Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

People's New Testament

14:14 Which when the apostles. The term apostles is used in Ac 14:4. It is applied in the New Testament a number of times to persons not of the twelve, but apostolic men (see 2Co 8:23, where the Greek term apostolos is translated messenger ). Paul was an apostle, chosen by the Lord (Ro 1:1), and Barnabas was an apostolic missionary, sent out ( apostle means one sent ) by the Holy Spirit.

They rent their clothes. A sign of great grief, and even of indignation and horror. See Ge 37:29 Mt 26:65.

Wesley's Notes

14:14 They sprang in among the people, crying out - As in a fire, or other sudden and great danger.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14-18. when . Barnabas and Paul heard-Barnabas is put first here, apparently as having been styled the "Jupiter" of the company.

they rent their clothes and ran in-rather (according to the true reading), "ran forth."

among the people, crying out . Sirs, why do ye these things?-This was something more than that abhorrence of idolatry which took possession of the Jews as a nation from the time of the Babylonish captivity: it was that delicate sensibility to everything which affects the honor of God which Christianity, giving us in God a reconciled Father, alone can produce; making the Christian instinctively feel himself to be wounded in all dishonor done to God, and filling him with mingled horror and grief when such gross insults as this are offered to him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:8-18 All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, that most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinful habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and walk cheerfully in the ways of the Lord. When Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of men, and did many miracles, men were so far from doing sacrifice to him, that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice; but Paul and Barnabas, upon their working one miracle, were treated as gods. The same power of the god of this world, which closes the carnal mind against truth, makes errors and mistakes find easy admission. We do not learn that they rent their clothes when the people spake of stoning them; but when they spake of worshipping them; they could not bear it, being more concerned for God's honour than their own. God's truth needs not the services of man's falsehood. The servants of God might easily obtain undue honours if they would wink at men's errors and vices; but they must dread and detest such respect more than any reproach. When the apostles preached to the Jews, who hated idolatry, they had only to preach the grace of God in Christ; but when they had to do with the Gentiles, they must set right their mistakes in natural religion. Compare their conduct and declaration with the false opinions of those who think the worship of a God, under any name, or in any manner, is equally acceptable to the Lord Almighty. The most powerful arguments, the most earnest and affectionate addresses, even with miracles, are scarcely enough to keep men from absurdities and abominations; much less can they, without special grace, turn the hearts of sinners to God and to holiness.