In Lystra, no one could deny that the man had been lame from birth. And after his encounter with Paul, no one could deny that he was now able to walk. So, given the people’s belief in the ancient myths that told of how the gods occasionally took on human form, it was natural for the crowd to assume that Paul and Barnabas must have been manifestations of Zeus and Hermes.

So, why did the same crowd that had been ready to make sacrifices to their “gods,” just as quickly turn on them and try to kill Paul? Why did they listen to the unbelieving Jews from Antioch and Iconium instead of believing what they had seen with their own eyes?

Well, how had the religious leaders explained Jesus’ many miracles? Because they could not deny His power, they insisted that it must be demonic. Such an explanation made perfect sense to the people of Lystra, for their mythology included not only gods like Zeus, the god of the sky, but also Zeus’ brother Hades, the god of the dead. Even gods like Hermes, the herald of the gods, was also responsible for leading the souls of the dead down into the underworld. In short, their polytheistic worldview embraced supernatural beings of equal power who were both good and evil.

So, why did they come to the conclusion that Paul’s power must have been a force for evil? Because Paul challenged the foundations of their entire belief system. He insisted that the sacrifices they offered to their gods were “vain things” because there was only one “living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them” (14:15). Paul urged them to stop worshipping Zeus and Hermes and all the rest of their man-made idols and to worship the one true God Who had always provided for them, whether they knew it or not (14:17).

And the Christian faith continues to be just as controversial today, for the same reasons. For Jesus doesn’t just claim to be a god, but the Only True God. He doesn’t just claim to be a source of power, but the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. And just as the people of Lystra could only respond to Paul’s miracles and arguments with brute force, the opponents of Christ still try to shout Him down and “cancel” those who follow Him.

But the good news is that the God Who was able to heal a lame man was also able to raise Paul up after the crowd had left him for dead (14:20). And even if those who follow Jesus have to endure the same kind of opposition and tribulation that Paul faced (14:22), the same God is still able to defeat all the powers of sin and self, all the pride and hatred and violence of this world. So let us encourage one another to continue in the faith (14:23), even as we pray that God would open a door of faith even to those who are violently opposed to the claims of Christ (14:27).

Acts 14:8-28 (ESV)

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.
9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.