"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, 'The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes." (vv.11-13)
Paul and Barnabas performed one miracle (the healing of a man lame from birth), and the people are calling them gods. In Greek mythology, it was common for the gods to come to earth in human form, though they did not always do so for the good of man. The people of Lystra had a legend that once Zeus and Hermes visited their land disguised as mortals, and no one gave them any hospitality except for one older couple. In their anger at the people, Zeus and Hermes wiped out the whole population, except for the old couple. This may help explain why the Lystrians were so quick to honor Paul and Barnabas.
We also see in the later portion of our text (v.13) those same people went so far as to attempt a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. Yet, when Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of man, and did many miracles, men were far from wanting to sacrifice to Him. On the contrary, they made Him a sacrifice, claiming His miracles were done by the power of Satan.
The god of this world (satan) is the author of confusion and can so close the carnal mind of man to be blinded to the truth, but be willing to accept a lie. While some servants of God might have easily obtain these undue honors, Paul and Barnabas did not. They were more concerned with God's honor than their own. When the people spoke of worshiping them they could not bear it; "they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Sirs, why do you these things" (v.15), rebuking the people for their misguided worship.
The longer I live, the more evidence I see of how satan is the author of confusion. One only has to watch the evening news to see that. The lines of right and wrong have become so blurred that they fad into the policies of humanism with no absolutes. Simply “doing what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6, 21:25), and believing a lie rather than the truth because it benefits them.
But be of good cheer, for with God all things are possible. He is the answer to all that troubles us if we would recognize our sin, repent from it, and turn to Him as King to heal our land.
The Truth: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
