ACTS 14:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“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:”
'Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them — the apostles' address (men, andres, fellows) establishes basic human equality while pivoting toward theology. Worthless things (mataios) denotes idols, which represent a fundamental category error. The proclamation of the living God (theos zōn) emphasizes God's actuality and distinction from inanimate idols. The catalog of creation (heavens, earth, sea, all things) echoes Psalm 146 and Nehemiah 9:6, grounding Christian theism in creational monotheism.
Church Fathers on Acts 14:15
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…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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