Acts 14:8-18

Modern English Version

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

⁸ In Lystra there sat a man, crippled in his feet, who had never walked and was lame from birth. ⁹ He heard Paul speaking, who looked intently at him and perceived that he had faith to be healed ¹⁰ and said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he jumped up and walked.

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of Zeus, who was in front of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates to offer sacrifices with the crowds.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, ¹⁶ who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ With these words they scarcely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.