Acts 14:8-18

Lexham English Bible

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

⁸ And in Lystra a certain man was sitting powerless in his feet, lame from birth,^[a] who had never walked. ⁹ 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.