로 자신을 증언 없이 두지 않으셨다. 하나님은 자신의 위대하심의 증거보다 우리를 향한 선하심의 증거가 우리의 경배와 흠모를 받으실 자격에 대한 더 강력하고 설득력 있는 증거라고 여기시는 것 같다. 땅이 그의 선하심으로 가득하다. 그의 긍휼이 모든 그의 작품 위에 있다. 그는 하늘에서 비를 주시고 결실의 철을 주셔서 우리의 마음을 양식과 기쁨으로 채워 주셨다. (1) 그것을 준비하심에 있어서, 비를 주시고, 따라서 결실의 철을 주신다. 만약 하늘이 철과 같으면 땅은 곧 놋과 같이 될 것이다(레 26:19). (2) 그 위로를 주심에 있어서. 그는 우리의 마음을 양식과 기쁨으로 채워 주신다. 단순히 필요를 위해서가 아니라 풍요롭게, 맛있게, 다양하게. 이교의 신들을 섬기며 하나님 없이 살았던 이방 사람들도 하나님의 손으로부터 살아갔다. 그리스도는 이것을 우리 원수들에게도 선을 행해야 할 이유로 드신다(마 5:44-45). 또한 음식뿐 아니라 기쁨도 주셨다는 것에 주목하라. 삶을 유지하게 해 주실 뿐 아니라 즐겁게 살게 해 주신다. 우리는 음식뿐 아니라 기쁨에 대해서도, 곧 명랑하게 살 허락과 이유와 마음을 주신 것에 대해서도 하나님께 감사해야 한다(신 8:10; 28:47).
마지막으로, 사도들의 이 금지가 거둔 성과(행 14:18). 이런 말로도 겨우겨우 무리가 자기들에게 제사 드리는 것을 막았다. 이 우상 숭배자들이 얼마나 완고하게 우상 숭배에 매어 있었는지 알 수 있다. 사도들이 신으로 추앙받기를 거부하는 것만으로는 충분하지 않았다. 그들은 그 악함을 백성들에게 보여 주었으며, 그것도 간신히 겨우 막을 수 있었다. 여기서 이교 우상 숭배의 발생 원인을 볼 수 있다. 그것은 우리의 위로의 도구들에게, 그 근원이신 분에게 돌려야 할 감사를 돌린 것이다. 바울과 바나바가 다리 저는 사람을 고쳐 주었고, 그래서 백성들이 그들을 신으로 여기며, 그 능력을 주신 하나님께 영광을 돌리는 대신 그들을 신격화하였다. 이것은 우리가 다른 사람에게, 또는 스스로, 하나님께만 마땅한 영예를 돌리지 않도록 매우 주의해야 함을 경고해 준다.
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원주석
- 번역원본
commentary-section/mhm-act-14-8-18(Matthew Henry, PD) - CC0-1.0 · Sonnet 위탁 번역 · 성경 인용은 WEB(PD) 기반
19~28절 카드 ↗
Paul Stoned at Lystra; The Disciples Exhorted and Encouraged; Paul and Barnabas Ordain Elders. 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples. We have here a further account of the services and sufferings of Paul and Barnabas. I. How Paul was stoned and left for dead, but miraculously came to himself again, Acts 14:19 ; Acts 14:20 . They fell upon Paul rather than Barnabas, because Paul, being the chief speaker, galled and vexed them more than Barnabas did. Now observe here, 1. How the people were incensed against Paul; not by any injury they pretended he had done them (if they took it for an affront that he would not let them misplace divine honours upon him, when they considered themselves they would easily forgive him that wrong), but there came certain Jews from Antioch, hearing, it is likely, and vexed to hear, what respect was shown to Paul and Barnabas at Lystra; and they incensed the people against them, as factious, seditious, dangerous persons, not fit to be harboured. See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ; they could not bear that it should have footing any where. 2. To what degree they were incensed by these barbarous Jews: they were irritated to such a degree that the mob rose and stoned Paul, not by a judicial sentence, but in a popular tumult; they threw stones at him, with which they knocked him down, and then drew him out of the city, as one not fit to live in it, or drew him out upon a sledge or in a cart, to bury him, supposing he had been dead. So strong is the bias of the corrupt and carnal heart to that which is evil, even in contrary extremes, that, as it is with great difficulty that men are restrained from evil on one side, so it is with great ease that they are persuaded to evil on the other side. See how fickle and mutable the minds of carnal worldly people are, that do not know and consider things. Those that but the other day would have treated the apostles as more than men now treat them as worse than brutes, as the worst of men, as the worst of male-factors. To-day Hosanna, to-morrow Crucify; to-day sacrificed to, to-morrow sacrificed. We have an instance of a change the other way, Acts 28:1-16 ; Acts 28:1-16 . This man is a murderer, Acts 14:4 ; Acts 14:4 ; no doubt he is a god, Acts 14:6 ; Acts 14:6 . Popular breath turns like the wind. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been enthroned, nay, he might have been enshrined; but, if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus those who easily submit to strong delusions hate to receive the truth in the love of it. 3. How he was delivered by the power of God: When he was drawn out of the city, the disciples stood round about him, Acts 14:20 ; Acts 14:20 . It seems there were some here at Lystra that became disciples, that found the mean between deifying the apostles and rejecting them; and even these new converts had courage to own Paul when he was thus run down, though they had reason enough to fear that the same that stoned him would stone them for owning him. They stood round about him, as a guard to him against the further outrage of the people--stood about him to see whether he were alive or dead; and all of a sudden he rose up. Though he was not dead, yet he was ill crushed and bruised, no doubt, and fainted away; he was in a deliquium, so that it was not without a miracle that he came so soon to himself, and was so well as to be able to go into the city. Note, God's faithful servants, though they may be brought within a step of death, and may be looked upon as dead both by friends and enemies, shall not die as long as he has work for them to do. They are cast down, but not destroyed, 2 Corinthians 4:9 . II. How they went on with their work, notwithstanding the opposition they met with. All the stones they threw at Paul could not beat him off from his work: They drew him out of the city ( Acts 14:19 ; Acts 14:19 ), but, as one that set them at defiance, he came into the city again, to show that he did not fear them; none even of these things move him. However, their being persecuted here is a known indication to them to seek for opportunities of usefulness elsewhere, and therefore for the present they quit Lystra. 