Acts 14:16

Acts 14:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
• New International Version (NIV)In the past, he let all nations go their own way.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
• New King James Version (NKJV)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

Context of Acts 14:16

14Paul and Barnabas heard what the people wanted to do. So they tore their own clothes to show that they were very upset. They ran into the middle of the crowd, 15and they shouted, ‘Stop! You people should not do this. We are only men like you. We are not gods. We came here to tell you some good news about the great God. You must stop worshipping these gods who are really nothing. Instead worship the God who lives. He made the sky, the earth and the sea. He also made everything that is in them. In past times, God let people everywhere do what they wanted to do. 17But God has showed everybody very clearly what he is like. He has showed you that he is kind. He causes the rain to fall from the sky. He causes the plants to give you food at the right time each year. He gives you plenty of food to eat. In these ways he makes you very happy.’ 18Even when Paul had said all this, the people still wanted to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas. Finally Paul and Barnabas were able to stop them.

Acts 14:16 word by word

ὃς ἐν ταῖς παρῳχημέναις γενεαῖς εἴασεν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη πορεύεσθαι ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• timesγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• pastπαροίχομαιparoichomai · to pass byG3944
• sufferedἐάωeaō · to allowG1439
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• nationsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• to walk inπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• their ownαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• waysὁδόςhodos · roadG3598

Cross-references for Acts 14:16

• Acts 17:30In past times people did not know the true things about God. Because of this, God did not punish them. But now God tells people everywhere, “Stop doing bad things and turn to me!”
• Psalms 81:12So I let them follow their own proud ideas. They could do whatever they wanted to do.
• Psalms 147:20He has not done that for any other nation. They do not know his laws. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
• Hosea 4:17The people of Israel enjoy their idols. Do not go near them!
• Romans 1:21Those people really knew about God. But they did not respect him as a great God, and they did not thank him. They did not even think clearly any more. Their minds became confused and they did not understand God's message.
• Ephesians 2:12At that time, you did not know about Christ, God's special Messiah. You did not belong to the nation of Israel's people. You did not know about the good things that God had promised to his people. You were living in this world with nothing good to hope for. You were living without God's help.
• 1 Peter 4:3You have already had enough time in your life to do bad things. Those are the kinds of things that people who do not know God like to do. You did many evil things that your bodies wanted to do. You had sex in a wrong way. You often became drunk. You went to wild parties where you drank too much alcohol. You also worshipped useless idols.

Commentaries on Acts 14:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Who in times past suffered all nations, etc. - The words , which we here translate, all nations, should be rendered, all the Gentiles, merely to distinguish them from the Jewish people: who having a revelation, were not left to walk in their own ways; but the heathens, who had not a revelation, were suffered to form their creed, and mode of worship, according to their own caprice.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Who in times past - Previous to the gospel; in past ages. Suffered all nations - Permitted all nations; that is, all Gentiles, Acts 17:30. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at.” To walk in their own ways - To conduct themselves without the restraints and instructions of a written law. They were permitted to follow their own reason and passions, and their own system of religion. God gave them no written laws, and sent to them no messengers. Why…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-18Verses 8-18 All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, that most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinful habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and walk 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 far from doing sacrifice to him, that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-18The apostles opposed the people's worship of idols and their attempt to offer sacrifices to them. They directed the people's worship to the living God. The apostles were representatives of God as they shared the good news of the Christian message.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. when ... Barnabas and Paul heard--Barnabas is put first here, apparently as having been styled the "Jupiter" of the company. they rent their clothes and ran in--rather (according to the true reading), "ran forth." among the people, crying out ... Sirs, why do ye these things?--This was something more than that abhorrence of idolatry which took possession of the Jews as a nation from the time of the Babylonish captivity: it was that delicate…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 14:16

• Barnabas
• Gentiles
• God Continued...
• Homage
• Lycaonia
• Lystra
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Confirm
• Cripple
• Raise
• Unbelieving
• Acts of the Apostles
• Doctrine
• Forgiveness
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Lois
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on Acts 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings