Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Acts 14:13
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, etc.] Not that the priest was before the city, but Jupiter; and the phrase denotes either his presidency over the city, and so the Arabic version renders it, “who was the chief god of their city”; or the place where his image stood, which was out of the city, and so may be said to be before it; accordingly the Syriac version renders it, “who was without the city”; he who officiated as priest to him: brought oxen and garlands unto the gates; either “of the city”, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions add, where was the statue of Jupiter; or else, and which is most likely, he brought them to the gates of the house, where Paul and Barnabas were; and to this sense the Syriac version renders it, “to the door of the dwelling place where they abode”: what the oxen were brought for is easy to conceive, had it not been expressed; but for what should garlands or crowns be brought? These were used in sacrifices, for different purposes; sometimes they crowned the gods f716, to whom they sacrificed, and these might be brought to be put upon the heads of Paul and Barnabas; and sometimes the priests wore them f717, and which seems to be in imitation of the mitre, wore by the high priest among the Jews; and sometimes even those who came to sacrifice, and implore the assistance of their deities, wore them f718; likewise the altars on which they offered sacrifice were crowned with these garlands f719; and the sacrifices themselves, and which last seems to be the case here: the garlands were brought to be put upon the oxen; and these were for the most part made of cypress; sometimes of the pine tree, and sometimes of other leaves and flowers, such as were peculiar to the gods f720: and there was something like this among the Jews, at the offerings of their first fruits, which were done in this manner f721; “they that were nearest (to Jerusalem) brought green figs and grapes; and they that were more remote brought dried figs and raisins; and an ox went before them, whose horns were covered with gold, tyz lç trj[w, “and a crown of olives” on his head; a pipe sounded before them, till they came near to Jerusalem, and then they sent some before them, who “crowned” their first fruits.” And would have done sacrifice with the people; that is, the priest and the people with him, would have offered sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, as to two deities; and the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add, “to them”; to both the apostles, with which agrees the Arabic version.
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