Acts 14:9

KJV

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

KJV (with Strong's)

The same {G3778} heard {G191} Paul {G3972} speak {G2980}: who {G3739} stedfastly beholding {G816} him {G846}, and {G2532} perceiving {G1492} that {G3754} he had {G2192} faith {G4102} to be healed {G4982},

Complete Jewish Bible

This man listened to Sha’ul speaking. Sha’ul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

Berean Standard Bible

This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.

American Standard Version

The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 14:9 captures a pivotal moment in Lystra where the Apostle Paul, while preaching, discerned a profound spiritual readiness in a man who had been lame from birth. This verse highlights Paul's Spirit-empowered insight and the man's receptive faith, setting the stage for a dramatic divine intervention that would powerfully confirm the truth of the Gospel message and challenge the prevailing pagan beliefs of the community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey, specifically after their tumultuous departure from Iconium and their arrival in Lystra (Acts 14:6-7). The preceding verse, [Acts 14:8](/acts/14-8 "Acts 14:8 - The Lame Man in Lystra"), introduces the man "impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked." This detail emphasizes the severity and congenital nature of his condition, making the subsequent healing an undeniable miracle. The immediate context shows Paul actively engaged in proclaiming the Gospel, and the man is presented as a listener among the crowd, indicating that the miracle is directly connected to the hearing of the Word. The events that follow in [Acts 14:10-18](/acts/14-10-18 "Acts 14:10-18 - Paul Heals, People Respond") demonstrate the profound impact of this miracle, leading to the local populace attempting to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, a reaction rooted in their pagan worldview.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Lystra was a Roman colony in the region of Lycaonia, a less Hellenized area compared to other cities Paul visited. Its inhabitants likely spoke a local dialect in addition to Greek, and their religious practices were deeply rooted in traditional Greco-Roman paganism, particularly the worship of Zeus and Hermes, as evidenced by their reaction in [Acts 14:11-13](/acts/14-11-13 "Acts 14:11-13 - The People of Lystra Mistake Paul and Barnabas for Gods"). The presence of a temple of Jupiter (Zeus) outside the city gates suggests a strong polytheistic culture. In such a setting, miraculous healings served as powerful attestations to the authority and truth of the Christian message, contrasting sharply with the impotence of pagan deities. The Roman administrative structure also meant that while local customs prevailed, there was an underlying Roman order, which would later play a role in Paul's persecution.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several key themes within Acts and the broader New Testament. Foremost is the **sovereignty of God in healing**, demonstrating that divine power can overcome even congenital afflictions. It also highlights the **centrality of faith** as a conduit for receiving God's miraculous intervention, echoing themes found in Jesus's ministry where faith often preceded healing, as seen in the account of the woman with the issue of blood in [Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Your Faith Has Healed You"). Another crucial theme is **divine discernment**, as Paul's ability to "perceive" the man's faith points to the Holy Spirit's work in equipping believers with spiritual insight, a concept elaborated upon in passages concerning spiritual gifts, such as [1 Corinthians 12:7-11](/1_corinthians/12-7-11 "1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - Diversity of Spiritual Gifts"). Finally, the passage underscores the **power of the preached Word**; the man "heard Paul speak," indicating that the proclamation of the Gospel is often the precursor to and catalyst for miraculous signs and wonders, confirming the message, as promised in [Mark 16:20](/mark/16-20 "Mark 16:20 - The Disciples Preach and God Confirms").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **heard (Greek, _akoúō'_):** This word (G191) signifies "to hear (in various senses)." In this context, it implies not merely the physical act of hearing sounds but also an attentive, receptive listening to Paul's message. It suggests that the man was not just passively present but was genuinely engaged with the words being spoken, opening himself to their spiritual impact. This receptive hearing is often a prerequisite for faith to be kindled.
* **stedfastly beholding (Greek, _atenízō'_):** This term (G816) means "to gaze intently" or "to fix one's eyes upon." It describes Paul's focused, penetrating gaze towards the lame man. This was not a casual glance but an intense, purposeful observation, likely guided by the Holy Spirit, allowing Paul to perceive beyond the physical appearance into the man's spiritual state. This same word is used elsewhere in Acts to describe intense spiritual focus or revelation (e.g., Stephen in [Acts 7:55](/acts/7-55 "Acts 7:55 - Stephen's Vision")).
* **perceiving (Greek, _eídō'_):** This verb (G1492), used here in the perfect tense, means "to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know." Paul's "perceiving" was not merely intellectual deduction but a spiritual knowing or discernment. It indicates a supernatural insight granted by the Holy Spirit, allowing Paul to recognize the man's internal disposition of faith, which was otherwise invisible to the natural eye. This spiritual perception enabled Paul to act decisively.
* **faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** This noun (G4102) denotes "persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession." Here, it refers to the man's active belief and trust in the power of God, likely stirred by Paul's preaching, that he could indeed be healed. It is not merely a mental assent but a conviction that leads to expectation and receptivity.
* **to be healed (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** This verb (G4982) means "to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively); heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole." While often translated as "save" in a spiritual sense, here its primary meaning is physical healing or restoration to wholeness. The man's faith was specifically directed towards physical restoration, and the subsequent miracle confirms this understanding.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The same heard Paul speak":** This clause establishes the immediate context: the lame man was among Paul's audience, actively listening to his proclamation of the Gospel. This highlights the foundational role of hearing the Word of God as the means through which faith is often initiated and cultivated.
* **"who stedfastly beholding him":** This describes Paul's intense, fixed gaze upon the lame man. It suggests a deep, Spirit-led focus, indicating that Paul was not merely looking at the man but was spiritually discerning something profound about him. This focused attention precedes and enables the subsequent spiritual perception.
* **"and perceiving that he had faith to be healed":** This is the pivotal insight. Paul, through divine revelation, understood that the man possessed a genuine, active faith specifically for physical healing. This perception was crucial; it wasn't a random act of healing but a response to a discerned spiritual condition, demonstrating God's responsiveness to human faith. The man's faith was not merely a passive hope but an active expectation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Divine Discernment** is prominent, as Paul's "stedfastly beholding" and "perceiving" indicate a supernatural insight granted by the Holy Spirit, allowing him to see beyond the man's physical infirmity into his spiritual readiness. This is a recurring motif in Acts, showcasing the apostles' reliance on and empowerment by the Spirit. There is also an element of **Foreshadowing**, as Paul's perception of faith immediately precedes and sets the stage for the dramatic miracle of healing in the next verse, building narrative tension and expectation. The **Contrast** between the man's lifelong physical lameness and his sudden spiritual capacity for faith underscores the transformative power of the Gospel and God's intervention. Furthermore, the narrative structure embodies a **Miracle Narrative** pattern: the presentation of the afflicted, the discernment of faith, the command for healing, and the resulting restoration, all serving to authenticate the divine origin of Paul's message.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 14:9 profoundly illustrates the dynamic interplay between divine power and human faith. It teaches that while God's power to heal and deliver is absolute and sovereign, He often chooses to work through the conduit of human faith. Paul's spiritual discernment underscores the Holy Spirit's active role in empowering believers not just to preach, but to perceive and respond to spiritual realities in others, enabling targeted and effective ministry. This passage reinforces the New Testament pattern where the hearing of the Gospel can ignite faith, which then becomes the channel for God's miraculous intervention, demonstrating that God's grace is accessible to all who believe, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

