Miracle and Mistaken Identity in Lystra

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

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

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said with a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” He jumped up and began to walk.

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When the crowds saw what Sha’ul had done, they began to shout in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!”

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They began calling Bar-Nabba “Zeus” and Sha’ul “Hermes,” since he did most of the talking;

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and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, intending to offer a sacrifice to them with the people.

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When the emissaries Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd, shouting,

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“Men! Why are you doing this? We’re just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you — turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them!

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In times past, he allowed all peoples to walk in their own ways;

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yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!”

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Even saying this barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

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