This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Acts 14:8-20, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Paul and Barnabas went to a city called Lystra to tell people about God. While they were there, they met a man who had never been able to walk because his feet didn’t work. This man listened carefully to what Paul was saying, and Paul noticed that the man believed in God and wanted to be healed.
So, Paul looked at the man and told him to stand up on his feet. And just like that, the man was healed! He jumped up and started walking around, which amazed everyone who saw it.
The people in Lystra were so impressed that they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods! They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes”. The priest of Zeus, who had a temple at the city entrance, brought some cows and flowers to the gates. He wanted to give them as an offering with the rest of the people.
But when Barnabas and Paul found out, they were upset. They even tore their clothes and ran out to the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We’re just like you – regular people. But we have some great news for you! You can stop following empty things and turn to the living God who made everything – the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in between! God let people do their own thing in the past, but he always showed his goodness by sending rain from the sky and making sure there was enough food for everyone to be happy and satisfied.”
Even though they said these things, it was hard for the people to stop wanting to offer sacrifices to them.
However, some Jews came to Lystra from other cities and convinced the crowds to turn against Paul and Barnabas. They stoned Paul and left him outside of the city, thinking he was dead. When the followers of Jesus came to be with him, he stood up and went back into the city. The next day, he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Biblical Lessons
- God has the power to heal people, and we should always believe in Him.
- We should never worship people as if they were gods, because there is only one true God.
- Sometimes people will try to stop us from sharing the good news of God, but we should keep going and trust in Him.
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