1. They went to break up and sow fresh ground at Derbe. Thither the next day Paul and Barnabas departed, a city not far off; there they preached the gospel, there they taught many, Acts 14:21 ; Acts 14:21 . And it should seem that Timothy was of that city, and was one of the disciples that now attended Paul, had met him at Antioch and accompanied him in all this circuit; for, with reference to this story, Paul tells him how fully he had known the afflictions he endured at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, 2 Timothy 3:10 ; 2 Timothy 3:11 . Nothing is recorded that happened at Derbe. 2. They returned, and went over their work again, watering what they had sown; and, having staid as long as they thought fit at Derbe, they came back to Lystra, to Iconium, and Antioch, the cities where they had preached, Acts 14:21 ; Acts 14:21 . Now, as we have had a very instructive account of the methods they took in laying the foundation, and beginning the good work, so here we have the like of their building upon that foundation, and carrying on that good work. Let us see what they did, (1.) They confirmed the souls of the disciples; that is, they inculcated that upon them which was proper to confirm them, Acts 14:22 ; Acts 14:22 . Young converts are apt to waver, and a little thing shocks them. Their old acquaintances beg they will not leave them. Those that they look upon to be wiser than themselves set before them the absurdity, indecency, and danger, of a change. They were allured, by the prospect of preferment, to stick to the traditions of their fathers; they are frightened with the danger of swimming against the stream. All this tempts them to think of making a retreat in time; but the apostles come and tell them that this is the true grace of God wherein they stand, and therefore they must stand to it that there is no danger like that of losing their part in Christ, no advantage like that of keeping their hold of him; that, whatever their trials may be, they shall have strength from Christ to pass through them; and, whatever their losses may be, they shall be abundantly recompensed. And this confirms the souls of the disciples; it fortifies their pious resolutions, in the strength of Christ, to adhere to Christ whatever it may cost them. Note, [1.] Those that are converted need to be confirmed; those that are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. Non minor est virtus quam quoerere parta tueri--To retain is sometimes as difficult as to acquire. Those that were instructed in the truth must know the certainty of the things in which they have been instructed; and those that are resolved must be fixed in their resolutions. [2.] True confirmation is confirmation of the soul; it is not binding the body by severe penalties on apostates, but binding the soul. The best ministers can do this only by pressing those things which are proper to bind the soul; it is the grace of God, and nothing less, that can effectually confirm the souls of the disciples, and prevent their apostasy. (2.) They exhorted them to continue in the faith; or, as it may be read, they encouraged them. They told them it was both their duty and interest to persevere; to abide in the belief of Christ's being the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. Note, Those that are in the faith are concerned to continue in the faith, notwithstanding all the temptations they may be under to desert it, from the smiles or frowns of this world. And it is requisite that they should often be exhorted to do so. Those that are continually surrounded with temptations to apostasy have need to be continually attended with pressing exhortations to perseverance. (3.) That which they insisted most upon was that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Not only they must, but we must; it must be counted upon that all who will go to heaven must expect tribulation and persecution in their way thither. But is this the way to confirm the souls of the disciples, and to engage them to continue in the faith? One would think it would rather shock them, and make them weary. No, as the matter is fairly stated and taken entire, it will help to confirm them, and fix them for Christ. It is true they will meet with tribulation, with much tribulation; that is the worst of