Like Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra (modern Zoldera) was a Roman colony. [1] It was the most eastern of the fortified cities of Galatia. Lystra was about20 miles south of Iconium. Twenty miles was a normal day"s travel in the Roman Empire at this time. Luke did not mention synagogue evangelism here. Evidently there were so few Jews that there was no synagogue in Lystra (or in Philippi). [source][source][source]
"The further on Paul and Barnabas went the further they got from civilisation [2]." [3][source]
Luke stressed the hopeless case of the lame man (cf. Acts 3:1-10; Acts 9:33-35). [source][source][source]
"Luke undoubtedly wanted his readers to recognize the parallel between the healing of this crippled man and the healing of another one by Peter (cf. Acts 3:1-8) ..." [4][source]
"In opposition to those who would challenge Paul"s claim to apostolic authority based on his direct commission from the risen Christ, Luke is concerned to show that his hero shares with the chief Apostle [5] the healing power vested in his disciples by the Lord himself ( John 14:12) and exemplified in Jesus" own ministry ( Luke 7:22)." [6][source]
". . . it must be remembered that ancient historians looked for and believed in the existence of repeated cycles or patterns in history, such that one could learn from what has gone before and to a certain degree know what to expect from the future. [7] Trompf, [8] Idea of Historical Recurrence [9], of Polybius, pp78 ff, and of Luke , pp170ff."] This sort of thinking was characteristic of various of the Hellenistic historians, especially Polybius ..." [10][source]
Context Summary
Acts 14:1-13 - Varying Treatment Of The Message
From Antioch the Apostles passed to Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia. It is most illuminating to note the source of their success: The Lord bore witness unto the word of His grace. We must not expect success if that divine witness is absent. There is nothing more vital than this. The secret of joyful and successful service is the consciousness that, in every sermon and address, there is an unseen fellow-worker who is listening to each sentence and punctuating with his strong affirmation each utterance which magnifies the grace of God.
Lystra was situated in the highlands, amid a wild, mountainous country. In Paul's audience here he saw a cripple who had faith to be healed, Acts 14:9. What quick insight God gives the soul that lives in fellowship with Him! There was an old tradition that the gods had frequented this very region. Jupiter, the father of the gods, was the guardian deity of Lystra. There was, accordingly, an especial reason for the excitement among these simple and untutored folk. Man has ever longed for a daysman, and believed that there might be commerce between heaven and earth. Oh, that we were as quick to worship and adore the Son of God! [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 14
1Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium 8At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods 19Paul is stoned 21They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience 26Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them
Greek Commentary for Acts 14:8
At Lystra [εν Λυστροις] Neuter plural as in Acts 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11 while feminine singular in Acts 14:6,Acts 14:21; Acts 16:1. There was apparently no synagogue in Lystra and so not many Jews. Paul and Barnabas had to do open-air preaching and probably had difficulty in being understood by the natives though both Greek and Latin inscriptions were discovered here by Professor Sterrett in 1885. The incident narrated here (Acts 13:8-18) shows how they got a real hearing among these rude heathen. [source]
There sat [εκατητο] Imperfect middle of κατημαι kathēmai Was sitting. This case is very much like that in Acts 3:1-11, healed by Peter. Possibly outside the gate (Acts 13:13) or some public place. Impotent in his feet (αδυνατος τοις ποσιν adunatos tois posin). Old verbal, but only here in the N.T. in this sense except figuratively in Romans 15:1. Elsewhere it means “impossible” (Matthew 19:26). Locative case. Common in medical writers in the sense of “impotent.” So Tobit 2:10; 5:9. Had walked So best MSS., first aorist active indicative “walked,” not περιεπεπατηκει periepepatēkei “had walked” (past perfect active). [source]
Impotent in his feet [αδυνατος τοις ποσιν] Old verbal, but only here in the N.T. in this sense except figuratively in Romans 15:1. Elsewhere it means “impossible” (Matthew 19:26). Locative case. Common in medical writers in the sense of “impotent.” So Tobit 2:10; 5:9. [source]
