Idolatry at Lystra

(A)And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. [a]Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, (B)“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, (C)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called [b]Zeus, and Paul, [c]Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, (D)intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, (E)they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, (F)why are you doing these things? (G)We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from (H)these useless things (I)to the living God, (J)who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 (K)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 (L)Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, (M)gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with (N)food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Stoning, Escape to Derbe

19 (O)Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, (P)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be (Q)dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:9 Lit. Who
  2. Acts 14:12 Jupiter
  3. Acts 14:12 Mercury

In Lystra and Derbe

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth(A) and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed(B) 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”(C) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.(D)

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(E) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(F) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(G) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(H) like you. We are bringing you good news,(I) telling you to turn from these worthless things(J) to the living God,(K) who made the heavens and the earth(L) and the sea and everything in them.(M) 16 In the past, he let(N) all nations go their own way.(O) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(P) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(Q) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(R) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews(S) came from Antioch and Iconium(T) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul(U) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples(V) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

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