Acts 14:8-20 - Mistaken For Gods In Lystra

⁸ Now in Lystra there was a man sitting down who couldn't use his feet. He had been crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul watched him closely, and when he saw that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ he said in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" Then the man jumped up and began to walk.

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us!" ¹² They began to call Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of the temple of Zeus, which was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵ "Men, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings with natures like yours. We are telling you the good news so you'll turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. ¹⁶ In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, ¹⁷ yet he has not abandoned his witness: he continues to do good, to give you rain from heaven, to give you fruitful seasons, and to fill you with food and your hearts with joy." ¹⁸ Even by saying this, it was all Paul and Barnabas could do to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

¹⁹ But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day, he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.