Act 14:6-21 | PNT | STEP | Fled to Lystra and Derbe . These were Lycaonian cities, not far from Iconium. Neither now exists, but the ruins of Lystra, and those of Derbe it is thought, are identical. The first is called by a name meaning "The Thousand and One Churches", on account of the ruins of so many sacred edifices. Lystra is named frequently in early church history as a center of Christian influence.

Acts 14:6-21

Fled to Lystra and Derbe. These were Lycaonian cities, not far from Iconium. Neither now exists, but the ruins of Lystra, and those of Derbe it is thought, are identical. The first is called by a name meaning "The Thousand and One Churches", on account of the ruins of so many sacred edifices. Lystra is named frequently in early church history as a center of Christian influence. There sat a certain man at Lystra. The account of the healing of this cripple is related, not as an unusual occurrence, but because it led to the attempt to defy Paul and Barnabas. As to the frequency of the miracles, see Ac 14:3. The same heard Paul speak. He might have been carried by his friends to the place of speaking, some open square or thoroughfare, to gratify his curiosity, or even to ask alms.

He had faith to be healed. Wrought by hearing the word. As faith is a gospel requisite that we should be healed of our sins, so it was required as a condition of miraculous healing of bodily diseases. Note that this miracle, like those of Christ, is a parable of redemption. There is (1) Hearing of the Word; (2) faith which comes by hearing (Ro 10:17); (3) the command that calls for an exercise of faith; (4) the effort to obey in faith; (5) salvation from the infirmity by obedience. As Christ so often said, so might Paul, "Thy faith hath saved thee" (Lu 7:50 18:42). When the people saw what Paul had done. It must be kept in mind that the people of Lystra were heathen, that they believed in many gods, that their legends taught them that the gods had often come down in the form of men and interfered in human affairs. Hence, it is not strange that when they witnessed this miracle, unlike anything ever seen before in their city, they exclaimed, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men".

In the speech of Lycaonia. Paul had preached in Greek, which was understood over all the East, but the native dialect of the Lycaonians was different, and in that they confer together. Called Barnabas, Jupiter. The chief of the gods in the Greek and Roman Pantheon. Barnabas was no doubt a more stately man than Paul, who says that his own "bodily presence was weak and speech contemptible" (2Co 10:10), and there was also a reason why they thought

Paul, Mercurius. Mercury was the "interpreter of the gods". His Greek name, "Hermes", is the origin of our word "Hermeneutics". Paul, eloquent, persuasive, active, was thought to represent the part of Mercury. Then the priest of Jupiter. There was a temple of Jupiter before the gates of the city, with the usual priest, and carried away by their idea, they prepared to offer sacrifices to the gods whom they supposed to have visited them.

Brought oxen and garlands. The oxen for sacrifices; the sacrifices before being offered were crowned with garlands. Floral crowns were also worn by the priest offering sacrifice. [Which] when the apostles. The term "apostles" is used in Ac 14:4. It is applied in the New Testament a number of times to persons not of the twelve, but apostolic men (see 2Co 8:23, where the Greek term "apostolos" is translated "messenger"). Paul was an apostle, chosen by the Lord (Ro 1:1), and Barnabas was an apostolic missionary, sent out ("apostle" means "one sent") by the Holy Spirit.

They rent their clothes. A sign of great grief, and even of indignation and horror. See Ge 37:29 Mt 26:65. We also are men. Not gods, but human, human as you are. See in this protest the unfaltering devotion to truth of these men. No advantage to themselves would induce them to permit a deception.

Should turn from these vanities. From this idolatry. Instead, they called them to the worship of the Living God, the Creator of all things. Who in times past. He had left the nations to their own conceits until it should be demonstrated that man by searching cannot find out God. The efforts of human wisdom were a failure. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness. Nature with many voices testified of him. See Ro 1:18-21. [Certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium. These inveterate opposers followed from the late scenes of gospel triumphs, and found the Lystrians disappointed that they had not been allowed to adore Paul and Barnabas. From one extreme they were easily led to the other. If they were not gods, they were bad men. The fickle populace was easily stirred to riot, and, led by the Jews, they seized and stoned the great apostle until they supposed he was dead. This, the first bodily injury he suffered for Christ, of which we have record, is alluded to in 2Co 11:25, where he gives some account of what he had endured.

Having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city. After the stoning, his enemies dragged him out of the city as they would a carcass. As the disciples stood round about him. When Paul's enemies had gone, the disciples gathered around, and to their joy and surprise he rose up, and came into the city. Whether he had received a blow that rendered him unconscious and apparently dead, until he recovered from the swoon, or whether his restoration was miraculous, cannot be surely determined.

The next day he departed with Barnabas. As commanded by Christ (Mt 10:14 Mr 6:11 Lu 9:5), when persecuted in one city, they departed and came the next day to Derbe, to labor for a time. They returned again to Lystra. After a season of work at Derbe. The Jews had gone, the excitement had subsided, and it was needful to revisit their fields of labor to organize the churches. It is well to remember that one of the converts was Timothy (Ac 16:1).