Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. 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.(A)

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!” (B) 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,(C) 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(D) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.[a](E) 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations(F) to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness,(G) since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons(H) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:15 Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

And in Lystra a certain man was sitting powerless in his feet, lame from birth,[a] who had never walked. This man listened while[b] Paul was speaking. Paul,[c] looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And he leaped up and began walking.[d] 11 And when[e] the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language, saying, “The gods have become like men and[f] have come down to us!” 12 And they began calling[g] Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the principal speaker.[h] 13 And the priest of the temple[i] of Zeus that was just outside the city brought bulls and garlands to the gates and[j] was wanting to offer sacrifice, along with the crowds. 14 But when[k] the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it,[l] they tore their clothing and[m] rushed out into the crowd, shouting 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things that are in them— 16 who in generations that are past permitted all the nations[n] to go their own ways. 17 And yet he did not leave himself without witness by[o] doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you[p] with food and your hearts with gladness.” 18 And although[q] they said these things, only with difficulty did they dissuade the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:8 Literally “his mother’s womb”
  2. Acts 14:9 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was speaking”)
  3. Acts 14:9 Literally “who”
  4. Acts 14:10 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began walking”)
  5. Acts 14:11 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Acts 14:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have become like”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Acts 14:12 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began calling”)
  8. Acts 14:12 Literally “leader of the message”
  9. Acts 14:13 The word “temple” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  10. Acts 14:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“brought”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Acts 14:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal
  12. Acts 14:14 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  13. Acts 14:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“tore”) has been translated as a finite verb
  14. Acts 14:16 Or “Gentiles”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context
  15. Acts 14:17 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing good”) which is understood as means
  16. Acts 14:17 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Acts 14:18 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as concessive