The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul told a lame man at Lystra to stand upright, and the man leaped up and walked. Luke wrote, “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”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the priest of Jupiter … brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people”, where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, ...” Luke began with the words, “then the priest of Jupiter” which means “at that time the ones who offered sacrifices and busied themselves with sacred rites belonging to Jupiter whose name means a father of helps and was believed to be the father of the Roman gods and corresponds to the national Greek god Zeus”, “which was before their city” or “who was in front or in the presence of the people of Lystra's dwelling place, abode and habitation”, “brought oxen” which means “carried and bore forth oxen or bullocks” “and garlands” or “and fillets or wreaths for show” “unto the gates” which means “toward the front part of the entryway of the city”. Luke shared how the “spiritual leader of Jupiter” who stood before the people in the city of Lystra “brought bullocks” and “wreaths” to where Paul and Barnabas were standing.
The verse continues, “... and would have done sacrifice with the people.” Luke added the words, “and would have done sacrifice” or “and was intending to kill, immolate or slay the oxen and present the wreaths” “with the people” which means “alongside the people of Lystra”. Luke shared how the “priest of Jupiter” desired to offer a “sacrifice” to the “gods” they believed were with them, and they would have presented them with “wreaths” to celebrate them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how greatly affected the people and spiritual leader within Lystra were by the miracle performed upon the “crippled man”. They believed the “gods” came down to them, and they desired to worship them. The “priest of Jupiter” brought the oxen to slay and the wreaths to celebrate and honor the “gods” before them, and we shall see how “Paul and Barnabas” respond to the effort, but for now let us understand how people tend to worship that which they know before they become aware that Jesus is the “Savior and Lord”. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and anyone who yields themselves to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. The best response is to surrender to the true Almighty God and His Son Jesus and give all worship to them.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard”, 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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