Acts 14:8-13 8Now a certain man disabled in feet was sitting in Lystra, cripped from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9This man listened as Paul was speaking, who, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!” 12They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13And 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.
The next story took place in Lystra. Lystra was a relatively small town in the province of Galatia that also served as a Roman military post. It was located about 100 miles from Antioch (see verse 19) and less than 20 miles from Derby. This town appeared to be mostly pagan, since there is no mention of native Jews in this story. Having no Jewish audience did not stop Paul and Barnabas, who spoke courageously to those with likely little understanding of the Jewish Scriptures or belief in one, almighty God.
A lame man was listening intently to what Paul was preaching. Luke notes that this man had never walked, which emphasizes even more the extraordinary miracle that was about to take place. Something in what Paul said gave the man hope. Often, it is especially those with a need who respond to the hope of the gospel. Others find their sufficiency in themselves and are never satisfied. Paul could also perceive the man’s faith and hope. The word for made well in verse 9 can also be translated as “saved” (sōthēnai). There was more going on in this man’s faith than just a hope to walk again. A preacher can often tell those in the congregation who are listening intently and express their faith by the way they look back. Luke does not record the topic of Paul’s preaching, but based on other examples in Acts, the focus of the message likely was the offer of salvation and eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul and Barnabas had done miracles in other places. In this case, although the text does not say specifically, Paul must have been sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit with his assertive command to the man to stand up. The power of God was active in Paul’s ministry. This lame man and his healing are similar to the healing of another lame man in chapter 3. Luke uses some of the same words and descriptions of these two men.
The next part of the story is surprising to the reader of Acts. This is the first example in Acts of the gospel being preached to a predominantly pagan audience. The next three verses relate how the townspeople began to praise Paul and Barnabas. This town was highly influenced by the worship of Zeus, with a temple built at the city’s entrance. The people may have been influenced also by a famous myth about Zeus and Hermes recorded in Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.626ff, which may have come from that area of Phrygia. The people thought Paul and Barnabas were incarnations of the Greek gods. Barnabas may have been older and looked like the local depictions of Zeus, with his beard and stately manner. Paul was an effective speaker and reminded people of Hermes, who was thought to be the assistant and spokesperson for Zeus. The people got excited at the similarities, and the miracle could only be explained through the power of the gods. The priest of the temple to Zeus wanted to worship them by placing garlands on them and sacrificing a bull. Paul and Barnabas were in a quandary: they wanted to preach the gospel, and people were responding, but there was also a great misunderstanding about them. Right at the point of great victory, another challenge emerged in their ministry.