The Visit to Lystra and Derbe
8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
9
This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
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In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.
11
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
12
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13
The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
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But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
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“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
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In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
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Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
18
Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.