it: but then, [1.] It is so appointed. They must undergo it, there is no remedy, the matter is already fixed, and cannot be altered. He that has the sovereign disposal of us has determined it to be our lot that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus should suffer persecution; and he that has the sovereign command over us has determined this to be our duty, that all that will be Christ's disciples must take up their cross. When we gave up our names to Jesus Christ it was what we agreed to; when we sat down and counted the cost, if we reckoned aright, it was what we counted upon; so that if tribulation and persecution arise because of the word it is but what we had notice of before, it must be so: he performeth the thing that is appointed for us. The matter is fixed unalterably; and shall the rock be for us removed out of its place? [2.] It is the lot of the leaders in Christ's army, as well as of the soldiers. It is not only you, but we, that (if it be thought a hardship) are subject to it; therefore, as your own sufferings must not be a stumbling-block to you, so neither must ours; see 1 Thessalonians 3:3 . Let none be moved by our afflictions, for you yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. As Christ did not put the apostles upon any harder service than what he underwent before them, so neither did the apostles put the ordinary Christians. [3.] It is true we must count upon much tribulation, but this is encouraging, that we shall get through it; we shall not be lost and perish in it. It is a Red Sea, but the Lord has opened a way through it, for the redeemed of the Lord to pass over. We must go down to trouble, but we shall come up again. [4.] We shall not only get through it, but get through it into the kingdom of God; and the joy and glory of the end will make abundant amends for all the difficulties and hardships we may meet with in the way. It is true we must go by the cross, but it is as true that if we keep in the way, and do not turn aside nor turn back, we shall go to the crown, and the believing prospect of this will make the tribulation easy and pleasant. (4.) They ordained them elders, or presbyters, in every church. Now at this second visit they settled them in some order, formed them into religious societies under the guidance of a settled ministry, and settled that distinction between those that are taught in the word and those that teach. [1.] Every church had its governors or presidents, whose office it was to pray with the members of the church, and to preach to them in their solemn assemblies, to administer all gospel ordinances to them, and to take the oversight of them, to instruct the ignorant, warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, and convince gainsayers. It is requisite that every particular church should have one or more such to preside in it. [2.] Those governors were then elders, that had in their qualification the wisdom and gravity of seniors, and had in their commission the authority and command of seniors: not to make new laws (this is the prerogative of the Prince, the great Lawgiver; the government of the church is an absolute monarchy, and the legislative power entirely in Christ), but to see to the observance and execution of the laws Christ has made; and so far they are to be obeyed and submitted to. [3.] These elders were ordained. The qualifications of such as were proposed or proposed themselves (whether the apostles or the people put them up) were judged of by the apostles, as most fit to judge; and they, having devoted themselves, were solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry, and bound to it. [4.] These elders were ordained to them, to the disciples, to their service, for their good. Those that are in the faith have need to be built up in it, and have need of the elders' help therein--the pastors and teachers, who are to edify the body of Christ. (5.) By prayer joined with fasting they commended them to the Lord, to the Lord Jesus, on whom they believed. Note, [1.] Even when persons are brought to believe, and that sincerely, yet ministers' care concerning them is not over; there is need of watching over them still, instructing and admonishing them still; there is still that lacking in their faith which needs to be perfected. [2.] The ministers that take most care of those that believe must after all commend them to the Lord, and put them under the protection and guidance of his grace: Lord, keep them through thine own name. To his custody they must commit themselves, and their ministers must commit them. [3.] It is by prayer that they must be commended to the Lord. Christ, in his prayer ( John 17:1-26 ), commended his disciples to his Father: Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me. Father, keep them. [4.] It is a great encouragement to us, in commending the disciples