5. . Stress on humanness

14:7-18

Crowds

Adulation

14:7-18 They were evangelizing there (Lycaonia etc) and a certain man who had no power in his feet was sitting by. He had never walked and had been lame from birth. This man listened to Paul speaking. Paul gazed at him and saw that he had the faith to be healed. He said with a loud voice "Stand up on your feet erect." (The man) leaped up and walked. The crowds on seeing what Paul did lifted up their voice around Lycaonia saying "These men are like gods who have come down to us." So they called Barnabas Zeus and (they called) Paul Hermes since it was he who was the leader of the discourse. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and garlands to the gates of the city and with the crowds wanted to

make a sacrifice. But on hearing about it Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd crying out and saying "Men why are you doing these things? We are only men like yourselves. We are preaching to you about turning away from these vanities towards the Living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them. In generations past he has allowed all the nations (non-Jews) to go on in their ways. Yet even so, he has witnessed to himself in doing good from heaven like giving rain and at times the bearing of fruit. He has filled our bodies with food and our hearts with gladness." But in saying these things they scarcely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

6. . Brotherly Support

14:19-28

Iconium Jews

desire for leadership

14:19 -28 There were Jews who came from Antioch and Iconium. They swayed the crowds (at Lycaonia etc) and so Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city. It was supposed that he had died. But as the disciples surrounded him he got up and went (back) into the city. The next day he went out (from there) with Barnabas and on to Derbe. Having evangelized that city and having made many disciples they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They confirmed the minds of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, (and telling them) that it is through many afflictions that it behoves us to enter into the

kingdom of God. Then, having appointed elders for them in every church and after praying with fasting, they committed them (Paul and Barnabas) to the Lord in whom they had believed. They (then) passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. They were speaking the word in Perga and (then) they came down to Attalia and from there sailed away to Antioch. It was there they were commended to the grace (life) of God for the work which they had accomplished. So having arrived and having assembled the church they reported what things God had done with them - that he had opened a door of faith to the nations (non-Jews). They stayed quite some time with the disciples there (at Antioch).