When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Acts 14: 11-13, NIV.
Merciful God, You know just how easy it is for us to get caught up with the praise of people. As we study Your Word, please show us how futile is the praise of human beings. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.
This story is not one that we read about, or, hear sermons about; at least, not very often. But it encloses a very important lesson. It is important for all of us, but especially for those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! When God calls a man, or a woman, to preach His gospel; it is never a call to fame and fortune. This could result; but His call is always one of service. We are called to serve, not to be served. Whatever else we prayed, or, did not pray, for, we need to ask God to give us a servant’s heart. If, indeed, we want to walk in the Master’s footsteps, then we must resist the human tendency to become great in our own eyes.
If we go back to the beginning of the chapter we can see where it all began. While Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel in Lystra, they came upon a man who “was lame from birth and had never walked.” When he heard the preaching of the apostles hope came alive in his soul. His faith was activated! When Paul saw what was happening, he commanded the man to stand up. The man not only stood up, but he began to walk! This caused quite a stir among the people. This man was a cripple from his mother’s womb, and by the power of these men, he is walking (that is what they thought)! Paul would let them know that it was really God who had done the healing.
It would seem that it was considered something extra special when someone who was born physically challenged was healed! They made such a big thing of it. They made more of it than they would, if the person was born in perfect health, suffered an accident, or became sick, and then was healed! There are at least three incidences that I can think of, where this is the case: John 9: 1-27 (the man blind from birth); Acts 3: 1-12 (another man lame from his mother’s womb); and the man in our story, also lame, from his mother’s womb. The healing of this man made such an impression upon these people that they were ready to worship Paul and Barnabas, as “gods [who] have come down in human form[!]”
The animals were all ready for the sacrifice, the garlands of flowers ready to be placed upon, either the apostles, who were thought to be gods, or, the animals (Clarke’s Commentary). It was then that the apostles realized what was about to take place. These people were getting ready to worship them as if they were gods! I believe this was more frightening to the apostles, than facing the possibility of being stoned! They were mere mortals like these people. Only the Creator God deserved to be worshipped! They had to be stopped! With one of his stirring messages, the apostle Paul “barely managed to restrain them” (18)!
But by the time we come to the next verse (19); through the “persuasion of certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium,” they stoned Paul and left him for dead! From gods to heretics, deserving of death! That is how fickle human opinion is. Because of this, we are admonished to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are to realize that God called us; He will commission us; and only He can deliver us, from the wiles of the evil one. Do not lose sight of the fact that the real enemy behind every human attack, is the devil. He will do everything in his power to set human against human; and to hinder the cause of God. If we can remain focused we will be fine. If we can remember that the servant is not greater than his, or her, Master, and that if they persecuted the Master they will persecute His servants as well, we will be ready, and enabled, to bear the attacks!
Remember, the real danger does not lie in the persecution, it lies in the praise. Therefore, “Beware of the praise!”