And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them.

And saying these things, they with difficulty kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

and these things saying, scarcely did they restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Even with words like these they had difficulty in preventing the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them.

And even with these words, it was hard for them to keep the people from making an offering to them.

Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the crowds from making a sacrifice to them.

And by saying these things, they were barely able to restrain the crowds from immolating to them.

Even with this appeal they could hardly restrain the people from offering sacrifice to them.

When they had said thus. Luke said before that they did not only use words, but they ran also with violence into the multitude. [1] Now he addeth, that the fury of the people was scarce appeased [2] with that vehemency, whereby appeareth how mad and untamed the heat of the world is toward idolatry. For if they believe the [them] gods, why do they not believe their word, whereby they put from them false honor? But all idolaters are sick of this disease, that they are oftentimes ready to shake off the yoke, unless religion be subject to their will and pleasure. Wherefore, no marvel if the prophets say oftentimes that men are carried into the blind affection of superstitions, even as brute beasts are carried into their lust.

Footnotes

1 - "Sed etiam cure impetu irruisse in turbam," but also rushed impetuously among the multitude.

2 - "Repressum," repressed.

And with these sayings - With these arguments.
Scarce restrained they the people - They were so fully satisfied that the gods had appeared, and were so full of zeal to do them honor.

And with these sayings,.... Concerning themselves, and concerning the living God, his creation of all things, and his providential goodness:
scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them; so resolute were they upon it, that it was with great difficulty that they persuaded them from it: in four of Beza's manuscripts, and in some other copies, it is added, "but everyone went to his own house", &c.

with these sayings scarce restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice to them--In spite of this,and Peter's repudiation of all such honor (Acts 10:26), how soon idolatrous tendencies began to show themselves in the Christian Church, at length to be systematized and enjoined in the Church of Rome!