Lesson 4658

Lesson 4658)(11-04-24) Acts 14:8-18 

   “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, where Paul encountered a man who has been crippled from birth and could not walk. Observing that the man had faith enough to be healed, Paul commanded him to stand up, and he immediately began to walk. The crowd, witnessing this miracle, believed Paul and Barnabas to be gods, calling Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes" due to Paul’s role as the speaker. The local priest of Zeus even prepared sacrifices to honor them. Distressed by those actions, Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes as a sign of protest and urgently began to clarify that they were mere humans, not gods, they urged the people to turn to the living God who created everything. They explained that, though God allowed nations to walk in their own ways, He has always provided witness to Himself through the blessings of creation. Despite their efforts to redirect the crowd, they could not stop the people from offering sacrifices. Today’s lesson highlights the dangers of misunderstanding and idolatry, as well as Paul and Barnabas’s dedication to redirecting glory to God. It also emphasizes God’s patience with humanity, showing Himself through creation to draw people to Himself. ~