<p>13:50 <i>But the Jews incited the religious women of high standing and the leading men of the city- </i>These women may have been Jews, or at least Jewish proselytes. Josephus claims (<i>The Jewish War</i> 2.20.2) that &quot;In large towns and cities in which Jews abounded, the wives of the men in high position among the heathen were much inclined to the Jewish religion&quot;; this would explain the connection between them and the leading males of the city.</p><p><i>And stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district</i>- This persecution was apparently successful in withering the faith of the once joyful believers who had responded so quickly and enthusiastically to the Gospel; see on :49. The collaboration here between the Jewish leaders and powerful Roman leaders was typical of how the 'satan' / adversary operated against the early Christians, just as it was such a joining of the forces of evil which led to the Lord's death. The expulsion from the district may refer to some formal ban on Paul ever re-entering, similar to what seems to have happened at Thessalonica (see on 1 Thess. 2:18).</p>