Acts 14:5
What does Acts 14:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:5 means
Opposition hardens into action. A coalition of Gentiles, Jews, and their rulers plans an attack “to treat them shamefully and to stone them.” Shaming aims to discredit; stoning aims to silence permanently. The alliance of otherwise divided groups shows how truth can unite enemies against the servants of Christ. This escalation is sobering: gospel proclamation can invite legal and physical threats. Yet the verse also hints at God’s providence—the plot is discovered before it occurs. The missionaries are not naïve; they assess danger realistically. Ministry wisdom sometimes requires moving on rather than seeking martyrdom when an effective door is closing.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when a violent attempt was made by the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, to make an attack on them and have them stoned,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and when there was a purpose both of the nations and of the Jews with their rulers to use <FI>them<Fi> despitefully, and to stone them,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when there was an assault made by the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to use them contumeliously and to stone them:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when an assault was making, both of [those of] the nations and [the] Jews with their rulers, to use [them] ill and stone them,
Context
Coming after the city’s division (verse 4), verse 5 shows that the conflict will not remain verbal. Civically empowered hostility now threatens Paul and Barnabas with public humiliation and death. This explains their immediate decision to withdraw (verse 6). The narrative rhythm is clear: preach, persuade, face opposition; if necessary, relocate and continue. The shift in location does not signal retreat from mission, as verse 7 will insist, but a redeployment. Understanding the intensity of the threat prepares the reader to appreciate both the prudence and the persistence of the apostles.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 4:25
who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?
- Luke 6:28
bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.
- Matthew 5:44
but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
- Acts 14:19
But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
- Psalms 2:1
Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?
- Acts 17:5
But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.
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