Acts 14:18
French (La Bible expliquée)
Même en parlant ainsi, les apôtres eurent de la peine à empêcher la foule de leur offrir un sacrifice. A Lystre, Paul et Barnabas se trouvent en milieu païen où l'on divinise tout, y compris les apôtres. Les apôtres mettent en évidence la distinction entre la superstition des humains qui se fabriquent des idoles, et l'action du Dieu unique, créateur du monde. Là encore, Paul échappe à la mort, ragaillardi par la présence des croyants.
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
faithworshipidentityfalse beliefshumanityapostleship
Related Verses
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.