Now after healing the lame man Paul and Barnabas face a problem with a crowd that is confused. The crowd thinks that Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods. They do not realize that the power to heal is not from Paul or Barnabas, but from the Lord.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. "In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Paul tells the confused people to turn from vain things to a living God. What are the vain things that the people worship? They worship idols or statues that represent make believe gods. These people are not the only ones confused. At that time most all of the people in the world worshiped idols. They all had different pretend stories of their gods so there were thousands of pretend or dead gods. Now Paul wants to introduce the people to the one and only living God; the God that is not an idol. This God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for their sins. Will the people listen? Some will. Along with the lame man, another young man called Timothy heard the good news and believed. Timothy would become a leader in the church and a great encouragement to Paul.
Acts 14:14-18 (NASB)
Lesson Questions for the Full Story:
Content: Yo!, Youth Outreach, Youth
Outreach, Children's Devotionals,
Children's Bible Devotionals, Children's Daily
Devotionals, Children's Bible Lessons, Children's
Bible Stories, Children's Missionary Stories,
Children's Bible Verses, Children's Scripture Memory,
Devotionals for Youth, Bible Devotionals for Youth,
Daily Devotionals for Youth, Bible Lessons for Youth,
Bible Stories for Youth, Missionary Stories for Youth,
Bible Verses for Youth, Scripture Memory for Youth,
The Gospel, The Good News, The Gospel of Lord Jesus
Christ, New Testament Stories, Old Testament Stories,
Jesus, God's only begotten Son, Stories of Jesus,
Jesus Parables, Born Again, The way the truth and the
life, God's love, Everlasting life, The Father the Son
and the Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace, The bright and morning
star, God so loved the world, yoroom
