Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. New Living Translation Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. English Standard Version But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Berean Standard Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Berean Literal Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. King James Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. New King James Version But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. New American Standard Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brothers. NASB 1995 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. NASB 1977 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them against the brethren. Legacy Standard Bible But the unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. Amplified Bible but the unbelieving Jews [who rejected Jesus as Messiah] stirred up and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the believers. Berean Annotated Bible But the unbelieving Jews (people of praise) stirred up the Gentiles {ethnōn} and poisoned (afflicted) their minds {psychas} against the brothers. Christian Standard Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Holman Christian Standard Bible But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. American Standard Version But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. Contemporary English Version But the Jews who did not have faith in him made the other Gentiles angry and turned them against the Lord's followers. English Revised Version But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. GOD'S WORD® Translation But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some people who were not Jewish and poisoned their minds against the believers. Good News Translation But the Jews who would not believe stirred up the Gentiles and turned them against the believers. International Standard Version But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. NET Bible But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. New Heart English Bible But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the non-Jewish people against the brothers. Webster's Bible Translation But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren. Weymouth New Testament But the Jews who had refused obedience stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. World English Bible But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the unbelieving Jews stirred up and made the souls of the nations evil against the brothers; Berean Literal Bible But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. Young's Literal Translation and the unbelieving Jews did stir up and made evil the souls of the nations against the brethren; Smith's Literal Translation And the unbelieving Jews excited and trained up the souls of the nations against the brethren. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut the unbelieving Jews stirred up and incensed the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet truly, the Jews who were unbelieving had incited and enflamed the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. New American Bible although the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. New Revised Standard Version But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut the Jews who would not listen stirred up the Gentiles to oppress the brethren. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But the Jews who were unconvinced stirred up the Gentiles to harm the brethren. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut the unbelieving Jews excited and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. Godbey New Testament But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. Haweis New Testament But the unbelieving Jews stirred up, and maliciously prejudiced the spirits of the Gentiles against the brethren. Mace New Testament but the disbelieving Jews practis'd upon the Gentiles, and inflam'd their minds against the brethren. Weymouth New Testament But the Jews who had refused obedience stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren. Worrell New Testament But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the gentiles against the brethren. Worsley New Testament But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and inflamed the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Paul and Barnabas at Iconium1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.… Cross References But the unbelieving Jews John 12:37-40 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: … Romans 11:7-8 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, / as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” Acts 13:46-47 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. / For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” stirred up the Gentiles Acts 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. Acts 17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds. Psalm 2:1-2 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: and poisoned their minds 2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. against the brothers. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, / who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, John 15:18-20 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. 1 John 3:13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. Matthew 10:21-22 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. / You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Treasury of Scripture But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brothers. Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Acts 13:45,50 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming… Acts 17:5,13 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people… Jump to Previous Affected Believe Bitter Disbelieved Disobedient Embittered Evil Faith Gentiles Jews Minds Nations Obedience Poisoned Refused Souls Stir Stirred UnbelievingJump to Next Affected Believe Bitter Disbelieved Disobedient Embittered Evil Faith Gentiles Jews Minds Nations Obedience Poisoned Refused Souls Stir Stirred UnbelievingActs 14 1. Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium.8. At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods. 19. Paul is stoned. 21. They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience. 26. Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them. But the unbelieving Jews In the context of Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey, having been sent out by the church in Antioch. The term "unbelieving Jews" refers to those Jewish individuals who rejected the message of the Gospel that Paul and Barnabas were preaching. This rejection is consistent with the pattern seen throughout the Book of Acts, where the Gospel is first presented to the Jews, and upon their rejection, it is then offered to the Gentiles. This phrase highlights the division within the Jewish community between those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah and those who did not. Historically, the Jewish leaders often felt threatened by the new Christian movement, which they perceived as a deviation from traditional Jewish beliefs. stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers Persons / Places / Events 1. Unbelieving JewsThese were Jewish individuals who did not accept the message of the Gospel that Paul and Barnabas were preaching. Their disbelief led them to actively oppose the spread of Christianity. 2. Gentiles Non-Jewish people who were being reached with the Gospel message. In this context, they were influenced by the unbelieving Jews to oppose the Christian missionaries. 3. Paul and Barnabas Early Christian missionaries spreading the Gospel. They were the "brothers" mentioned in the verse, facing opposition in their mission. 