When the crowds saw.

Acts 14:11-12, 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!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Paul saw a man, crippled from birth, who had the faith to be made well, and called him to stand upright. The crowds saw the amazing miracle and wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas in their own traditions and had to be restrained to recognize the good news of the living God. Even with this amazing miracle, within days others had persuaded the crowds to turn against them and to stone Paul leaving him for dead. The simplicity of the good news, that God has provided Jesus as the way, the truth and the life, is not always received by everyone. The disciples moved ahead in faith proclaiming the good news and strengthening those who did believe!

Give us boldness and wisdom to proclaim Your good news and strengthen others, even when there is opposition.

ESV Lectionary