SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:15
y diciendo: Varones, ¿por qu hacis esto? Nosotros tambin somos hombres semejantes a vosotros, que os anunciamos que de estas vanidades os convirtis al Dios vivo, que hizo el cielo y la tierra, y el mar, y todo lo que est en ellos;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 14:15
Verse 15. We also are men of like passions with you] This saying of the apostles has been most strangely perverted. A pious commentator, taking the word passion in its vulgar and most improper sense, (a bad temper, an evil propensity,) and supposing that these holy men wished to confess that they also had many sinful infirmities, and wrong tempers, endeavours to illustrate this sense of the word, by appealing to the contention of Paul and Barnabas, &c., &c. But the expression means no more than, "we are truly human beings, with the same powers and appetites as your own; need food and raiment as you do; and are all mortal like yourselves." That ye should turn from these vanities] That is, from these idols and false gods. How often false gods and idolatry are termed vanity in the Scriptures, no careful reader of the Bible needs to be told. What a bold saying was this in the presence of a heathen mob, intent on performing an act of their superstitious worship, in which they no doubt thought the safety of the state was concerned. The ancient fable related by Ovid, Metam. lib. i. ver. 211-239, to which reference has already been made, will cast some light on the conduct of the Lystrians in this case. The following is its substance:- "Jupiter, having been informed of the great degeneracy of mankind, was determined himself to survey the earth. Coming to this province, (Lycaonia,) disguised in human shape, he took up his residence at the palace of Lycaon, then king of that country: giving a sign of his godhead, the people worship him: Lycaon sneers, doubts his divinity, and is determined to put it to the trial. Some ambassadors from the Molossian state having just arrived, he slew one of them, boiled part of his flesh, and roasted the rest, and set it before Jupiter: the god, indignant at the insult, burnt the palace, and turned the impious king into a wolf." From this time, or, rather, from this fable, the whole province was called Lycaonia. The simple people now seeing such proofs of supernatural power, in the miracles wrought by Barnabas and Paul, thought that Jupiter had again visited them; and fearing lest they should meet with his indignation, should they neglect duly to honour him, they brought oxen and garlands, and would have offered them sacrifice, had they not been prevented by the apostles themselves. This circumstance will account for their whole conduct; and shows the reason why Jupiter was the tutelar god of the place. As, therefore, the people took them for gods, it was necessary for the apostles to show that they were but men; and this is the whole that is meant by the omoiopaqeiv anqrwpoi, men of like passions, fellow mortals, in the text, which has been so pitifully mistaken by some, and abused by others. The living God] Widely different from those stocks and stones, which were objects of their worship.
Which made heaven and earth] And as all things were made by his power, so all subsist by his providence; and to him alone, all worship, honour, and glory are due.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things ? etc.] That is, bring these oxen and garlands, and attempt to offer sacrifice; this they said, not as arguing with them calmly and mildly, but with a mixture of indignation, heat, and zeal, as displeased with, and detesting and abhorring what they were about to do: we also are men of like passions with you ; men, and not gods; of the same human nature, and that as corrupted, alike sinful men, and need a sacrifice better than these; frail mortal men, subject to frailty, imperfection, afflictions, troubles, diseases, and death itself; and so very improper objects of worship: and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities ; from these deities, Jupiter and Mercury, and the rest of them; which were vain, useless, and unprofitable, and could do their votaries no manner of service; and from the worshipping of them, which were so many acts of vanity, folly, and weakness, yea, of sin and wickedness: the apostles were so far from being these gods, that their business was to show men the sin and folly of adhering to them; and to persuade them to relinquish the worship of them, and turn to the living God ; who has life in himself, and is the fountain of life to others; whereas these deities were dead men, and the lifeless images of them; who neither lived themselves, nor could give life to others, or do them any service of any kind: but the living God is he, which hath made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein ; which comprehends all created beings, the whole universe, and all that is in it, angels, men, beasts, fowls, fish, and whatever exists; and therefore is only deserving of religious worship.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-18 - All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, tha most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinfu habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and wal 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 fa from doing sacrifice to him, that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice; but Paul and Barnabas, upon their working on miracle, were treated as gods. The same power of the god of this world which closes the carnal mind against truth, makes errors and mistake find easy admission. We do not learn that they rent their clothes when the people spake of stoning them; but when they spake of worshippin them; they could not bear it, being more concerned for God's honou 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 woul wink at men's errors and vices; but they must dread and detest suc 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 declaratio with the false opinions of those who think the worship of a God, unde any name, or in any manner, is equally acceptable to the Lord Almighty The most powerful arguments, the most earnest and affectionat addresses, even with miracles, are scarcely enough to keep men from absurdities and abominations; much less can they, without specia grace, turn the hearts of sinners to God and to holiness.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM ανδρες 435 N-VPM τι 5101 I-ASN ταυτα 5023 D-APN ποιειτε 4160 5719 V-PAI-2P και 2532 CONJ ημεις 2249 P-1NP ομοιοπαθεις 3663 A-NPM εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P υμιν 5213 P-2DP ανθρωποι 444 N-NPM ευαγγελιζομενοι 2097 5734 V-PMP-NPM υμας 5209 P-2AP απο 575 PREP τουτων 5130 D-GPM των 3588 T-GPM ματαιων 3152 A-GPM επιστρεφειν 1994 5721 V-PAN επι 1909 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM θεον 2316 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM ζωντα 2198 5723 V-PAP-ASM ος 3739 R-NSM εποιησεν 4160 5656 V-AAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM ουρανον 3772 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF γην 1093 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν 2281 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ παντα 3956 A-APN τα 3588 T-APN εν 1722 PREP αυτοις 846 P-DPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Of like passions (omoiopaqeiv). Only here and Jas. v. 17, on which see note. Better, of like nature.Turn (epistrefein). Compare 1 Thess. i. 9, where the same verb is used.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:15 {Sirs} (andres). Literally, Men. Abrupt, but courteous. {We also are men of like passions with you} (kai hemeis homoiopaqeis esmen humin anqrwpoi). Old adjective from homoios (like) and pascw, to experience. In the N.T. only here and #Jas 5:17. It means "of like nature" more exactly and affected by like sensations, not "gods" at all. Their conduct was more serious than the obeisance of Cornelius to Peter (#10:25f.). humin is associative instrumental case. {And bring you good tidings} (euaggelizomenoi). No "and" in the Greek, just the present middle participle, "gospelizing you." They are not gods, but evangelists. Here we have Paul's message to a pagan audience without the Jewish environment and he makes the same line of argument seen in #Ac 17:21-32; Ro 1:18-23. At Antioch in Pisidia we saw Paul's line of approach to Jews and convert (#Ac 13:16-41). {That ye should turn from these vain things} (apo toutwn twn mataiwn epistrefein). He boldly calls the worship of Jupiter and Mercury and all idols "vain" or empty things, pointing to the statues and the temple. {Unto the living God} (epi qeon zwnta). They must go the whole way. Our God is a live God, not a dead statue. Paul is fond of this phrase (#2Co 6:16; Ro 9:26). {Who made} (hos epoiesen). The one God is alive and is the Creator of the Universe just as Paul will argue in Athens (#Ac 17:24). Paul here quotes #Ps 146:6 and has #Ge 1:1 in mind. See also #1Th 1:9 where a new allegiance is also claimed as here.
