Luke the beloved physician 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. 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”, and in chapter fourteen and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard”, where we read:
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of,
they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
The verse begins, “Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, ...” Luke began with the words, “which when the apostles” which means “that at the time and moment the delegates, messengers and sent forth ones of Jesus”, “Barnabas” whose name means “son of rest” and was “the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus He was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul” “and Paul” whose name means “little or small”, “heard of” or “were endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding what the people were doing and saying”, they did the following. Luke shared how “Barnabas and Paul” “heard” how the people were calling them “gods” and the priest of Jupiter was bringing “oxen and a wreath” to worship them, and they responded in the following way.
The verse goes on to say, “... they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, ...” Luke continued with the words, “and rent their clothes” or “Barnabas and Paul tore, ripped and rent asunder their garments to demonstrate their extreme indignation or deep grief”, “and ran in among the people” which means “and sprung up and rushed in impetuously toward the male and female human beings in Lystra”, “crying out” or “shouting and speaking with a loud voice”. Luke shared how “Barnabas and Paul” “tore their garments” in anguish, and shouted aloud as they rushed impetuously into the group of people.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Barnabas and Paul” responded to the people of “Lystra” identifying them as “gods”, and when the “priest of Jupiter” brought “oxen and wreaths” to worship and celebrate them, they could restrain themselves no longer, ripped their clothing and began to shout aloud as they rushed into the group of people. God Almighty is the only One who deserves to be worshiped, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world so people would understand He is the source of their forgiveness and eternal life. “Paul and Barnabas” knew “Jesus” was deserving of worship, and any credit and glory given to people is misguided and in error.
Next time Luke shares how Paul and Barnabas ask, “Sirs, why do you these things?”, 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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