Acts 14:8-20 – In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 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!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 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 and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. 19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
“Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.” Paul and Barnabas were able to stop the sacrifices, but just barely. It shows how powerful a true miracle can be as a witness. Of course it needs to be clearly pointed out by the person through whom God does the miracle that all glory and praise goes to God. It must be pointed out very clearly!
“Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.” Most of us have seen Western Movies where a vigilante group, filled with hate, pursued a person whom they thought was guilty, but was innocent. They sometimes caught up to that person and killed him without a trial. The similarity here seems too real and so sad. They had not convicted Paul in any court. They just did not like what He stood for and what He was saying so they were ready to kill him and anyone who was associated with him. So awful! Yet Family, let us confess that we have greater technology now, but mankind has not changed. We still want to hate, and even kill people because we don’t like their opinions or beliefs. Most of us don’t think that way, but we probably all have been filled, at one time or another, with extreme anger at another. We must beware of letting anger, and not love, fill our hearts. Read Matthew 5:21-26 what Jesus had to say about it.
“But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” Were the disciples praying for him and he was raised from the dead. Maybe, but not likely. V19 does not state that Paul was dead, but that they thought he was dead. He was likely knocked out and hurt so badly that they thought he was dead. Whether he was dead or not, he certainly was revived and gained strength fast enough to walk into town. For Believers, that in itself was healing from God. To the skeptic, well, they are called skeptics for a reason.
Let’s consider what just has happened. The Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and maybe some villagers (?) seized Paul, dragged him outside of town (Jewish law, pointing to them doing the stoning), stoned him so badly they thought they had killed him (which they had intended to do), and they left him there. Paul was revived and battered and bleeding and then did what? He got up and walked right back into the place where those who stoned him were. Wow, Paul did not quit easy! It is said that Paul was a short and possibly a slight man. Obviously He was, in the Lord, also a very brave one. Would we be so bold should something like that happen to us?
“The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.” Paul was brave, but He knew when it was time to leave. Since the people sided with the Jews (Jewish leaders) it was time to move on to the next town. It is worth noting that Paul was doing as he was led by the Holy Spirit. He was doing what he had been called to do. Yet he was beaten and stoned. It is true that no one can take our lives while we are doing what the Lord has for us to do. But they can stone us and when our mission is completed, they may kill us. So hard times are not necessarily an indicator that the ministry should stop. It may mean it needs to move to another location, but does not mean it should stop. Let us persevere through hard times and great opposition, or little opposition, and do the work God has called us to do. Whatever we have to endure is nothing compared to what we have received through our Savior and Lord Jesus (Romans 8:18, Philippians 3:7-11). Thank you Jesus! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.