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The Power of God and Paganism (Acts 14:8-18)

October 6, 2019 Speaker: Bob DeWaay Series: Acts of the Apostles

Scripture: Acts 14:8-18

As Paul came to Lystra saw a man lame from birth and understood that he had “faith to be healed.” We show how this healing echoes the one in Acts 3 where another man lame from birth was healed. The first healing happened in Jerusalem with Peter and John commanding the man to walk and he did. Here in Gentile territory, Paul encounters a similar man and commanded him to stand up. In both cases apostles commanded what was naturally impossible for men who had never walked in their lives. Luke also mentioned that the healing of the lame would be a sign of Messianic salvation (Luke 7:22). Isaiah predicted that such signs would arise when Messiah came. We discuss the uniqueness of the apostles and how these signs had the purpose of showing that Messiah had commissioned the apostles and that they continued His ministry. We also see continuity between Peter and Paul’s ministries. We discuss the error of those who claim that Paul had a different gospel than Peter. Luke refutes any such idea. The events happened in places that can be verified as historical. Luke is accurate in his descriptions. These pagans think that what God did here could be understood as polytheistic gods coming down.