Psalm 115

⁵ Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. ⁶ When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area, ⁷ where they continued to proclaim the good news.

Healing a crippled man in Lystra

⁸ In Lystra there was a certain man who lacked strength in his legs. He had been crippled since birth and had never walked. Sitting there, he ⁹ heard Paul speaking. Paul stared at him and saw that he believed he could be healed.

¹⁰ Raising his voice, Paul said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” He jumped up and began to walk.

¹¹ Seeing what Paul had done, the crowd shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have taken human form and come down to visit us!” ¹² They referred to Barnabas as Zeus and to Paul as Hermes, since Paul was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of Zeus, whose temple was located just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. Along with the crowds, he wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

¹⁴ When the Lord’s messengers Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes in protest and rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, ¹⁵ “People, what are you doing? We are humans too, just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you: turn to the living God and away from such worthless things. He made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.^{[a] 16} In the past, he permitted every nation to go its own way. ¹⁷ Nevertheless, he hasn’t left himself without a witness. He has blessed you by giving you rain from above as well as seasonal harvests, and satisfying you with food and happiness.” ¹⁸ Even with these words, they barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

²¹ Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

²² Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “Lord, why are you about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. ²⁶ The Companion,^[a] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.