Jews pursuing Paul and Barnabas who flee to Lystra. Roman outpost. Different language and mythical beliefs and practices. Home of Timothy, Lois and Eunice.
- Miraculous Healing (vv.8-10)
- Man cannot walk x3 in verse 8.
- Given faith to be healed (perhaps God used Paul’s preaching from v.7)
- Definitively healed
- Paul given ability to perform miracles to affirm his apostleship
- Soli Deo Gloria (vv.11-18)
- Ovid’s fable of Baucis and Philemon and their hospitality. Greek gods Zeus and Hermes (their parallel in Roman mythology is Jupiter and Mercury respectively).
- Lystrans think that Paul and Barnabas are Zeus and Hermes
- Language barrier
- Paul and Barnabas are horrified. Torn robes. Look to God, not us!
- False religions are not harmless “Vain things” (v.15)
- Watch out for flattery (Psalm 78:36-37, Proverbs 26:28, 29:5)
- Preaching to suit your “audience” (cater, but do not water-down)
- “In past generations” Paul’s OT knowledge
- Romans 1
- Murderous Persecution (vv.19-20)
- Jews had wanted Paul’s blood since Iconium
- They poisoned their hearers’ minds (Acts 14:2)
- Stoning- Old Testament means of punishment
- The crowd are quickly turned by these influencers (Ephesians 4:14)
- But Paul lives. His being revived “has the flavour of a miracle” -FF Bruce
The mob are not to be feared. The Church has been planted in Lystra. Paul will return in Acts 16 to check on the young church, there.