The story of the early Church continues in the Acts of the Apostles today and we hear about Paul and Barnabas’ continued travels and their preaching of the Word:
The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. (Acts 14:1-18).
Paul and Barnabas meet a man who has been crippled since birth who listened to their preaching. He must have been touched by what they said, and Paul sensed that the man had faith in Jesus and his power to make us whole. SO Paul says to him, “Stand upright on your feet,” and the man is healed! This so impressed the Gentiles, that they immediately thought that Paul and Barnabas were the gods of Greek mythology. Rather than letting the praises of the Gentiles to go to their heads and to misuse the gifts that Go has given them, Paul and Barnabas use this as an opportunity to preach Christ crucified and risen! “We are just like you,” they say, “except that we have experienced the risen Jesus in our lives and not these worthless gods of mythology that are no better than mixed up humans. We have Good News for you, and that is nothing less than Jesus Christ who has the power to make you whole, to give your lives meaning and to transform you into sons and daughters of the Most High.”
Let us pray: Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have been given the Good News may spread it to every race and nation and may we praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Paint to the Music: going through to Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm at Bright-Davies Hall, the Art Room.
Contemporary Moral Issues: 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. Last week we discussed Plato’s and Aristotle’s approach to the purpose of life and morality. Next week we will ask the question: “What is the purpose of life from a Christian perspective?” Then we will look at natural law, divine law and human law.
St. Augustine’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 25 August 2013 at the 9:00 a.m. service followed by a pot luck lunch. This is the 129th anniversary of the church.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Henry and Marguerite who are recuperating from their hospital stays.
Your servant in Christ,
The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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