Had walked [περιεπατησεν] So best MSS., first aorist active indicative “walked,” not περιεπεπατηκει periepepatēkei “had walked” (past perfect active). [source]
Impotent [ἀδύνατος] The almost universal meaning of the word in the New Testament is impossible (see Matthew 19:26; Hebrews 6:4, etc.). The sense of weak or impotent occurs only here and Romans 15:1. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:8
John 9:2Who did sin? [τις ημαρτεν] Second aorist active indicative of αμαρτανω hamartanō See Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8 for two examples of lameness from birth. Blindness is common in the Orient and Jesus healed many cases (cf. Mark 8:23; Mark 10:46) and mentions this fact as one of the marks of the Messiah in the message to the Baptist (Matthew 11:5). This is the only example of congenital blindness healed. It is not clear that the disciples expected Jesus to heal this case. They are puzzled by the Jewish notion that sickness was a penalty for sin. The Book of Job had shown that this was not always the case and Jesus shows it also (Luke 13:1-5). If this man was guilty, it was due to prenatal sin on his part, a curious notion surely. The other alternative charged it upon his parents. That is sometimes true (Exodus 20:5, etc.), but by no means always. The rabbinical casuists loved to split hairs on this problem. Ezekiel (Ezekiel 18:20) says: “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (individual responsibility for sin committed). There is something in heredity, but not everything. That he should be born blind Probably consecutive (or sub-final) use of ινα hina with first aorist passive subjunctive of γενναω gennaō f0). [source]
Romans 15:1The infirmities [τα αστενηματα] “The weaknesses” (cf. αστενων asthenōn in Romans 14:1,Romans 14:2), the scruples “of the not strong” See note on Acts 14:8 where it is used of the man weak in his feet (impotent). To bear (βασταζειν bastazein). As in Galatians 6:2, common in the figurative sense. Not to please ourselves Precisely Paul‘s picture of his own conduct in 1 Corinthians 10:33. [source]
2 Corinthians 10:10Weighty and strong [πησιν] These adjectives can be uncomplimentary and mean “severe and violent” instead of “impressive and vigorous.” The adjectives bear either sense. His bodily presence (βαρειαι και ισχυραι hē parousia tou sōmatos). This certainly is uncomplimentary. “The presence of his body.” It seems clear that Paul did not have a commanding appearance like that of Barnabas (Acts 14:12). He had some physical defect of the eyes (Galatians 4:14) and a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). In the second century Acts of Paul and Thecla he is pictured as small, short, bow-legged, with eye-brows knit together, and an aquiline nose. A forgery of the fourth century in the name of Lucian describes Paul as “the bald-headed, hook-nosed Galilean.” However that may be, his accusers sneered at his personal appearance as “weak” (η παρουσια του σωματος asthenēs). His speech of no account Perfect passive participle of ο λογος εχουτενημενος exoutheneō to treat as nothing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:28). The Corinthians (some of them) cared more for the brilliant eloquence of Apollos and did not find Paul a trained rhetorician (1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1,1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 11:6). He made different impressions on different people. “Seldom has any one been at once so ardently hated and so passionately loved as St. Paul” (Deissmann, St. Paul, p. 70). “At one time he seemed like a man, and at another he seemed like an angel” (Acts of Paul and Thecla). He spoke like a god at Lystra (Acts 14:8-12), but Eutychus went to sleep on him (Acts 20:9). Evidently Paul winced under this biting criticism of his looks and speech. [source]
2 Corinthians 10:10His speech of no account [αστενης] Perfect passive participle of ο λογος εχουτενημενος exoutheneō to treat as nothing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:28). The Corinthians (some of them) cared more for the brilliant eloquence of Apollos and did not find Paul a trained rhetorician (1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1,1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 11:6). He made different impressions on different people. “Seldom has any one been at once so ardently hated and so passionately loved as St. Paul” (Deissmann, St. Paul, p. 70). “At one time he seemed like a man, and at another he seemed like an angel” (Acts of Paul and Thecla). He spoke like a god at Lystra (Acts 14:8-12), but Eutychus went to sleep on him (Acts 20:9). Evidently Paul winced under this biting criticism of his looks and speech. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 14:8 mean?
