And saying, Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them:
Read Chapter 14
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Suffered all nations to walk in their own way. Literally, dismissed all nations, suffering them to run on in their idolatry, and other sins, not favouring them with a written law, as he did the Jews (Witham)
Ods because of the astonishing deed, he said to them: "We are men like unto you, preaching to you God, that ye may be turned away from these vain idols to
We are men indeed, they say, but greater than these: for these are dead things. Mark how they not only subvert (the false), but teach (the true), saying nothing about things invisible— Who made, say they, heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. Who in times past, etc.
Which when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.
Mark the vehemence with which all this is done by the Apostles: rent their clothes, ran in, cried out, all from strong affection of the soul, revolted by the things that were done. For it was a grief, indeed a grief inconsolable, that they should needs be thought gods, and introduce idolatry, the very thing which they came to destroy! This also was a contrivance of the devil— but he did not prevail. But what say they? We also are men of like passions with you. At the very outset they overthrew the evil. They said not simply, Men, but As ye. Then, that they may not seem to honor the gods, hear what they add: Preaching unto you, ...
See how on all occasions they are clean from the lust of glory, not only not coveting, but even repudiating it when offered: just as Peter also said, Why gaze ye on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made him to walk Acts 3:12? So these also say the same. And Joseph also said of the dreams, Is not their interpretation of God? Genesis 60:8 And Daniel in like manner, And to me also, not through the wisdom that is in me was it revealed. Daniel 2:30 And Paul everywhere says this, as when he says, And for these things who is sufficient? Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think (anything) as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Corinthians 2:16; 3:5 But let us look over again what has been said.
Since there is no exception which defends from liability to penalty even such as are ignorant of the Lord-because ignorance of God, openly as He is set before men, and comprehensible as He is even on the score of His heavenly benefits, is not possible
