JMNT(i)
14 Now upon hearing [of this], the sent-forth men, Barnabas and Paul, leaped forth into the midst of the crowd while at the same time ripping (or: tearing) their outer garments (or: cloaks) in two, crying out loudly,
15 and [both] saying, "Men (= Gentlemen)! Why are you now doing these things? We ourselves are also humans: men with similar experiences and like emotions as you folks! Men presently bringing and progressively declaring the good news to you people: [D adds: the God by what means] [with p45: you are to at once stand away and separate] – to then progressively turn away from these fruitless (vain; purposeless; useless) things (or: practices) and to continue turning [your focus and attention] on a [other MSS: the] living God, Who makes (or: formed; constructs; produced) the heaven and the earth (or: the sky and the land) – as well as all the things within them,
16 "Who, within the generations having gone by, permitted (let; allowed) all the ethnic groups (nations; non-Jewish multitudes) to continue going in their ways (or: to progressively travel on their paths),
17 "although He did not leave (or: abandon; neglect; let go from His care and attendance of) Himself without evidence (= proof; or: testimony; or: a witness) by repeatedly doing good works (or: produced benevolent deeds): regularly giving to (or: for) you people rains from heaven (or: [the] sky), and thus fruit-bearing seasons, constantly filling the core of your beings full of food (or: nourishment) and your hearts with gladness and a frame of mind (or: disposition) characterized by ease and well-being in the midst of togetherness."
18 And so, by saying these things, they with difficulty caused the crowds to bring [the proceedings] down to an end and fully stop – [so as] not to continue in sacrificing to them [C adds: but rather [for] each one to proceed on their way unto their own homes].