The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul told a lame man at Lystra to stand upright, and after the man leaped and walked, “when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”, and in chapter fourteen and verse eighteen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “with these sayings scarce restrained they the people”, where we read:
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
The verse begins, “And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, ...” Luke began with the words, “and with these sayings” which means “and by using and employing the utterances, declarations and proclamations shared by Paul and Barnabas” “scarce restrained they” or “Paul and Barnabas hardly, not easily and rarely quieted, made still and caused to desist” “the people” which means “the human beings both male and female within the city who were calling them gods and set out to worship them”. Luke shared how “Paul and Barnabas” had great difficulty in stopping the people from calling them “gods” and desiring to worship them.
The verse goes on to say, “... that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” Luke continued with the words, “that they had not done sacrifice” or “so that the people in the city did not immolate, slay and killed the oxen to offer” “unto them” which means “to Paul and Barnabas”. Luke shared how the people desired to “sacrifice” the oxen to “Paul and Barnabas” regardless of them telling them not to do so.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the people in the city of Lystra who observed the miracle upon the crippled man could hardly be restrained from “worshiping” “Paul and Barnabas”. Though “Paul” told them where the source of this miracle came, the people could not restrain themselves. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. People are not to be “worshiped” or “credited” for that which God has done, and those who are wise will yield to Jesus and give “glory and honor” unto Him.
Next time Luke shares how, “there came there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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