A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 14:18

"And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them." — Acts 14:18 (ASV)

Scarce (μολις). Adverb in same sense as old μογις, from μολος, toil.

Restrained (κατεπαυσαν). Effective first aorist active indicative of καταπαυω, old verb in causative sense to make abstain from.

From doing sacrifice unto them (του μη θυειν αυτοις). Ablative case of the articular infinitive with redundant negative after κατεπαυσαν, regular Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1094, 1171). It had been a harrowing and well-nigh a horrible ordeal, but finally Paul had won. If only nobody else had interposed!