By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
MISGUIDED WORSHIP
Acts 14:8–20
Acts is the unfolding story of the people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, engaging in the mission of God. God has saved us to glorify Him by making disciples through the gospel, in community, on mission. Jesus wants us to be a part of this unfolding story.
Healing (8–10)
The apostle Paul was proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in Lystra. A man who had been lame from birth was listening to Paul’s words. The threefold description of the man in verse 8 emphasized the hopelessness of the man’s condition. He was congenitally crippled and everyone in town knew it. The Holy Spirit enabled Paul to see what was happening in the spiritual realm, allowing him to see this man’s faith. Paul saw an opportunity to confirm his message with a miraculous sign. The apostle commanded the lame man to stand up, and this man who had never taken a step in his life promptly sprang up and began walking. This miracle got everyone’s attention.
Reaction (11–13)
The people of Lystra mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods. Paul and Barnabas did not realize what was happening at first because the people were speaking another language. They called Paul “Hermes,” the Greek god of oratory and inventor of speech. They called Barnabas “Zeus,” the chief god.
It is possible this false declaration came from a local legend. The Latin poet Ovid described how the gods descended to this region, seeking hospitality, but everyone rejected the gods except for one poor couple, Philemon and Baucis, who took them in. The gods rewarded them by transforming their cottage into a magnificent temple and making them guardians of it. The gods punished the unwelcoming residents with a severe flood. The people saw the miracle and assumed the gods had returned, and they did not want to mess up this time. Paul and Barnabas knew something unusual was happening when the priest of Zeus arrived with oxen and garlands for a sacrifice.
We are commanded to remember our leaders, and to obey and submit to them (Heb. 13:7, 17). We are told to honor them as they work hard in preaching and teaching (1 Tim. 5:17). But we must never worship our leaders. Only God is worthy of our worship.
Redirected (14–18)
When Paul and Barnabas realized what was taking place, they urged the people to stop their sacrifice, redirecting them to the one true God. Paul’s main theme was the nature and work of the living God. The Lystrans believed in many gods and had no knowledge of the only true God. If Paul had started his message with Jesus, many may have accepted Jesus as one god among the many other gods in their polytheistic worldview. Paul wanted to make clear that there is only one true God over all things.
Paul wants to share the “good news” with them. He never got to the resurrection of Jesus, however. Probably because of the mob his sermon was cut short. He did not have a chance to finish the story.
Our goal, like Paul’s, ought to be to present the good news of Jesus and call people to repent of their sin against the living God. We may not have a chance to finish the story at that time but we ought to tell as much of it as we can.
Rejected (19–20)
Angry Jews came from Antioch and Iconium to persecute Paul and stop him from proclaiming the truth. If we are going to follow Christ faithfully, we too must be prepared for persecution.
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