Our Daily Dose
Day 178 of 365 · Week 26 · Joshua’s Leadership and Courage
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Paul’s Preaching and Miracles in Lystra
Acts 14:8-20
Scripture · Acts 14:8-20
8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. 17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them. 19Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.
During their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas visit Lystra, where Paul heals a man who had been crippled from birth. The miracle leads to both an outpouring of admiration and a violent backlash, culminating in Paul being stoned and left for dead.
- “In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.”
Exegesis and Study
- Faith and Healing: The healing of the lame man in Lystra demonstrates the power of faith and the authority of the Gospel message. Paul’s ability to perceive the man’s faith and to act boldly in healing him reflects the close connection between spiritual discernment and the working of miracles in the early Church.
- Response to the Gospel: The crowd’s initial response to the miracle is to mistake Paul and Barnabas for
gods, calling them Hermes and Zeus. This misunderstanding highlights the challenge of preaching the Gospel in a context where pagan beliefs are deeply ingrained. Paul and Barnabas must correct this misconception, emphasizing that the power at work is not theirs but God’s. However, this situation quickly turns dangerous as opponents from other cities arrive and incite the crowd to stone Paul.
Prayer Guide
- Pray for Discernment in Ministry: Ask God to give you spiritual discernment, especially when engaging with people who may have different cultural or religious backgrounds. Pray for the wisdom to communicate the Gospel in a way that is clear and understandable, and for the ability to address misconceptions or misunderstandings effectively.
- Pray for Endurance in Trials: Reflect on Paul’s endurance in the face of persecution, even after being stoned and left for dead. Pray for the strength to persevere in your own trials, trusting that God is with you and will sustain you through every difficulty.
This devotional is one day from Our Daily Dose, a 365-day journey through Scripture by Armstrong & Zanele Ogwuche.
Read the full book in the KOS Library →
Read the full book in the KOS Library →
Scripture is shown in public-domain translations, so you can share it freely. The study text is from Our Daily Dose by Armstrong & Zanele Ogwuche.
A daily devotional from KingdomOS. Share freely; every card links back here.
A daily devotional from KingdomOS. Share freely; every card links back here.