on the Sabbath-day, and preached to the people Jesus crucified and risen again from the dead, with the remission of sins through Him alone.
Paul’s discourse pleased the people[1] so much that he was requested to come on the following Sabbath and preach again. But the Jews were filled with envy, seeing the multitude that came on the second Sabbath to hear Paul, and they blasphemed [2] and contradicted all he said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly: “To you it behoved us to speak first the word of God; but seeing that you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold! we turn to the Gentiles.”
The Gentiles, hearing this, rejoiced, and the Gospel was proclaimed throughout the whole land. The Jews, however, incited a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and they were expelled from that country. The two apostles, shaking the dust[3] from their feet, went to Lycaonia[4], where Paul preached the Gospel in a city called Lystra.
Among those who heard him was a man who had been a cripple from his birth, and had never walked. Paul, looking at him, perceived that he had faith, and said with a loud voice: ‘Stand upright on thy feet!” The cripple leaped up and walked. The multitude, seeing this, cried out: “The gods, in the likeness of men, are come down to us!” And they called Barnabas, on account of his height, Jupiter, and Paul they called Mercury, because of his eloquence. And the priest of Jupiter, bringing oxen with garlands of flowers to the gate, would have offered sacrifice[5] with the people to Paul and Barnabas.
But they, seeing what was going on, rent their garments[6], and ran among the people crying out: “O men, why do ye these things? We also are mortals, men like unto you, preaching to you to be converted from these vain things[7] to the living God,
- ↑ The people. These were Jews and “strangers who served God”, or, in other words, those Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel.
- ↑ Blasphemed. Denying that Jesus was the promised Redeemer of all nations,
- ↑ The dust. Even as our Lord had commanded His disciples to do (chapter XXXI).
- ↑ Lycaonia. To the east of Pisidia.
- ↑ Offered sacrifice. To them as gods.
- ↑ Rent their garments. As a sign of pain and indignation at the heathenish abomination.
- ↑ Vain things. From this vain worship of false gods.