to the Lord, that we can say, "It is he in whom they believed; we commit to him those who have committed themselves to him, and who know they have believed in one who is able to keep what they and we have committed to him against that day," 2 Timothy 1:12 . [5.] It is good to join fasting with prayer, in token of our humiliation for sin, and in order to add vigour to our prayers. [6.] When we are parting with our friends, the best farewell is to commend them to the Lord, and to leave them with him. 3. They went on preaching the gospel in other places where they had been, but, as it should seem had not made so many converts as that now at their return they could form them into churches; therefore thither they came to pursue and carry on conversion-work. From Antioch they passed through Pisidia, the province in which that Antioch stood; thence they came into the province of Pamphylia, the head-city of which was Perga, where they had been before ( Acts 13:13 ; Acts 13:13 ), and came thither again to preach the word ( Acts 14:25 ; Acts 14:25 ), making a second offer, to see if they were now better disposed than they were before to receive the gospel. What success they had there we are not told, but that thence they went down to Attalia, a city of Pamphylia, on the sea-coast. They staid not long at a place, but wherever they came endeavoured to lay a foundation which might afterwards be built upon, and to sow the seeds which would in time produce a great increase. Now Christ's parables were explained, in which he compared the kingdom of heaven to a little leaven, which in time leavened the whole lump--to a grain of mustard-seed, which, though very inconsiderable at first, grew to a great tree--and to the seed which a man sowed in his ground, and it sprung up he knew not how. III. How they at length came back to Antioch in Syria, whence they had been sent forth upon this expedition. From Attalia they came by sea to Antioch, Acts 14:26 ; Acts 14:26 . And we are here told, 1. Why they came thither: because thence they had been recommended to the grace of God, and such a value did they put upon a solemn recommendation to the grace of God, though they had themselves a great interest in heaven, that they never thought they could show respect enough to those who had so recommended them. The brethren having recommended them to the grace of God, for the work which they fulfilled, now that they had fulfilled it they thought they owed them an account of it, that they might help them by their praises, as they had been helped by their prayers. 2. What account they gave them of their negociation ( Acts 14:27 ; Acts 14:27 ): They gathered the church together. It is probable that there were more Christians at Antioch than ordinarily met, or could meet, in one place, but on this occasion they called together the leading men of them; as the heads of the tribes are often called the congregation of Israel, so the ministers and principal members of the church at Antioch are called the church. Or perhaps as many of the people as the place would hold came together on this occasion. Or some met at one time, or in one place, and others at another. But when they had called them together, they gave them an account of two things-- (1.) Of the tokens they had had of the divine presence with them in their labours: They rehearsed all that God had done with them. They did not tell what they had done (this would have savoured of vain-glory), but what God had done with them and by them. Note, The praise of all the little good we do at any time must be ascribed to God; for it is he that not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but then worketh with us to make what we do successful. God's grace can do any thing without ministers' preaching; but ministers' preaching, even Paul's, can do nothing without God's grace; and the operations of that grace must be acknowledged in the efficacy of the word. (2.) Of the fruit of their labours among the heathen. They told how God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles; had not only ordered them to be invited to the gospel feast, but had inclined the hearts of many of them to accept the invitation. Note, [1.] There is no entering into the kingdom of Christ but by the door of faith; we must firmly believe in Christ, or we have no part in him. [2.] It is God that opens the door of faith, that opens to us the truths we are to believe, opens our hearts to receive them, and makes this a wide door, and an effectual, into the church of Christ. [3.] We have reason to be thankful that God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, has both sent them his gospel, which is made known to all nations for the obedience of faith ( Romans 16:26 ), and has also given them hearts to entertain the gospel. Thus the gospel was spread, and it shone more and more, and none was able to shut this door which God had opened; not all the powers of hell and earth. 