Acts 14:8-18 (ESV)

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, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 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!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 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. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “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. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 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.” Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

This miracle triggers a bizarre reaction; the people think Barnabas and Paul are Zeus and Hermes. This isn’t random; there’s an old legend about Zeus and Hermes visiting Lystra. Everyone thinks they’re back.

This highlights the challenge Paul and Barnabas are up against. They don’t just need to teach these folks that Jesus is God; they need to teach them what that means. They have the wrong concept of “God.”

So, despite the fact that they got everyone’s attention by healing the cripple, their job isn’t going to be easy. Then it gets worse. 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.

Nooooooo! Paul and Barnabas freak out, rend their garments, and try to explain why this is so wrong. They basically just give a lesson in monotheism. They do a good job, but this subject is too complex. Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

This is a perfect example of how the gospel message isn’t one size fits all. Every unbeliever has something they don’t get. Our job is to figure out what that is and give it to them.

But the answer isn’t words. Most people understand the concept of a monotheistic creator; they just don’t like Him. Something terrible happened in their past, and they can’t imagine why an all-powerful God would let that happen. Faced with the awful prospect of hating God, they choose to not believe He exists.

There are an amazing number of folks just like this. You know some. Most of them aren’t interested in an explanation of how a good God could have created the brutal world we live in. The best we can do is pray for them.

Ask the Lord to open their hearts and their minds to Him.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies