Acts 14:13

Acts 14:13

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

a. NLT: Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

b. NIV: The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

c. YLT: And the priest of the Zeus that is before their city, oxen and garlands unto the porches having brought, with the multitudes did wish to sacrifice,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was at the entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the [city’s] gates and wanted to join the people in offering sacrifice.

e. Worrell Translation: And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, having brought oxen and garlands to the gates, together with the multitudes, was wishing to offer sacrifice.

f. Wuest Translation: And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was before the city, having brought oxen and garlands to the gates, was desiring to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

1. “Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city…”

a. Then [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. the priest [Strong: 2409 hiereus hee-er-yooce' from 2413; a priest (literally or figuratively):--(high) priest.]

c. of Jupiter [Strong: 2203 Zeus dzyooce of uncertain affinity; in the oblique cases there is used instead of it a (probably cognate) name Dis deece, which is otherwise obsolete Zeus or Dis (among the Latins, Jupiter or Jove), the supreme deity of the Greeks:--Jupiter.]

d. which [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: The word "which" here refers not to the priest, but to Jupiter. The temple or image of Jupiter was in front of their city, or near the gates. Ancient cities were supposed to be under the protection of particular gods; and their image, or a temple for their worship, was placed commonly in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the city.

e. was [Strong: 5607 on oan, including the feminine ousa oo'-sah; and the neuter on on present participle of 1510; being:--be, come, have.]

f. before [Strong: 4253 pro pro a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:--above, ago, before, or ever. In the comparative, it retains the same significations.]

g. their [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

h. city [Strong: 4172 polis pol'-is probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

1). The Book of Acts, Stanley M. Horton: Accordingly, the people took what they thought was appropriate action,\. They contacted the priest of Dios whose temple was in front of the city. He brought oxen (bulls, the most costly victims they could offerin sacrifice. These were decorated with garlands (wreaths) and brought to the gates where the crowds gathered, wanting to sacrifice.

2). The Acts of the Apostles, Robert E. Tourville: There was a temple built to Zeus just outside the city of Lystra. The “priest” was surely aided by his attendants to bring oxen as sacrifices to the gates of the house where Barnabas and Paul lodged.

3). Adam Clarke Commentary:  There is a meaning here, which ordinary readers will not readily apprehend. Many cities were put under the protection of a particular deity; and the image of that deity placed at the entrance, to signify that he was the guardian and protector.

2. “…brought oxen and garlands unto the gates…”

a. brought [Strong: 5342 phero fer'-o a primary verb -- for which other, and apparently not cognate ones are used in certain tenses only; namely, oio oy'-o; and enegko en-eng'-ko to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows):--be, bear, bring (forth), carry, come, + let her drive, be driven, endure, go on, lay, lead, move, reach, rushing, uphold.]

b. oxen [Strong: 5022 tauros tow'-ros apparently a primary word (compare 8450, "steer"); a bullock:--bull, ox.]

c. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. garlands [Strong: 4725 stemma stem'-mah from the base of 4735; a wreath for show:--garland.]

e. unto [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

f. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. gates [Strong: 4440 pulon poo-lone' from 4439; a gate-way, door-way of a building or city; by implication, a portal or vestibule:--gate, porch.]

1). Vincent Word Studies: Some say, the city gates; others, the temple gates; and others, the doors of the house in which Paul and Barnabas were residing.

3. “…and would have done sacrifice with the people.”

a. and would [Strong: 2309 thelo thel'-o or ethelo eth-el'-o, in certain tenses theleo thel-eh'-o, and etheleo eth-el-eh'-o, which are otherwise obsolete apparently strengthened from the alternate form of 138; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas 1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:--desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).]

b. have done sacrifice [Strong: 2380 thuo thoo'-o a primary verb; properly, to rush (breathe hard, blow, smoke), i.e. (by implication) to sacrifice (properly, by fire, but genitive case); by extension to immolate (slaughter for any purpose):--kill, (do) sacrifice, slay.]

c. with [Strong: 4862 sun soon a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than 3326 or 3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:--beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.]

d. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. people [Strong: 3793 ochlos okh'los from a derivative of 2192 (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot:--company, multitude, number (of people), people, press.]

1). The Acts of the Apostles, Robert E. Tourville: The priest made use of the event by bringing honor to his chief god, not doubting that any would refuse such worship. The crowds were part of the sacrifice to and worship of the missionaries. The agreement between priest and crowds is brought out by the word “with” (sun).