Acts 14:15

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
KJV
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
WEB
“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
ASV
and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
DARBY
and saying, Men, why do ye these things? *We* also are men of like passions with you, preaching to you to turn from these vanities to the living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things in them;
BLB
and saying, “Men, why do you⁺ do these things? We also are men of like nature with you⁺, proclaiming the gospel to you⁺ to turn from these vain [things] to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,
ÅB
og ropte: Dere menn! hva er det dere gjør? Også vi er mennesker under samme vilkår som dere, og vi forkynner dere evangeliet at dere skal vende dere bort fra disse falske guder til den levende Gud, han som gjorde himmelen og jorden og havet og alt som i dem er,
OTB
"Menn, hvorfor gjør dere disse tingene? Vi er også mennesker, av samme natur som dere, og vi bringer dere et godt budskap, at dere skal vende dere fra disse verdiløse tingene til den levende Gud, som skapte himmelen, jorden, havet og alt som er i dem.
B1930
og ropte: I menn! hvad er det I gjør? Også vi er mennesker under samme vilkår som I, og vi forkynner eder evangeliet at I skal vende eder bort fra disse falske guder til den levende Gud, han som gjorde himmelen og jorden og havet og alt som i dem er,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 12:21

    And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 146:5–6

    Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 8:4

    As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

    Read in context
  • Acts 10:26

    But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

    Read in context
  • James 5:17

    Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 14:7

    Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 1:1

    In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

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  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

    Read in context