Acts 14:18

Arabic 2018 (الترجمة الكاثوليكيّة (اليسوعيّة))

وبالرُّغمِ مِن هٰذا الكَلام، لم يَستَطيعا إِلاَّ بِمَشَقَّةٍ أَن يَصرِفا الجَمعَ عن تَقْريبِ ذَبيحةٍ لَهُما.

What Does This Mean?

This verse describes Paul and Barnabas trying to stop the people of Lystra from sacrificing to them as if they were gods. They worked hard to convince the crowd that they are just humans, not deities.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're playing a game where everyone thinks you can do magic tricks because your friend helped you win before. But you know you can't really do magic and want to tell them it was just teamwork. That's what Paul and Barnabas did here; they tried hard to stop people from thinking they were magical beings.

Historical Background

The book of Acts, written by Luke, describes the early days of Christianity. This event happened in Lystra around AD 47-50, where people from a polytheistic culture initially thought Paul and Barnabas were gods like Zeus and Hermes.

Living It Out Today

In modern times, this could be about someone trying to debunk rumors or superstitions that others believe about them. For instance, if colleagues think you have some sort of mystical power at work due to your success, it's important to clarify the truth behind your achievements without being boastful.

Topics

• faith
• worship
• identity
• false beliefs
• humanity
• apostleship

Related Verses

• Exodus 20:3
• Matthew 4:10
• Acts 19:27
• Romans 1:25
• 1 Corinthians 8:5

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were people trying to make sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas?

People in Lystra thought they were gods because of miracles performed by them, which led the locals to attempt a religious ritual involving sacrifice.

How did Paul and Barnabas respond to this mistaken belief?

Paul and Barnabas worked hard to convince the crowd that they are mere humans, not gods. They discouraged any form of worship directed towards themselves.

What does this show about Paul's character?

This shows Paul's humility and his commitment to monotheism; he wanted people to understand that only God is worthy of such honor and sacrifice, not human beings.

How might this event have influenced the early church's teachings?

It reinforced the message that Jesus Christ alone is the savior. This event likely contributed to emphasizing the distinction between humans and divine figures in Christian teaching.