{The Jews} (hoi Ioudaioi). Certainly not the proselytes
of verse  43 . Probably many of the Jews that were then
favourably disposed to Paul's message had reacted against him
under the influence of the rabbis during the week and evidently
on this Sabbath very many Gentiles ("almost the whole city," "the
multitudes" 	ous ochlous) had gathered, to the disgust of the
stricter Jews. Nothing is specifically stated here about the
rabbis, but they were beyond doubt the instigators of, and the
ringleaders in, the opposition as in Thessalonica ( 17:5 ). No
such crowds (ochlous) came to the synagogue when they were the
speakers. {With jealousy} (z(886c)ou). Genitive case of z(886c)os
(from ze(935c), to boil) after epl(8873)th(8873)an (effective first aorist
passive indicative of pimpl(886d)i). Envy and jealousy arise
between people of the same calling (doctors towards doctors,
lawyers towards lawyers, preachers towards preachers). So these
rabbis boiled with jealousy when they saw the crowds gathered to
hear Paul and Barnabas. {Contradicted} (antelegon). Imperfect
active of antileg(935c), old verb to speak against, to say a word in
opposition to (anti, face to face). It was interruption of the
service and open opposition in the public meeting. Paul and
Barnabas were guests by courtesy and, of course, could not
proceed further, when denied that privilege. {Blasphemed}
(lasph(886d)ountes). Blaspheming. So the correct text without the
addition antilegontes (repeated from antelegon above). Common
verb in the Gospels for saying injurious and harmful things.
Doubtless these rabbis indulged in unkind personalities and made
it plain that Paul and Barnabas were going beyond the limitations
of pure Judaism in their contacts with Gentiles.