Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Driven from Iconium, Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra and Derbe, where they found a heathen, superstitious, idolatrous people who worshiped Jupiter and whose prominent temple shaped the life of the place. There was no Jewish synagogue there and only a few Jews among them, though some were willing to hear the gospel. Their condition was that described as nations in past times suffered to walk in their own ways, left without knowledge of the true object of adoration and inclined to fit new teaching into their worship of Jupiter.
The saying was uttered at Lystra, by Paul together with Barnabas, after a man crippled from birth was made through Paul to stand and walk, and in some accounts to leap. The crowd called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury or Mercurius, and the priest of Jupiter came with a vast shouting crowd, with oxen and garlands and with music, to the gates to offer sacrifice to them. In some accounts the procession came to the gate of the house where the apostles were staying. Paul and Barnabas tore or rent their clothes and rushed and ran among the multitude to stop the sacrifice, denying any divinity. They declared themselves men of like passions, and Paul in a loud voice, crying out above the tumult, called the people to turn from these vanities to the living God who made heaven and earth and sea and all things therein. In this they explained their mission as representatives of the God of heaven and of His Son the great Healer.
The saying means that in past times God allowed all nations to walk in their own idolatrous ways and to follow their own course. It leaves the heathen who know not God to follow idols which are the works of their own hands. It describes a period of forbearance rather than approval of those ways, and of not compelling them to worship Him. Their error did not mean God had left Himself without witness, for He still gave witness of Himself by doing good, giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling hearts with food and gladness. By this He would direct minds to the true God as the only object worthy of worship and adoration.
Because they had been left to their own ways without knowledge of God the Creator and of His Son the Saviour, Paul first led them from the visible works of the Almighty to the great Mind and Ruler of the universe. He pointed to the firmament of the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars, the beautiful order of the recurring seasons, the mighty snow-capped mountains, the lofty trees, and other varied wonders showing skill and exactitude beyond finite or human comprehension as evidence of the Creator's wisdom and power. Only then did he tell them of the Son of God who came from heaven in love because He loved men, His life and ministry, His rejection, trial and crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension to heaven to be man's Advocate before the Maker of the world. The true God in contrast to lifeless idols is the Maker of heaven and earth, and the most effective way to teach those nations is through His works in nature, which far more readily than any other method makes them realize the difference between lifeless idols and the living Creator. There is a simplicity and purity in lessons directly from nature that makes them of highest value, for the beauty of nature in itself leads the soul away from sin and worldly attraction toward purity, peace, and God, lessons needed also by children and youth and students of all classes.
The people listened with impatience, loth to admit their error and have their expectations thwarted, and were scarce restrained from sacrificing. Only after much persuasion did they reluctantly give up their purpose and lead the beasts away disappointed. Afterward opposing Jews followed Paul's track and by falsehood and misrepresentation turned the people's reverence into insult, abuse, and a determination to kill him. Yet Paul afterward returned again to Lystra, the scene of his former danger, to look after the fruit of his labors there.
Driven from Iconium, Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra and Derbe, where they found a heathen, superstitious, idolatrous people who worshiped Jupiter and whose prominent temple shaped the life of the place. There was no Jewish synagogue there and only a few Jews among them, though some were willing to hear the gospel. Their condition was that described as nations in past times suffered to walk in their own ways, left without knowledge of the true object of adoration and inclined to fit new teaching into their worship of Jupiter.
The saying was uttered at Lystra, by Paul together with Barnabas, after a man crippled from birth was made through Paul to stand and walk, and in some accounts to leap. The crowd called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury or Mercurius, and the priest of Jupiter came with a vast shouting crowd, with oxen and garlands and with music, to the gates to offer sacrifice to them. In some accounts the procession came to the gate of the house where the apostles were staying. Paul and Barnabas tore or rent their clothes and rushed and ran among the multitude to stop the sacrifice, denying any divinity. They declared themselves men of like passions, and Paul in a loud voice, crying out above the tumult, called the people to turn from these vanities to the living God who made heaven and earth and sea and all things therein. In this they explained their mission as representatives of the God of heaven and of His Son the great Healer.
The saying means that in past times God allowed all nations to walk in their own idolatrous ways and to follow their own course. It leaves the heathen who know not God to follow idols which are the works of their own hands. It describes a period of forbearance rather than approval of those ways, and of not compelling them to worship Him. Their error did not mean God had left Himself without witness, for He still gave witness of Himself by doing good, giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling hearts with food and gladness. By this He would direct minds to the true God as the only object worthy of worship and adoration.
Because they had been left to their own ways without knowledge of God the Creator and of His Son the Saviour, Paul first led them from the visible works of the Almighty to the great Mind and Ruler of the universe. He pointed to the firmament of the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars, the beautiful order of the recurring seasons, the mighty snow-capped mountains, the lofty trees, and other varied wonders showing skill and exactitude beyond finite or human comprehension as evidence of the Creator's wisdom and power. Only then did he tell them of the Son of God who came from heaven in love because He loved men, His life and ministry, His rejection, trial and crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension to heaven to be man's Advocate before the Maker of the world. The true God in contrast to lifeless idols is the Maker of heaven and earth, and the most effective way to teach those nations is through His works in nature, which far more readily than any other method makes them realize the difference between lifeless idols and the living Creator. There is a simplicity and purity in lessons directly from nature that makes them of highest value, for the beauty of nature in itself leads the soul away from sin and worldly attraction toward purity, peace, and God, lessons needed also by children and youth and students of all classes.
The people listened with impatience, loth to admit their error and have their expectations thwarted, and were scarce restrained from sacrificing. Only after much persuasion did they reluctantly give up their purpose and lead the beasts away disappointed. Afterward opposing Jews followed Paul's track and by falsehood and misrepresentation turned the people's reverence into insult, abuse, and a determination to kill him. Yet Paul afterward returned again to Lystra, the scene of his former danger, to look after the fruit of his labors there.