Anda certainmancrippledinLystrain thefeetwas sittinglamefrom[the] wombof [the] motherof himwhoneverhad walked
Greek Commentary for Acts 14:8
Neuter plural as in Acts 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11 while feminine singular in Acts 14:6, Acts 14:21; Acts 16:1. There was apparently no synagogue in Lystra and so not many Jews. Paul and Barnabas had to do open-air preaching and probably had difficulty in being understood by the natives though both Greek and Latin inscriptions were discovered here by Professor Sterrett in 1885. The incident narrated here (Acts 13:8-18) shows how they got a real hearing among these rude heathen. [source]
Imperfect middle of κατημαι kathēmai Was sitting. This case is very much like that in Acts 3:1-11, healed by Peter. Possibly outside the gate (Acts 13:13) or some public place. Impotent in his feet (αδυνατος τοις ποσιν adunatos tois posin). Old verbal, but only here in the N.T. in this sense except figuratively in Romans 15:1. Elsewhere it means “impossible” (Matthew 19:26). Locative case. Common in medical writers in the sense of “impotent.” So Tobit 2:10; 5:9. Had walked So best MSS., first aorist active indicative “walked,” not περιεπεπατηκει periepepatēkei “had walked” (past perfect active). [source]
Old verbal, but only here in the N.T. in this sense except figuratively in Romans 15:1. Elsewhere it means “impossible” (Matthew 19:26). Locative case. Common in medical writers in the sense of “impotent.” So Tobit 2:10; 5:9. [source]
So best MSS., first aorist active indicative “walked,” not περιεπεπατηκει periepepatēkei “had walked” (past perfect active). [source]
The almost universal meaning of the word in the New Testament is impossible (see Matthew 19:26; Hebrews 6:4, etc.). The sense of weak or impotent occurs only here and Romans 15:1. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 14:8
Second aorist active indicative of αμαρτανω hamartanō See Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8 for two examples of lameness from birth. Blindness is common in the Orient and Jesus healed many cases (cf. Mark 8:23; Mark 10:46) and mentions this fact as one of the marks of the Messiah in the message to the Baptist (Matthew 11:5). This is the only example of congenital blindness healed. It is not clear that the disciples expected Jesus to heal this case. They are puzzled by the Jewish notion that sickness was a penalty for sin. The Book of Job had shown that this was not always the case and Jesus shows it also (Luke 13:1-5). If this man was guilty, it was due to prenatal sin on his part, a curious notion surely. The other alternative charged it upon his parents. That is sometimes true (Exodus 20:5, etc.), but by no means always. The rabbinical casuists loved to split hairs on this problem. Ezekiel (Ezekiel 18:20) says: “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (individual responsibility for sin committed). There is something in heredity, but not everything. That he should be born blind Probably consecutive (or sub-final) use of ινα hina with first aorist passive subjunctive of γενναω gennaō f0). [source]
“The weaknesses” (cf. αστενων asthenōn in Romans 14:1, Romans 14:2), the scruples “of the not strong” See note on Acts 14:8 where it is used of the man weak in his feet (impotent). To bear (βασταζειν bastazein). As in Galatians 6:2, common in the figurative sense. Not to please ourselves Precisely Paul‘s picture of his own conduct in 1 Corinthians 10:33. [source]
These adjectives can be uncomplimentary and mean “severe and violent” instead of “impressive and vigorous.” The adjectives bear either sense. His bodily presence (βαρειαι και ισχυραι hē parousia tou sōmatos). This certainly is uncomplimentary. “The presence of his body.” It seems clear that Paul did not have a commanding appearance like that of Barnabas (Acts 14:12). He had some physical defect of the eyes (Galatians 4:14) and a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). In the second century Acts of Paul and Thecla he is pictured as small, short, bow-legged, with eye-brows knit together, and an aquiline nose. A forgery of the fourth century in the name of Lucian describes Paul as “the bald-headed, hook-nosed Galilean.” However that may be, his accusers sneered at his personal appearance as “weak” (η παρουσια του σωματος asthenēs). His speech of no account Perfect passive participle of ο λογος εχουτενημενος exoutheneō to treat as nothing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:28). The Corinthians (some of them) cared more for the brilliant eloquence of Apollos and did not find Paul a trained rhetorician (1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 11:6). He made different impressions on different people. “Seldom has any one been at once so ardently hated and so passionately loved as St. Paul” (Deissmann, St. Paul, p. 70). “At one time he seemed like a man, and at another he seemed like an angel” (Acts of Paul and Thecla). He spoke like a god at Lystra (Acts 14:8-12), but Eutychus went to sleep on him (Acts 20:9). Evidently Paul winced under this biting criticism of his looks and speech. [source]
Perfect passive participle of ο λογος εχουτενημενος exoutheneō to treat as nothing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:28). The Corinthians (some of them) cared more for the brilliant eloquence of Apollos and did not find Paul a trained rhetorician (1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 11:6). He made different impressions on different people. “Seldom has any one been at once so ardently hated and so passionately loved as St. Paul” (Deissmann, St. Paul, p. 70). “At one time he seemed like a man, and at another he seemed like an angel” (Acts of Paul and Thecla). He spoke like a god at Lystra (Acts 14:8-12), but Eutychus went to sleep on him (Acts 20:9). Evidently Paul winced under this biting criticism of his looks and speech. [source]