3. How they disposed of themselves for the present: There they abode a long time with the disciples ( Acts 14:28 ; Acts 14:28 ), longer than perhaps at first they intended, not because they feared their enemies, but because they loved their friends, and were loth to part from them. return to ' Top of Page ' Acts Act 13 Acts Act Acts Act 15 Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website. Bibliographical Information Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on Acts 14". 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Corinthians",url:"1-corinthians",abbr:"1Co",sl:"1co",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]},{num:46,name:"2 Corinthians",url:"2-corinthians",abbr:"2Co",sl:"2co",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]},{num:47,name:"Galatians",url:"galatians",abbr:"Gal",sl:"ga",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6]},{num:48,name:"Ephesians",url:"ephesians",abbr:"Eph",sl:"eph",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6]},{num:49,name:"Philippians",url:"philippians",abbr:"Phi",sl:"php",ch:[1,2,3,4]},{num:50,name:"Colossians",url:"colossians",abbr:"Col",sl:"col",ch:[1,2,3,4]},{num:51,name:"1 Thessalonians",url:"1-thessalonians",abbr:"1Th",sl:"1th",ch:[1,2,3,4,5]},{num:52,name:"2 Thessalonians",url:"2-thessalonians",abbr:"2Th",sl:"2th",ch:[1,2,3]},{num:53,name:"1 Timothy",url:"1-timothy",abbr:"1Ti",sl:"1ti",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6]},{num:54,name:"2 Timothy",url:"2-timothy",abbr:"2Ti",sl:"2ti",ch:[1,2,3,4]},{num:55,name:"Titus",url:"titus",abbr:"Tit",sl:"tit",ch:[1,2,3]},{num:56,name:"Philemon",url:"philemon",abbr:"Phm",sl:"phm",ch:[1]},{num:57,name:"Hebrews",url:"hebrews",abbr:"Heb",sl:"heb",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]},{num:58,name:"James",url:"james",abbr:"Jas",sl:"jas",ch:[1,2,3,4,5]},{num:59,name:"1 Peter",url:"1-peter",abbr:"1Pe",sl:"1pe",ch:[1,2,3,4,5]},{num:60,name:"2 Peter",url:"2-peter",abbr:"2Pe",sl:"2pe",ch:[1,2,3]},{num:61,name:"1 John",url:"1-john",abbr:"1Jn",sl:"1jo",ch:[1,2,3,4,5]},{num:62,name:"2 John",url:"2-john",abbr:"2Jn",sl:"2jo",ch:[1]},{num:63,name:"3 John",url:"3-john",abbr:"3Jn",sl:"3jo",ch:[1]},{num:64,name:"Jude",url:"jude",abbr:"Jud",sl:"jude",ch:[1]},{num:65,name:"Revelation",url:"revelation",abbr:"Rev",sl:"re",ch:[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22]}]; var 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0);}else{takesVerse=(parseInt(verse,10)>0);}if(takesVerse){translationSelector_menu('verse');}else{_ts_sendThemBack('reference-noverse');}}});}if(mode==='verse'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-chapter',data:{number:o},html:o,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();verse=parseInt(this.getAttribute('data-number'),10);_ts_sendThemBack('reference-verse');}});}if(mode==='language'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-languages',data:{'trans-lang':items[o].abbr},html:items[o].name,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();translang=this.getAttribute('data-trans-lang');translationSelector_menu('translation');}});}if(mode==='translation'){return _ts_el('div',{cls:'popupDiv-item clickable selector-translation',data:{'trans-abbr':items[o].trans},html:items[o].name,click:function(){_ts_removeOverlay();transabbr=this.getAttribute('data-trans-abbr');_ts_sendThemBack('translation');}});}} function _ts_sendThemBack(reason){var 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Pericope (part_of)
- part_of
pericope/per-act-14-003
절 (explains)
bible-text/act-14-19, bible-text/act-14-20, bible-text/act-14-21, bible-text/act-14-22, bible-text/act-14-23, bible-text/act-14-24, bible-text/act-14-25, bible-text/act-14-26, bible-text/act-14-27, bible-text/act-14-28
Source
source-manifest/mhm— Matthew Henry Complete Commentary (PD)- evidence_grade: T_theological
> 그런데 안디옥과 이고니온에서 유대 사람들이 그곳으로 와서 무리를 설득하더니, 바울을 돌로 친 뒤 죽은 줄로 여기고 성 밖으로 끌어내었다. 그러나 제자들이 그를 둘러섰을 때, 그가 일어나 성 안으로 들어갔다. 이튿날 그는 바나바와 함께 더베로 떠났다. 그 성읍에서도 복음을 전하여 많은 사람을 제자로 삼은 뒤, 그들은 루스드라와 이고니온과 안디옥으로 돌아가서, 제자들의 마음을 굳건히 하고 믿음에 머물러 있으라고 권면하며 "우리가 하나님 나라에 들어가려면 반드시 많은 환난을 겪어야 한다"고 했다. 또 각 교회에서 그들을 위해 장로를 세우고, 금식하며 기도한 뒤, 그들이 믿어 온 주께 그들을 맡겼다. 두 사도는 비시디아를 지나 밤빌리아에 이르렀고, 버가에서 말씀을 전한 뒤 앗달리아로 내려갔다. 거기서 배를 타고 안디옥으로 갔는데, 그곳은 그들이 이루어 낸 그 일을 위하여 하나님의 은혜에 맡겨졌던 곳이었다. 그들은 도착하여 교회를 한자리에 모으고, 하나님께서 자기들과 함께 행하신 모든 일과 이방 사람들에게 믿음의 문을 열어 주신 것을 보고했다. 그리고 그들은 제자들과 함께 그곳에 오래 머물렀다. (행 14:19-28)
여기서 우리는 바울과 바나바의 섬김과 고난에 대한 이야기를 더 살펴본다.
**I. 바울이 돌에 맞아 죽은 줄로 여겨졌다가 기적적으로 되살아난 일(행 14:19-20).** 바울이 주로 말하는 사람이었으므로 그들은 바나바보다 바울을 더 공격하였다. 주목하라.
1. 백성들이 바울에게 분노하게 된 경위. 안디옥과 이고니온에서 유대 사람들이 왔는데, 아마도 루스드라에서 바울과 바나바에게 보내지는 경의를 듣고 분노했을 것이다. 그들은 바울과 바나바를 분파를 일으키고 위험한 자들로 몰아 백성들을 자극하였다. 유대 사람들의 그리스도 복음에 대한 분노가 얼마나 끈질겼는지 보라. 그들은 복음이 어디서도 발을 붙이는 것을 참을 수 없었다.
