Acts 14:14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out,
The setting
Lystra, Turkey (ancient Lycaonia), ~47 AD. Paul had just healed a lame man, and the crowd erupted, thinking Paul and Barnabas were the gods Zeus and Hermes in human form...
The emotion here: horrified at witnessing blasphemy about to happen
The original word
diarrhēssō (διαρρήσσω) — violent tearing apart, same word used for earthquake damage
Why it matters
Tearing clothes was the required Jewish response to blasphemy - punishable by death if not done
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 14:14
They didn't just politely decline - they VIOLENTLY tore their clothes in horror at being worshipped
Common misconceptionPeople think this was just modest humility. This was actually life-or-death theology - accepting worship as humans would damn their souls and destroy their ministry.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 14:14
Bible Genome reading
Acts 14:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 14:14 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include rejection of worship, distress. Notable phrases: tore their clothes; sprang into the multitude; crying out.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Acts 14:14 mean to you, today?
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