Act 14:2-5 | TNotes | STEP | 14:2 Once again Paul and Barnabas faced hostile Jews who rejected the Christian message and also poisoned the minds of the Gentiles .

14:2 ^a Once again Paul and Barnabas faced hostile Jews who rejected the Christian message and also poisoned the minds of the Gentiles.
14:3 ^b The Spirit-inspired apostles were resilient to withstand the verbal attack against them, and they persisted in preaching the Good News that God’s grace was available to Gentiles as well as to Jews.

• boldly: Spirit-inspired boldness is evident throughout Acts (see 2:14 ^c; 4:9-10 ^d, 13 ^e; 7:2-53 ^f; 8:30-35 ^g; 9:27-28 ^h; 18:26 ⁱ; 19:8 ^j; 22:3-21 ^k; 23:1-6 ^l; 28:16-20 ^m, 23-31 ⁿ).

• In addition, the Holy Spirit confirmed the Christian message with miraculous signs and wonders (cp. 5:12-16 ^o; 15:12 ^p; 16:18 ^q; 19:11 ^r).
14:4 ^s The apostolic message required a decision about belief in Jesus, and opinion was clearly split.

• Paul and Barnabas are called apostles for the first time (also in 14:14 ^t), extending the idea of apostleship beyond the Twelve. Their message was in continuity with that of the original apostles, and they were prepared to suffer hardship and persecution for it as the earlier apostles had done (5:41 ^u; 14:19 ^v; 20:24 ^w; 21:13-14 ^x; see also Rom 8:35-38 ^y; 2 Cor 4:8-17 ^z).