2. 그들이 얼마나 격노했는지. 폭도들이 일어나 바울을 돌로 쳤다. 사법 판결에 의해서가 아니라 군중 폭력으로. 그들은 그를 쓰러뜨린 뒤 죽은 줄로 여기고 성 밖으로 끌어냈다. 타락하고 세상적인 마음이 악한 극단을 향해 얼마나 강하게 기울어 있는지 보라. 어제는 신으로 받들려 했고 오늘은 극악인으로 취급받았다. 오늘은 호산나, 내일은 십자가에 못 박으라. 오늘은 제사를 받고 내일은 돌에 맞는다. 군중의 입김은 바람처럼 방향이 바뀐다.
3. 하나님의 능력으로 구출된 일(행 14:20). 제자들이 그 주위에 둘러섰을 때, 그가 일어났다. 루스드라에도 제자들이 생긴 것 같다. 이 새로 회심한 자들은 이처럼 쓰러진 바울을 공공연히 인정할 용기를 가졌다. 그들은 그를 둘러서서 호위하며, 그가 살아 있는지 죽었는지 확인하려 하였다. 그런데 갑자기 그가 일어났다. 몹시 짓눌리고 멍들고 기절해 있었으니, 그처럼 빨리 일어나 성 안으로 걸어 들어갈 수 있었던 것은 기적이 아니고서는 설명이 안 된다. 주목하라. 하나님의 신실한 종들은 죽음의 문턱까지 갔다가 이미 죽은 것으로 여겨질 수 있지만, 하나님이 그들에게 할 일이 남아 있는 한 죽지 않는다. 그들이 쓰러뜨려져도 멸망하지는 않는다(고후 4:9).
**II. 반대에도 불구하고 사역을 계속 이어 나간 일.** 그들이 바울에게 던진 모든 돌이 그를 사역에서 떠나게 할 수 없었다. 그들은 그를 성 밖으로 끌어냈지만(행 14:19), 바울은 그들을 비웃기라도 하듯 다시 성 안으로 들어갔다. 그 어느 것도 그를 움직이지 못했다. 그러나 이곳에서의 박해는 다른 곳에서 사역할 기회를 찾으라는 알려진 신호이기에, 두 사도는 잠시 루스드라를 떠났다.
1. 더베에서 새 밭을 개척하였다. 바울과 바나바는 이튿날 그리 멀지 않은 더베로 떠났다. 거기서 복음을 전하고 많은 사람을 가르쳐 제자 삼았다(행 14:21). 디모데가 그 성읍 출신으로, 이때부터 바울을 따라 이 모든 순회 여정에 동행했을 것이라고 생각된다. 바울이 안디옥, 이고니온, 루스드라에서 자기가 겪은 환난을 디모데가 잘 알고 있다고 한 것이 이를 뒷받침한다(딤후 3:10-11). 더베에서 일어난 일은 별도로 기록되어 있지 않다.
2. 돌아가서 뿌린 씨에 물을 주었다. 더베에서 충분히 머문 후, 그들은 자기들이 복음을 전했던 성읍들인 루스드라, 이고니온, 안디옥으로 돌아왔다(행 14:21). 기초를 놓고 선한 사역을 시작하는 방법에 대한 매우 교훈적인 이야기를 이미 살펴보았다. 이제 그 기초 위에 세우고 그 선한 사역을 계속해 나가는 방법에 대해서도 살펴본다. 그들이 한 일을 보자.
(1) 그들은 제자들의 마음을 굳건히 했다(행 14:22). 그들에게 마음을 굳건히 하기에 적합한 것들을 반복해서 가르쳤다. 젊은 회심자들은 흔들리기 쉽고 작은 일에도 충격을 받는다. 옛 친구들은 그들에게 떠나지 말라고 애원한다. 자기들보다 더 지혜롭다고 생각하는 사람들이 변화의 어리석음과 위험성을 늘어놓는다. 그들은 조상 전통에 집착하도록 유혹을 받고, 흐름을 거슬러 헤엄치는 위험으로 겁을 먹는다. 이 모든 것이 제때 물러나야겠다는 생각을 갖게 한다. 그러나 사도들이 와서 이것이 그들이 서 있는 하나님의 참된 은혜임을 이야기해 준다. 주목하라. [1] 회심한 자들은 굳건히 되어야 한다. 심겨진 자들은 뿌리를 내려야 한다. 사역자들의 일은 죄인들을 깨우는 것뿐 아니라 성도들을 세우는 것이기도 하다. [2] 진정한 굳건함은 영혼의 굳건함이다. 배교자들에게 가혹한 형벌로 몸을 속박하는 것이 아니라 영혼을 속박하는 것이다. 하나님의 은혜만이 제자들의 영혼을 굳건히 하고 배교를 막을 수 있다.
