Acts 14:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But this could not be known up to that point, because they were speaking in their own language: "The gods have come down to us in human form." Therefore the apostles said nothing to them. But when they saw the garlands, they rushed forward and tore their garments (Acts 14:14). Look at the simplicity of the Gentiles and the malice of the Jews. The former showed by their deeds that they were worthy to hear the apostles. They offered them such honor only because of the signs. Those people honored them as gods, while these drove them out as harmful men. The former not only did not hinder the preaching, but even said, "The gods have come down to us in human form." But the Jews took offense.

"And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them." He points them to spiritual testimony.

The apostles went to another city of the same province and at first labored for quite a long time in Lystra. Here, as is evident, there was no synagogue, and Jews did not live there in general. Therefore no better place remained for preaching the Gospel than the public assemblies in the squares and outside the city. While Paul and Barnabas were carrying on their work in this way near the city, a man lame from birth, perhaps a beggar, listened to their preaching. Paul's words made such a strong impression on him that he waited with hope not only for spiritual restoration, but also for bodily healing. Paul noticed this and, to strengthen his hope in Christ, and through him the hope of others, said to him, "Stand on your feet and walk upright." The lame man was healed.

The apostles' stay in Lystra was marked, among other things, by the healing of a man lame from birth. Yet this great work of God, performed by the Apostle Paul in the name of Jesus Christ, produced a sad misunderstanding among the pagan inhabitants of the city. It gave rise to the thought that the wonderworkers were gods who had appeared in human form. They wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, so that the apostles barely succeeded in convincing these foolish zealots of their error. Afterward the apostles preached the word of God there unhindered for some time. But Jews who came from Antioch of Pisidia succeeded in stirring up the population against the apostles even there. This disturbance was so violent that Paul was stoned and dragged outside the city, since they thought he was dead. Therefore, on the next day, he had to leave that city and go to Derbe.

Here it is related how the inhabitants of Lystra, having seen the miracle of the lame man's healing, took Barnabas and Paul for gods and wished to offer sacrifices to them. When the apostles heard this, they rushed into the crowd, saying, "What are you doing? We also are men like you." Yet by persuading the inhabitants of Lystra not to offer sacrifices to them and not to regard them as gods, the apostles do not forbid us to honor their memory, glorify their struggles, and ask their prayers for us before the Lord.

On one occasion the Apostle Paul noticed among his hearers a man who had been crippled from birth. His evident thirst to listen made him come forward toward the apostle as a man who could perform wondrous deeds. He was not mistaken. Fixing his gaze on the sick man, the apostle cried out with a loud voice: "Stand upright!" Stirred by the miraculous power, the cripple stood up and began to walk.

He sat, being lame: see Acts 3:2 and the note. He was probably asking alms from passersby in some busier place of the city, where the apostle was also preaching.

The miraculous healing of the lame man in the city of Lystra is very significant in its beginning. The Apostle Paul first became convinced that the lame man had faith, and a definite faith, namely that he would receive healing. The apostle discerned this with a single glance. From this it is clear what gift of insight the holy Apostle Paul possessed. It also shows how boldly great his hope in God was when he cried out with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." It was as though he were handing over a ready gift from the Master of life. The creature who had lacked the ordinary gift of walking from birth obeyed the authoritative command spoken in the name of the almighty Creator. Like certain newborn creatures already complete, he leaped up and walked. "It seems to me," says St.