perceiving that he had faith to be saved, cried in an audible voice to the man, Stand upright on thy feet. The words were no sooner pronounced, than his strength was at once restored, and he leaped up and walked.
The people who beheld this miracle well knew that it was not wrought by any human power; but having been initiated in the superstitious customs of the heathens, they cried out, The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Accordingly they called Barnabas Jupiter, because of his venerable gravity, and Paul Mercury, from his eloquence. Nor was it long before the whole city resounded with acclamations; so that almost all the inhabitants gathered themselves together, and, preceded by the priests of Jupiter, and oxen dressed in garlands, they came to the house where the apostles were intending to do sacrifice to them.
But as soon as Barnabas and Paul understood their intentions, they were greatly affected at this superstitious design; and rending their clothes to express their grief and abhorrence of the action, ran to them, crying out, “Ye men of Lystra, ye are mistaken in the object of your worship; for though we have done many miracles in the name, and by the power of Christ, yet we are no more than men, and subject to the same passions with yourselves, and preach unto you the glad tidings of salvation, that ye may forsake the vanities of this world, and turn to the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all the creatures they contain.” This argument of the apostle’s had the desired effect; and the people were at last, though with difficulty, persuaded to lay aside their intended idolatrous sacrifice.
But the malice of the Jews still pursued the apostles; for some of these bigoted Israelites coming from Antioch and Iconium, exasperated and stirred up the multitude; so that those very persons who could hardly be restrained from offering sacrifice to them, now used them like slaves, stoning them in so cruel a manner, that Paul was thought to be dead, and as such they dragged him out of the city; but while the Christians of Lystra were attending on his body, probably in order to carry him to the grave, he arose and returned with them into the city; and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe, where they preached the gospel, and converted many.
They soon, however, returned to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, and Pisidia, confirming the Christians of those places in the faith, earnestly persuading them to persevere, and not to be discouraged with those troubles and persecutions, which would attend the profession of the gospel. And that tho affairs of the church might be conducted with more regularity,
