When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,
5. Mark how far forth the holy champions of Christ did suffer. They give not back when their enemies do only set themselves against them; but when the sedition waxeth hot, and they be in danger of stoning, though they have many favorers of their doctrine, they go no further, but remembering the saying of Christ, wherein he warneth the faithful in patience to possess...
In these verses we have, I. The preaching of the gospel in Iconium, whither the apostles were forced to retire from Antioch. As the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the church, so the banishment of the confessors has helped to scatter that seed. Observe, 1.
Commenting on Acts 14:1-7
And when there was an assault made,.... Or a strong bias and inclination were in the minds, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers; who encouraged them in it: to use them despitefully, and to stone them; not only to give them reproachful language, but to smite, buffet, and scourge them, and to stone them for blasphemy, which was a...