6
When Paul and Barnabas learned about this, they ran away to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the areas around those cities.
7
They announced the Good News there, too.
8
In Lystra there sat a man who had been born crippled; he had never walked.
9
As this man was listening to Paul speak, Paul looked straight at him and saw that he believed God could heal him.
10
So he cried out, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began walking around.
11
When the crowds saw what Paul did, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like humans and have come down to us!"
12
Then the people began to call Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker.
13
The priest in the temple of Zeus, which was near the city, brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. He and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
14
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard about it, they tore their clothes. They ran in among the people, shouting,
15
"Friends, why are you doing these things? We are only human beings like you. We are bringing you the Good News and are telling you to turn away from these worthless things and turn to the living God. He is the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.
16
In the past, God let all the nations do what they wanted.