Apostol § 34

Acts 14:6–18

In those days, Barnabas and Saul fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the surrounding region; and there they preached the Gospel. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This same [man] heard Paul speaking: who, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet!” And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the Lycaonian tongue, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the people. But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the people, ciying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, Who made the heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them, who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the people that they had not sacrificed to them.