Acts 14:8-20a – The Miracle at Lystra

Leaving Iconium, on hearing that the people there had intention to stone them, Paul and Barnabas went to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe as well as the surrounding region.

At Lystra, Paul had a dramatic start to his ministry. He healed a man who was born lame and had never walked since birth. This man was seated listening to what Paul was saying. Looking intensely at him, Paul could sense his faith and readiness to receive a miracle. So he said loudly to him, “Stand upright on your feet.” Immediately he leaped up and started to walk.

This was a remarkable miracle that only deities could do. At least this was what the crowds at Lystra, who saw the miracle, thought so. They had concluded that Paul and Barnabas were deities who came to them in human form. So they named Barnabas, Zeus, and they called Paul, Hermes, a messenger of god. Even the priest of Zeus, from a temple that was outside the city, came with oxen and garlands to the gate, ready to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

When Paul and Barnabas knew what they were going to do, they were mystified and horrified. As good servants of God, they prevented them, by rushing among the people, tearing their garments, and shouted loudly that they were not some deities but merely humans like them. As far as they were concerned, such activities must stop. Preventing them from carrying out their offering, they then presented the Gospel to them.  According to verse 18 they had difficulty in restraining them from carrying out their activities.

Paul began by calling on them to turn from vain idols to a living God, who made the heaven, earth and the sea and all that was in them. Although they were from pagan background, Paul did not condemn them harshly. He pointed out that God had allowed them to go on their own way in time past. But God was leaving a witness of Himself through the nature. He was the One who gave them the rain, harvest and food for their bountiful living. However, we can see that sufficient ground was laid for the same conclusion found in Acts 17:30-31, which he gave at Athens. There he said, that in Christ, God would no longer overlook men’s ignorance. People everywhere must repent and acknowledge Christ to inherit God’s eternal Kingdom.

But strangely enough, Paul did not bring the message to any conclusion in his message. And there was also no indication of any response. Instead we find the opposition incited by Jews who came from Antioch and Iconium. They managed to win over the people and together they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, believing that he was dead. But some disciples stood around him and he got up and went back to the city.  

One glaring fact is clearly evident here: the fickleness of the people. Remember, once they were going to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as if they were deities. And yet so quickly they could be persuaded to turn against them. Isn’t this the same with the crowd at the Lord’s trial? One moment they shouted, “Hosanna, to the King!” next they were crying vehemently, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

The amazing thing is this, Paul was unfazed. He kept on. He remained steadfast. He entertained no flattery, neither was he deterred by harsh treatment. This is a quality worth emulating. Have our relationship with the Lord reached a point where we will neither be moved by the flattery of men nor crumbled by their opposition?  Let’s make that a goal in our journey!