(2) 그들은 믿음에 머물러 있으라고 권면하였다. 그리스도가 하나님의 아들이시요 세상의 구주이심에 대한 믿음 가운데 굳건히 서 있으라. 믿음 안에 있는 자들은 이 세상의 웃음이나 위협에도 불구하고 계속 믿음 가운데 머물러야 한다. 그리고 이를 위해 자주 권면받을 필요가 있다.
(3) 그들이 가장 강조한 것은 "우리가 하나님 나라에 들어가려면 반드시 많은 환난을 겪어야 한다"는 것이었다. 그들만이 아니라 우리 모두가 그러하다. 하늘에 가려는 모든 자는 가는 길에 환난과 핍박을 각오해야 한다. 이것이 제자들의 마음을 굳건히 하고 믿음에 머물게 하는 방법으로 보이는가? 오히려 그들을 놀라게 하고 지치게 만드는 것 같다. 아니다. 이것이 올바르게 제시될 때, 그들을 그리스도를 위해 굳건히 세우고 고정시키는 데 도움이 된다.
[1] 환난을 겪는 것이 정해진 일이다. 어쩔 수 없다. 그리스도 안에서 경건하게 살고자 하는 모든 자는 핍박을 받게 되어 있다는 것이 하나님의 결정이다. 그리스도의 제자들은 자기 십자가를 져야 한다는 것이 명령이다. 우리가 예수님의 이름에 등록할 때 이것은 우리가 동의한 것이다. 제대로 계산했다면 우리가 예상했던 것이다. 그러므로 말씀 때문에 환난과 핍박이 올 때 이미 미리 알고 있었던 것이다.
[2] 그것은 군대의 지휘관들이나 병사들 모두의 몫이다. "너희만"이 아니라 "우리도" 거기에 해당한다. 그러므로 너희 자신의 고난이 걸림돌이 되지 않아야 하듯이, 우리의 고난도 걸림돌이 되어서는 안 된다(살전 3:3). 그리스도께서 사도들에게 그분이 먼저 겪은 것보다 더 고된 섬김을 맡기지 않으셨듯이, 사도들도 일반 그리스도인들에게 자기들보다 더 고된 것을 맡기지 않았다.
[3] 많은 환난을 겪을 것이지만, 우리가 그것을 통과하리라는 격려가 있다. 우리는 그 안에서 잃거나 망하지 않을 것이다. 홍해지만 주님이 구속받은 자들이 건널 수 있는 길을 여셨다. 고난 가운데 내려가지만 다시 올라올 것이다.
[4] 환난을 통과할 뿐 아니라 하나님 나라로 들어갈 것이다. 끝의 기쁨과 영광이 길에서 만나는 온갖 어려움과 고된 일을 충분히 보상해 줄 것이다. 십자가를 지나가야 하지만, 길을 벗어나지 않고 뒤로 돌아서지 않는다면 면류관에 이를 것이다. 이것을 믿음으로 바라보는 것이 환난을 쉽고 즐겁게 만들어 줄 것이다.
(4) 그들은 각 교회에서 장로들을 세웠다. 두 번째 방문에서 이제 어느 정도 질서를 세우고 정착된 사역자의 인도 아래 종교적 공동체를 조직하였다. [1] 모든 교회에는 지도자가 있어야 한다. 그 직무는 교회 구성원들과 함께 기도하고 공동 모임에서 말씀을 전하며, 모든 복음 의식을 집행하고, 무지한 자를 가르치고 패역한 자를 경계하며 연약한 자를 위로하고 반박하는 자들을 설득하는 것이다. [2] 그 지도자들은 장로들이었다. 어른의 지혜와 무게, 어른의 권위와 지도력을 가진 자들이다. [3] 이 장로들은 임명받았다. 자격을 갖춘 자들을 사도들이 심사하였고, 헌신한 자들은 공식적으로 사역에 구별되었다. [4] 이 장로들은 제자들을 위해, 제자들을 섬기기 위해, 그들의 유익을 위해 세워졌다. 믿음 가운데 있는 자들은 그 안에서 세워져야 하며 장로들의 도움이 필요하다.
(5) 금식과 함께한 기도로 그들을 주께 맡겼다. 주 예수님께, 그들이 믿어 온 그분께. 주목하라. [1] 사람들이 진심으로 믿게 된 후에도 사역자들의 걱정이 끝나지 않는다. 여전히 그들을 돌보고 가르치고 권면할 필요가 있다. 여전히 그들의 믿음에 부족한 것이 있어 완전히 해야 한다. [2] 믿는 자들을 가장 잘 돌보는 사역자들도 결국 그들을 주께 맡겨야 한다. 주님 안에서 그들이 보호받고 인도받기를 구해야 한다. [3] 기도로써 그들을 주께 맡겨야 한다. 그리스도는 자신의 기도에서 제자들을 아버지께 맡기셨다(요 17장). [4] 주께서 그들을 믿어 온 분임을 기억하며 맡길 수 있다는 것이 큰 격려가 된다(딤후 1:12). [5] 금식을 기도와 함께하는 것이 좋다. 죄에 대한 겸손의 표시로, 기도에 열심을 더하기 위해서. [6] 친구들과 헤어질 때, 최선의 작별은 그들을 주께 맡기며 그들을 그분과 함께 두는 것이다.
