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:
ACTS 14:15KJVWhat does Acts 14:15 mean?
Acts 14:15 records Paul and Barnabas urgently telling the crowd not to worship them, explaining that they are ordinary humans just like everyone else, and urging the people to turn away from worthless idols to serve the living God who created everything. The verse emphasizes that only the true, living God deserves worship, not human beings or man-made things.
Paul and Barnabas are speaking to a crowd in Lystra who, after witnessing a miracle, tried to offer sacrifices to them as if they were gods. The apostles stop them, stressing their shared humanity (“men of like passions”) and calling the people to abandon “vanities” (meaning idols or empty beliefs) for the Creator God. This moment highlights the difference between the living God and the powerless idols common in that region.
The Greek behind Acts 14:15
- The word “vanities” comes from ματαιότης (mataiotēs), meaning emptiness or worthlessness. Here, it points to idols or false gods, emphasizing that these objects have no real power or value.
- The phrase “men of like passions” uses ὁμοιοπαθεῖς (homoiopathēs), which means having the same feelings or nature. Paul and Barnabas are making it clear that they are not divine, but humans with the same weaknesses as everyone else.
- The term “living” (ζάω, zaō) for God stresses that God is alive and active, in contrast to lifeless idols.
- The verb “turn” (ἐπιστρέφω, epistrephō) means to change direction or convert. Paul and Barnabas are urging the crowd to make a decisive shift away from idols toward the true God.
Why Acts 14:15 matters
- Acts 14:15 clears up the misunderstanding that miracles or spiritual authority make someone divine; Paul and Barnabas insist they are only human.
- The verse emphasizes the difference between the living Creator and the “vanities” or idols, which were common in the ancient world but powerless.
- This moment connects to the wider passage by showing the apostles’ mission: not to draw attention to themselves, but to point people to the one true God who made all things.