Paul gets Stoned for Healing a Cripple – Acts 14

As Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel, they came upon a man who lived in Lystra who was a cripple from his mother’s womb.

Luke writes that Paul looked at him intently and then with a loud voice said, “Stand up straight on your feet!”  To the surprise of the crowds, the man got up on his feet.

The people of Lystra were amazed claiming, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”  A new name of Zeus and Hermes was given to Barnabas and Paul to cement the deal.:

Barnabas and Paul observing things play out immediately tore their clothes and began to urge them to stop because they were just simple men like the men of Lystra.

We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, ¹⁶ who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 

The religious Jews observing what was taking place were angry that Paul had persuaded the crowds to follow Jesus.  These religious Jews then took up stones and stoned him.  After they stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city and left him for dead.  The disciples found Paul and gathered around him and something miraculous happened because Paul was able to leave for Derbe the very next day.

After some time in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra to encourage all those who had placed their faith in Jesus.  At this point, the people of Lystra knew what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Paul was showing them that a follower of Jesus could take a licking and keep on ticking because the grace of God was at work in his life.

Paul having been the great example of a saint who persevered knew the cost of following Jesus.  However, he also knew the reward as he looked at all those who had placed their faith in Jesus at Lystra.  Paul was looking at his forever family with whom he would love and enjoy for eternity.  As a result, in order for them to enter the Kingdom of God, he had to endure tribulation.  Paul then stated exactly that,

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”