English Standard Version
Acts 14:16
16In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
- New Living Translation (NLT)In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways,
Context of Acts 14:16
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." 18Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Read all of Acts 14Acts 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 17:30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
- Psalms 81:12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
- Psalms 147:20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!
- Hosea 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.
- Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
- Ephesians 2:12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
- 1 Peter 4:3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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