4. Iconium The city where these events took place. It was a significant location for early Christian missionary work. 5. Poisoned Minds This phrase indicates the negative influence and false information spread by the unbelieving Jews to turn the Gentiles against the Christian message. Teaching Points The Reality of OppositionChristians should expect opposition when spreading the Gospel. Just as Paul and Barnabas faced resistance, believers today may encounter similar challenges. Guarding the Mind The phrase "poisoned their minds" highlights the importance of guarding our thoughts and being discerning about the influences we allow into our lives. Perseverance in Mission Despite opposition, Paul and Barnabas continued their mission. This teaches us the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in our calling. The Power of Influence The unbelieving Jews were able to sway the Gentiles. This reminds us of the power of influence and the responsibility we have to use it for good. Unity Among Believers The opposition was against "the brothers," indicating the need for unity and support among believers when facing external challenges. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Acts 14:2?2. How can we guard against being "poisoned" by unbelief in our community today? 3. What strategies can we use to strengthen our faith amidst opposition? 4. How does Acts 14:2 relate to Jesus' warnings about persecution in Matthew 10? 5. In what ways can we support fellow believers facing hostility for their faith? 6. How can we discern truth when faced with divisive influences like in Acts 14:2? 7. Why did the Jews in Acts 14:2 incite the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas? 8. How does Acts 14:2 reflect the theme of division in early Christianity? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Acts 14:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 14? 11. Who were the three biblical men named Ananias? 12. What are the key events in Silas's biblical life? 13. Galatians 2:7 - Why does Paul assert distinct missions for himself and Peter when Acts describes overlapping evangelistic activities, creating a potential contradiction? 14. If Leviticus 11 is God's eternal command, why does Acts 10:9-16 appear to contradict these dietary laws? What Does Acts 14:2 Mean ButThe single word “But” sets up a sharp contrast with the previous verse, where “a great number…believed” (Acts 14:1). Scripture often pivots on small words like this to show the tension between faith and unbelief. • In John 3:19, light comes, “but people loved darkness.” • Paul later affirms in 2 Timothy 3:12 that gospel advance regularly meets pushback. The “but” here reminds us that fruitful ministry and fierce opposition frequently travel together. the unbelieving Jews Luke is not dismissing all Jews—Paul and Barnabas themselves are Jewish—but identifying those who refused the gospel. Unbelief is a heart posture (John 5:40) that resists clear evidence (Acts 13:45). • Romans 11:23 shows that unbelief, not ethnicity, keeps anyone from God’s promises. • Acts 28:24 notes the same divide: “Some were convinced…others refused to believe.” stirred up These opponents didn’t stay neutral; they actively incited trouble. • Acts 13:50 and 17:13 record similar agitation campaigns. • Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “one who stirs up discord” among the things the Lord hates. Their goal was to create an atmosphere so heated that reasoned hearing of the gospel became impossible. the Gentiles Ironically, the very group Paul and Barnabas were sent to bless (Acts 13:46-47) is targeted. Unbelieving Jews exploit ethnic lines to hinder the mission. • Acts 10:45 shows how astonished Jewish believers were when Gentiles first received the Spirit. Opposition here tries to roll back that breakthrough. • Ephesians 2:14-16 celebrates Christ breaking down this Jew-Gentile wall—something Satan longs to rebuild. and poisoned their minds Luke’s phrase pictures mental and moral corruption—lies presented as truth. • 2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of minds blinded by “the god of this age.” • Galatians 5:9 warns, “A little leaven leavens the whole batch.” • James 3:14-16 traces bitter jealousy to “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” origins. Poison rarely kills instantly; it works gradually. The same is true of slander and half-truths aimed at the gospel. against the brothers The hostility is personal. “Brothers” (or “brothers and sisters”) highlights family solidarity among believers (Acts 1:15; Hebrews 2:11). • John 15:18—“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” • 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 describes similar persecution from “your own countrymen.” • 1 Peter 4:4 notes that former friends may malign believers who no longer run with them. Opposition to the message inevitably becomes opposition to the messengers. summary Acts 14:2 shows the predictable pattern: when the gospel gains ground, unbelief mobilizes. Certain Jews who rejected Jesus orchestrated a smear campaign, inciting Gentiles and infecting their thoughts with lies, all aimed at shutting down the witness of Paul, Barnabas, and the new believers. The verse reminds us that spiritual resistance is real, truth can be twisted, and believers must stand together while relying on God to prevail—as He always does (Acts 14:3). (2) The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles . . .--It is the distinguishing feature of nearly all the persecutions in the Acts that they originated in the hostility of the Jews. The case of Demetrius furnishes almost the only exception (Acts 19:24), and even there the Jews apparently fomented the enmity of the Greek craftsmen. So at a considerably later date (A.D. 169) we find them prominent in bringing about the persecution which ended in the death of Polycarp at Smyrna (Mart. Polyc. c. 13).Verse 2. - The Jews that were disobedient for the unbelieving Jews, A.V. and T.R.; stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them, etc., for stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds, etc., A.V. The Jews that were disobedient. The R.T. (ἀπειθήσαντες) may equally and even better be rendered, the Jews that were unbelieving (comp. John 3:36, where πιστεύων and ἀπειθῶν αρε opposed to each other, and Romans 11:30-32, where the idea of belief is far more appropriate than that of obedience). Stirred up the souls, etc. St. Paul speaks with much warmth of the constant opposition of the Jews, "forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved" (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Butδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. unbelieving ἀπειθήσαντες (apeithēsantes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 544: To disobey, rebel, be disloyal, refuse conformity. From apeithes; to disbelieve. Jews Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah. stirred up ἐπήγειραν (epēgeiran) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1892: To arouse, stimulate, excite against. From epi and egeiro; to rouse upon, i.e. to excite against. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Gentiles ἐθνῶν (ethnōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. poisoned ἐκάκωσαν (ekakōsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2559: To treat badly, afflict, embitter, make angry. From kakos; to injure; figuratively, to exasperate. [their] τὰς (tas) Article - Accusative Feminine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. minds ψυχὰς (psychas) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. against κατὰ (kata) Preposition Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined). the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. brothers. ἀδελφῶν (adelphōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote. 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