Idolatry at Lystra

8 hAnd in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. 3Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, i“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, j“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called 4Zeus, and Paul, 5Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, kintending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, lthey tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, mwhy are you doing these things? nWe also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from othese useless things pto the living God, qwho made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 rwho in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 sNevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, tgave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ufood and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.