Daily Devotional Monday 27th April 2020

by William Moody

Acts 14:8–20

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,1 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And 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, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Footnotes

[1] 14:9 Or be saved

(ESV)

Paul is used by God to bring healing to this man crippled from birth in Lystra (v8-10). One of the crucial things about this healing is the little phrase about the man, “he had faith to be healed” (v9). God’s healing, God’s blessing, God’s salvation comes into our lives through faith.

The healing as you would imagine created a great stir (v11-13). There was no way that Paul or Barnabas were going to allow such sacrifices be made to them (v14). There is a great contrast between Paul and Barnabas’ reaction to what we previously saw in King Herod (Acts 12 v21-23). Paul and Barnabas were men passionate for the glory to go to God alone.

Their preaching humbles themselves and exalts God (v15-17). Like John the Baptist speaking about Jesus, our attitude must be, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3 v30).

How fickle people can be is seen in that these people who were treating Paul and Barnabas likes gods one moment now try to kill them (v19). Paul is wonderfully preserved by God (v20) and his ministry continues. Here is a man left for dead, who gets up and gets on with it out of love for Christ.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.