June 20
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PAUL AND BARNABAS TURNS DOWN IDOLATRY
A poem by ILMA
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas met a man with crippled feet
This man had been that way from birth so he never walked before
As this crippled man listened to the preaching, Paul that he had enough faith
So, he looked at this man straight in the eye and told him to “Stand up!”
The man jumped at his feet and started walking and many witnessed it
The crowd shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
They decided Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and Paul was Hermes
The priests of the temple of Zeus came to bring offerings and wreath of flowers.
When the apostles heard what happened, they tore their clothing in dismay
They ran out among the people and shouted “We are mere humans!”
They reminded them that they came to bring the Good News to them
God wanted them to turn from all idols and that they are turning them into it.
Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd to their side
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back to town
The next day, Paul left to proceed to Derbe and left with Barnabas.
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MEMORY VERSE
We are merely human beings-just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. – Acts 14:15
Read: Acts 14
We see in this preaching journey of Paul and Barnabas how easily people are dazzled by supernatural things and forget to focus that God is the source of all miracles and wonders.
Once again, we see the humility of Paul and Barnabas who never wanted to be praised for what they do since it is God who made them all possible.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think humans easily get dazzled by things people do?