* [Matthew 9:29](/matthew/9-29 "Matthew 9:29 - According to Your Faith")
* [James 5:15](/james/5-15 "James 5:15 - The Prayer of Faith")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 14:9 serves as a powerful reminder of the profound connection between hearing God's Word, the cultivation of faith, and the manifestation of divine power. For us today, it challenges us to consider the quality of our own listening when the Gospel is proclaimed. Are we merely hearing with our ears, or are we truly receiving the message into our hearts, allowing it to cultivate a genuine, expectant faith? This verse also encourages us to pray for and cultivate spiritual discernment, recognizing that the Holy Spirit can grant us insights into the needs and spiritual readiness of those around us, enabling us to minister more effectively. It teaches us that faith is not a passive belief but an active, expectant trust that can unlock God's miraculous intervention in our lives and the lives of others, reminding us that God is still in the business of healing and restoration, often in response to a simple, yet profound, act of belief.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the man's "hearing Paul speak" relate to the development of his faith, and what does this imply about the importance of consistent exposure to God's Word in our own lives?**
* **In what ways might we, like Paul, cultivate spiritual discernment to perceive the needs and spiritual readiness of others around us?**
* **What does "faith to be healed" mean for us today, particularly when facing physical, emotional, or spiritual brokenness, and how can we grow in this kind of expectant faith?**
* **How does this passage challenge any passive or intellectual understanding of faith, emphasizing instead its active and receptive nature?**

### FAQ
**Was the man's healing solely dependent on his faith, or was Paul's discernment equally important?**

Answer: The passage suggests a beautiful synergy between the two. While the man's "faith to be healed" was a crucial prerequisite, Paul's "stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving" that faith was equally vital. Paul's discernment, empowered by the Holy Spirit, allowed him to identify the man's spiritual readiness and act decisively. This highlights that God often works through both the recipient's faith and the minister's Spirit-led insight and authority. It's not an either/or, but a demonstration of God's power flowing through a divinely orchestrated interaction, as seen in other New Testament healings where both faith and divine initiative are present (e.g., [Acts 3:1-10](/acts/3-1-10 "Acts 3:1-10 - Peter Heals the Lame Man at the Temple Gate")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 14:9, while detailing a miracle performed by Paul, ultimately points to the greater work and person of Jesus Christ. The man's "faith to be healed" echoes the countless instances in the Gospels where individuals were made whole by their faith in Jesus, the ultimate Healer, who declared to the woman with the issue of blood, "[Your faith has made you well](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Your Faith Has Healed You")". Paul's Spirit-empowered discernment reflects the perfect discernment of Christ, who knew the hearts of men and could perceive their faith or unbelief (e.g., [Mark 2:8](/mark/2-8 "Mark 2:8 - Jesus Knew Their Thoughts")). The healing itself is a tangible sign of the breaking in of God's kingdom, a foretaste of the complete restoration promised in Christ. Just as the lame man in Lystra was made whole, so too does Christ offer spiritual wholeness and salvation from the crippling effects of sin. He is the one who truly gives "faith" (as the author and perfecter of faith, [Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith")) and "healing" (through His atoning work on the cross, [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "By His Wounds We Are Healed")). Thus, this miracle in Acts is not merely an isolated event but a powerful demonstration of the ongoing redemptive work initiated and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and offers abundant life to all who believe ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - The Thief Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy; I Have Come That They May Have Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 3:4

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Matthew 15:28

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 9:28

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Matthew 9:29

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Mark 2:5

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mark 1:40

¶ And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mark 1:41

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.