3. 그들은 이전에 방문했지만 충분히 결실을 거두지 못한 다른 성읍들에서도 복음을 전하였다. 그리하여 더 많은 회심자를 얻어 교회를 세울 수 있었다. 안디옥에서 비시디아 지방을 지나 밤빌리아 주로 들어갔다. 그 주의 중심 도시인 버가(행 13:13에서 이전에 방문한 곳)에 다시 와서 말씀을 전했다(행 14:25). 두 번째 제안을 하여 이전보다 복음을 더 잘 받아들일 준비가 되었는지 살폈다. 어떤 결과가 있었는지는 알려져 있지 않지만, 거기서 밤빌리아 해안 도시 앗달리아로 내려갔다. 두 사도는 한 곳에 오래 머물지 않았지만, 어디를 가든 이후에 세워질 수 있는 기초를 놓으려 하였다. 이제 그리스도의 비유들이 설명되었다. 하나님 나라를 아주 작은 누룩으로 비유하셨는데 시간이 지나면 온 반죽을 부풀리고, 아주 작은 겨자씨로 비유하셨는데 자라면 큰 나무가 된다.
**III. 그들이 파송된 시리아 안디옥으로 돌아온 일(행 14:26-28).**
1. 그들이 거기로 간 이유. 거기서 그들이 하나님의 은혜에 맡겨졌기 때문이었다(행 14:26). 두 사도는 공식적인 하나님의 은혜에 맡겨지는 일을 그만큼 소중히 여겨, 자기 스스로 하늘에 큰 영향력을 가지고 있더라도 그렇게 자기들을 맡겨 준 사람들에게 충분한 경의를 표하지 않을 수 없었다. 형제들이 그들을 하나님의 은혜에 맡기며 수행하도록 위탁한 사역을 이제 마쳤으므로, 그들은 그 사역을 보고해야 한다는 것을 알았다. 그리하여 형제들이 기도로 도움을 주었듯이, 이제 찬양으로도 도움을 줄 수 있게 하려 하였다.
2. 그들이 교회에 보고한 내용(행 14:27). 그들은 교회를 한자리에 모았다. 아마도 안디옥에는 한 장소에 모두 모이기 어려울 정도로 많은 그리스도인이 있었을 것이다. 그들은 두 가지를 보고하였다.
(1) 그들의 수고 중에 하나님이 함께하셨다는 증표들. 그들은 자기들이 행한 것을 말하지 않고(이는 허영으로 여겨졌을 것이다), 하나님이 자기들과 함께 행하신 것을 말하였다. 주목하라. 우리가 어떤 때에 행하는 작은 선의 찬양도 하나님께 돌려야 한다. 하나님의 은혜는 사역자들의 설교 없이도 무엇이든 할 수 있다. 그러나 심지어 바울의 설교도 하나님의 은혜 없이는 아무것도 할 수 없다. 그 은혜의 역사가 말씀의 효과 가운데 인정받아야 한다.
(2) 이방 사람들 가운데 사역의 열매. 하나님이 이방 사람들에게 믿음의 문을 열어 주셨다고 보고하였다. 복음 잔치에 초대받도록 했을 뿐 아니라 많은 사람의 마음을 초대를 받아들이도록 기울이셨다. 주목하라. [1] 그리스도의 나라에 들어가는 문은 믿음의 문밖에 없다. 그리스도를 굳건히 믿어야 한다. [2] 하나님이 믿음의 문을 여신다. 우리가 믿어야 할 진리들을 열어 주시고, 우리의 마음이 그것들을 받아들이도록 열어 주신다. [3] 하나님이 이방 사람들에게 믿음의 문을 열어 주신 것에 감사해야 한다. 그리하여 복음이 모든 민족에게 순종의 믿음을 위해 알려졌다(롬 16:26). 하나님이 여신 이 문을 지옥과 땅의 모든 권세도 닫을 수 없었다.
3. 두 사도가 잠시 자신들을 처리한 방식. 그들은 제자들과 함께 오래 거기 머물렀다(행 14:28). 원수들이 두려워서가 아니라 친구들을 사랑하여 그들과 헤어지기 싫었기 때문이었다.
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