Note 1 at Acts 14:14: The tearing of one's garment was an old custom among the Hebrews. Jacob was the first person mentioned in scripture who practiced it (Gen. 37:34) and then his sons followed suit (Gen. 44:13). In these instances, the tearing of their clothes was a way of declaring their sorrow and grief. Joshua and Caleb rent their garments when they heard the evil report of their fellow spies, thus displaying their anger and holy contempt for the others opinion (Num. 14:6).

Joshua (Josh. 7:6), David (2 Sam. 1:11), Ahab (1 Ki. 21:27), Elisha (2 Ki. 2:12), Hezekiah (2 Ki. 19:1), Ezra (Ezra 9:3), Mordecai (Esther 4:1), Job (Job 1:20), as well as the high priests of Jesus' day (Mt. 26:65; Mk. 14:63) rent their clothes. The Mosaic law commanded lepers to rend their clothes (Lev. 13:45).