Acts 14:8

¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

And {G2532} there sat {G2521} a certain {G5100} man {G435} at {G1722} Lystra {G3082}, impotent {G102} in his feet {G4228}, being {G5225} a cripple {G5560} from {G1537} his {G846} mother's {G3384} womb {G2836}, who {G3739} never {G3763} had walked {G4043}:

There was a man living in Lystra who could not use his feet — crippled from birth, he had never walked.

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.

Commentary

Acts 14:8 KJV introduces a pivotal moment in the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, setting the stage for a powerful display of divine intervention in Lystra.

Context

Following their persecution in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas arrived in Lystra, a city in the Roman province of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). This verse describes a man who had been lame from birth, a common and severe disability in ancient times. His inability to walk, "from his mother's womb," highlights the chronic and undeniable nature of his condition, making the subsequent miracle all the more impactful for the Lystran onlookers, who were largely steeped in pagan worship.

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Healing: The man's lifelong inability to walk ("impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked") underscores the severity of his condition. This extreme helplessness serves to magnify the miraculous power of God demonstrated through Paul, asserting that only a supernatural force could restore such a deep-seated infirmity.
  • Validation of Apostolic Ministry: This public and undeniable healing validated Paul's authority and the divine source of his message. It provided tangible proof that God was indeed working through him and Barnabas, preparing hearts to receive the gospel message.
  • Preparation for the Gospel: Miracles in Acts often served as signposts, drawing attention and creating an openness for the proclamation of Jesus Christ. This healing in Lystra was a powerful precursor to Paul's evangelistic efforts there, demonstrating God's compassion and ability to transform lives.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word translated "impotent" is adynatos (ἀδύνατος), which literally means "powerless," "unable," or "impossible." This emphasizes the man's complete and utter inability to move his feet independently. The phrase "from his mother's womb" (ek koilias metros autou) starkly highlights the congenital nature of his disability, leaving no doubt that his condition was not recent or easily feigned.

Practical Application

Acts 14:8 reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Ability to Intervene: Just as God intervened in the impossible situation of the lame man, He is capable of bringing healing and transformation to the most entrenched difficulties in our lives, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. With God, all things are possible.
  • Compassion for the Needy: The verse implicitly calls us to notice and have compassion for those who are marginalized or suffering, just as Paul did. Our awareness of others' needs can open doors for God to work through us.
  • Opportunities for Witness: God often uses extraordinary circumstances to create opportunities for us to share the hope of the Gospel. The miraculous healing here paved the way for Paul to preach the good news to a receptive audience, demonstrating that God's power is always for a purpose.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Acts 3:2

    And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

  • John 5:7

    The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

  • Acts 4:9

    If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

  • John 9:1

    ¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.

  • John 9:2

    And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

  • John 5:3

    In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

  • John 5:5

    And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
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