8 “And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 9 The same heard Paul speaking; who, fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. 11 And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. 14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? 15 We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 16 who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.”
19 “But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city; and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the Gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.”
Golden Text.—“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”—2 Tim. 2:3.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) As Paul was preaching in Lystra, whom did he specially notice in the audience? Verse 8. Note 1. (2) What did Paul perceive in this man? Verse 9. Note 2. (3) What did he say to the afflicted one? What was the effect of this command? Verse 10. (4) As the people saw the miracle, what did they say? Verse 11. (5) What name did they give to Barnabas? And to Paul? Why? Verse 12. (6) What further demonstration was made? Verse 13. Note 3. (7) What demonstration of protest did the apostles make? Verse 14. (8) What did they say to the people? Verse 15. Note 4. (9) What had God suffered in the past? Verse 16. (10) But what witness did He give all this time? Verse 17. Note 5. (11) What was the effect of the apostles’ protest? Verse 18. (12) Who had followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra? What did they persuade the people to do? Verse 19. Note 6. (13) How did God further work in behalf of His cause? Where then did the apostles go? Verse 20. (14) After preaching in Derbe, how was their courage in the Lord manifested? Verse 21. (15) What was their special work on the return trip? Verse 22.
Besides the notes, read the article of the same title as the lesson, in the fore part of paper.
NOTES.
1. After leaving Antioch, as noted in last week's lesson, Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium, where, in the face of much opposition from the Jews, they abode a long time “speaking boldly in the Lord.” At last, becoming aware of a plot to stone them, they fled to Lystra, in Lycaonia, and there preached the Gospel.
2. Faith Discerns Faith.—The discerning of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:10. As Paul had been endowed with this gift, he was enabled to see in this cripple an unusual degree of faith, even faith to be healed of a life-long affliction.
3. The adversary of truth inspired the people to worship the apostles, in order that their attention might be turned away from the true Source of power. When the truth can not successfully be denied, the enemy always aims so to pervert it as to make it serve a sinister purpose. So if this miracle could be accredited to the apostles, and worship be directed toward them, God would be robbed of the honor due to His name, and Satan's purpose would be served. It is on this principle that the Sabbath commandment is perverted by the substitution of another day than that which the commandment positively enjoins. Men could not be made to deny the commandment of God altogether, so they were led to pervert it in such a manner that virtually it would be of no effect, yet would ease the consciences of those who were deceived by the perversion.
4. Here, again, we are reminded of the result of Sabbath perversion. The Sabbath was designed to be a memorial of God's creative work, and its faithful observance would always have kept in mind the living God. But its neglect and its perversion have ever encouraged men to follow ways of their own devising—or, rather, ways instigated by the adversary of God. Note the reason of the institution of the Sabbath. Ex. 20:11.
5. The remembrance that rains, and fruitful seasons, and many other blessings which are regarded as mere natural results, are really witnesses of the goodness of God, would keep us all in closer touch with Him. Men do not realize how much they lose by forgetting God.
6. Persecution is always the devil's last resort. He would prefer to deceive, and lead men astray pleasantly. It is only when this ruse fails that his true character is made manifest; and even then he would have it appear as essential to the general welfare. He would not have allowed the stoning of Paul and Barnabas had they accepted the worship of the people. Wherever we see religious persecution, we may know that all the arts and arguments of the enemies of truth have failed.
