Acts 14:1-18
The Living God Who Made Heaven
Read the passage
1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
4The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
5But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,
6they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,
7where they continued to preach the gospel.
8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
9This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
10In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.
11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
16In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
18Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
In Iconium, many Jews and Greeks believe, but opposition eventually becomes a plot to stone Paul and Barnabas. They leave and continue preaching elsewhere. Escaping that danger does not mean giving up the work.
In Lystra, the danger takes a different form. Paul tells a man who has never walked to stand, and he jumps up and walks. The crowd concludes that Paul and Barnabas are gods. A priest even arrives with animals for a sacrifice.
The missionaries urgently refuse this worship. They are human, just like the people listening. The healing does not make them divine, and the good news calls people to turn from their idols to the living God.
Paul describes that God as the Maker of everything. He also points to gifts the crowd already knows: rain, fruitful seasons, food, and gladness. People have gone their own way, yet God has continued to show them kindness. Their everyday provision bears witness to his goodness.
Even this explanation barely stops the sacrifice. A person can see something remarkable and misunderstand it. Paul and Barnabas must explain who deserves worship, rather than accept the crowd's enthusiasm as if it were faith.
Questions
1 Why did Paul and Barnabas leave Iconium?
AnswerThey left after learning that both Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, planned to mistreat and stone them.
2 What happened to the man in Lystra?
AnswerHe leaped up and began to walk after Paul saw that he had faith to be healed and commanded him to stand.
3 What did the crowd think had happened?
AnswerThey thought the gods had come down in human form because they heard Paul speak and saw the crippled man healed.
4 To whom did Paul and Barnabas direct attention?
AnswerThey directed attention away from themselves to the living God who made heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them.
What This Means for Us
At a meal, it is easy to thank the person who cooked and forget the God who gives rain and growth. Paul's words help us notice both. We can appreciate the people through whom help comes while thanking God for the gifts themselves. No impressive teacher or servant takes the Creator's place.
Prayer
Living God, keep us humble when others praise us. Teach us to recognize your goodness in miracles, meals, seasons, and every gift that sustains us. Amen.