Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 14:2

"But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren." — Acts 14:2 (ASV)

The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles . . .—It is the distinguishing feature of nearly all the persecutions in the Acts that they originated in the hostility of the Jews. The case of Demetrius furnishes almost the only exception (Acts 19:24), and even there the Jews apparently fomented the enmity of the Greek craftsmen. So at a considerably later date (A.D. 169) we find them prominent in bringing about the persecution which ended in the death of Polycarp at Smyrna (Mart. Polyc., chapter 13).