Acts 14:1-18 CSB
In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. [2] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3] So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders. [4] But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles. [5] When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, [6] they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside. [7] There they continued preaching the gospel. [8] In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. [9] He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, [10] Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet!" And he jumped up and began to walk around. [11] When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" [12] Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. [13] The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice. [14] The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, [15] "People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. [16] In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, [17] although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy." [18] Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Turning from Worthless Things
Do you have a habit, something that makes sense to you, something you follow? Paul had a plan. Whenever he reached a new town on his missionary journeys, he would seek out the Jewish synagogues first. He would bring the gospel of life to the Jews in the area before anyone else. And it usually unfolded the same way. His words about Jesus would not return void—people would be drawn to Paul, hungry for the words of life. But then jealousy would take hold in some of them, and they would turn against him with everything they had, hindering the word of truth and pulling others down with them. They would turn their backs on the gift God had made available to all who believed in His Son Jesus: salvation.
But this time, Paul did something different. Rather than moving on to the next town, he stayed. The Holy Spirit confirmed Paul’s bold proclamation through signs and wonders, and the city split down the middle—some siding with the Jews who held power, others with Barnabas and Paul. Tensions mounted until a plot to stone them forced Paul and his companions to flee to Lystra and Derbe. The message of eternal life had been delivered, made plain and undeniable. What remained was the choice of each hearer. Their eternal destination now rested with them alone, and God’s words left by Paul.
In Lystra, Paul healed a man lame from birth, similar to a miracle done by the Apostle Peter. The response was different however, instead of being mistreated by the Jewish religious leaders as Peter was, they saw Paul as a god in human form.
To fully understand the chaotic scene that unfolds, we have to look through the eyes of the local people, whose reaction was driven by a famous historical legend deeply rooted in their culture. A story told over meals and recounted to their children at night, before bed. The Roman poet Ovid wrote a cautionary tale about the gods Zeus and Hermes. According to the myth, these two gods once disguised themselves as weary human travelers and knocked on a thousand doors in the region around Lystra, looking for a place to rest. Every wealthy home turned them away with cruelty. Only a poor, elderly peasant couple named Baucis and Philemon welcomed the strangers into their tiny cottage, sharing the little food and wine they had. In response, the gods revealed their true identities, rewarded the hospitable couple by turning their cottage into a magnificent marble temple, and wiped out the rest of the hostile city with a catastrophic flood.
When Paul and Barnabas entered Lystra and miraculously healed the man crippled from birth, the crowd immediately panicked. They didn’t just see a miracle; they thought history was repeating itself. They became terrified of facing the same destruction as their ancestors. They would not repeat the same mistake. They saw Barnabas as Zeus, and Paul—the chief speaker—as Hermes, the speaker of the gods. The local priests of Zeus rushed out with oxen and ceremonial wreaths, desperate to offer immediate sacrifices. It was a frantic, guilt-driven act of self-preservation.
The people were so blinded by their belief in false gods that they completely misinterpreted a genuine move of the Holy Spirit. Barnabas and Paul realized what was happening. They could not let the people go on with this falsehood. They tore their clothes and ran into the crowd, shouting that they were only human beings. They barely convinced the people not to sacrifice to them.
It is the same with us today. It is easy to put a pastor or other religious leader, an organization, or other thing on a pedestal in place of our Father in Heaven. For a long time, I put teaching my students ahead of all things. Being a teacher became my god. It is not that it was wrong to teach and care for my students, but this took my entire devotion. Anything we place on a pedestal will ultimately reveal that it is made of clay and easily broken. Things of this earth are not perfect. Only God who is perfect and never changes should be our focus and not the things of men. When we are looking at the Father, beholding His Grace, we will turn away from false gods and sacrificing to them. We will be part of this world, still doing our callings, but with eyes on the creator. We will be able to hear His voice.
Reflection Questions
- Paul reacted to persecution in different ways—sometimes staying for a long time to speak boldly despite the danger, and other times fleeing immediately so that the Gospel could spread elsewhere. How do we discern in our own lives when God is calling us to stay and endure opposition, versus when He is telling us to change direction and move on?
- The people of Lystra tried to interpret a true work of the Holy Spirit through their old cultural stories and fears. Have you ever viewed God’s blessings or actions through the lens of old baggage, superstitions, or a fear of judgment instead of accepting His grace cleanly?
- What is a good, noble thing in your life that has the subtle tendency to move from a blessing to a pedestal above God, eventually revealing itself to be made of clay?
Prayer
Father,
You alone are the living God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. Keep us grounded in the truth that every earthly thing we are tempted to put on a pedestal is ultimately made of clay and bound to fail us. Forgive us for the times we focus our devotion on our careers, our mentors, or our own successes rather than keeping our eyes anchored entirely on You. Give us the discernment to recognize Your Holy Spirit at work without twisting Your blessings into tools for our own comfort or performance. May we always look to You, behold Your unchanging grace, and clear away the false gods of this world so we can truly hear Your voice. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
