Acts 14:6-26

6 Lystra seems to be the first place Paul preached without first proclaiming to the Jews in the synagogue, for it seems that there were not enough Jews to have a place of worship. Hence this is the first time the evangel is preached to the gentiles, apart from Judaism altogether. Here we reach the limit of his journey as well as the moral limits of the evangel. It has now broken through all barriers. From being preached to the "Jews only" (Act_11:19) it has not only reached gentile proselytes and idolaters through the synagogue, but it has gone outside the pale and influence of Judaism, and won its way to the hearts of the far off foreigners.

8 The contrast between the ministries of Peter and Paul is reflected in their acts. The lame man at the gate of the temple (Act_3:2-8) was near the dwelling place of God, the source of all blessing. The lame man of Lystra was far off. Neither had ever walked, but the former, picturing the privileged people of God, was carried by his friends. Even the manner of their salvation was different. Peter reached out his hand and lifted the lame man to his feet. Paul did not need to touch the Lystrian, for he leaped up and walked.

11 It was commonly believed among the ancients, that the gods visited the earth at times in human form, but more especially those places which were devoted to their worship. Lystra seems to have been under the protection of Zeus, for one of his priests resided before the city. Zeus was usually attended by Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Subsequent revelation suggests that, in a very real sense, the Lycaonians were not much mistaken in their estimate of Paul. He was indeed the messenger of the true God, visiting the earth for a time. The Greek gods were in reality demon spirits who had usurped the authority of the air, who, with Satan, are to be cast out of their heavenly habitations when the kingdom is set up. Paul, together with those who receive the grace which comes through him, will replace them and rule the celestial realms, as the body of Christ. So that the Lycaonians were not far wrong, and we may take their words as prophetic of the grace which God was about to reveal (Gal_4:14).

15 In speaking to idolaters in Lystra and Athens, Paul does not appeal to the Hebrew Scriptures, for they knew nothing of God's written revelation. He appeals to them through God the Creator and Sustainer, as revealed in nature.

19 God has a way of giving his servants a vision of the end at the beginning, to sustain them in the trials on the way. Joseph knew God's purpose for him and was prepared for the pit and the prison, for he realized.that these led to the throne. So, we may well believe. God made known to the apostle Paul his purposes of grace for the nations long before Paul made them public from Rome. And what time would be so opportune as this, when the evangel for the first time is carried directly to the nations? Indeed, about fourteen years later, Paul seems to refer to his stoning at Lystra as the time when he received his greatest visions and revelations, which he was not allowed to publish until his kingdom ministry in Acts was brought to a close. Such a revelation must have been made in a setting calculated to reveal God's grace. And what occasion compares with this? Let us remember that Paul was stoned but once (2Co_11:25) and this by the gentiles just as soon as the evangel breaks through to them. The Jews reject the evangel and call down judgment. How dire must be the punishment due to these uncircumcised aliens for stoning the chosen vessel God had sent for their salvation! This is surely the opportunity demanded by grace to show its potency! They drag his body, battered and bleeding, outside the city, but his spirit flies far ahead to the paradise of the new earth, and soars into the heights of the third heaven. There he sees the despised, undeserving gentiles, who had stoned him to death, ruling the celestial realms as members of Christ's body and "blessed with all spiritual blessings among the celestials" (Eph_1:3). Here we reach the summit of grace, the secret (1Co_2:7) which God had prepared for those who love Him. Though Paul was not really dead, it is well to note that, from this time on, he reckons himself and all believers as having died, and as living a resurrection life (2Co_1:9).