Paul Heals Man in Lystra

This lesson is Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. They healed a man and the people started to worship them instead of God! This really upset them, and Paul told them that they are just normal men teaching others about God that created everything!

Last week Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch and Paul preached at the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday, old law). Remember that Paul told them about Moses and the 10 plagues and the 10 commandments. There were judges, then God gave them kings. They had Saul, then David, then Solomon, who was David's son. 

Then Paul talked about Jesus. Paul talked about God’s plan and Jesus being raised from the dead. The old laws were done away with and the new laws since the death of Jesus are God’s plan for us.

Where do we find the old laws? Old Testament

Where are the new laws found? New Testament

And what is the first book in the New Testament? Matthew

Who does Matthew tell us the birth of? Jesus

Remember that the people asked Paul and Barnabas to speak to them again the next week, so they did! Almost the whole town came to hear Paul speak! There were Jews and Gentiles that listened. The Gentiles were happy to hear what Paul said, but the Jews didn’t like it.

The Jews talked some of the chief men of the city into running Paul and Barnabas out of the town. Now Paul & Barnabas have traveled to Lystra. They have been traveling for a couple of years telling people about God.

Today's Bible scripture is Acts 14:1- 23. Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium to the synagogue there and talked to a lot of people. They spoke boldly about Jesus, and did “signs and wonders”, which are miracles.

Read Acts 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The city was divided, some believed what they were saying, and some didn’t. There was a violent attempt by both the Jews and Gentiles to stone Paul and Barnabas! (Acts 14:5) And when Paul and Barnabas became aware what was happening, they left and went to Lystra.

 At Lystra, there was a man that has been crippled from birth. He has never walked. (Acts 14:8) He was listening to Paul preach the gospel. When Paul saw that he had faith to be healed, Paul said in a loud voice: “Stand up straight on your feet!” The man jumped up and walked!! Perfectly!! Think about this, he had never walked and now he’s walking like he’d always done it! He didn’t go for physical therapy or to a doctor for help in training, he got up and walked!

When the people saw this, they started to shout that the gods have come in the bodies of men. Not God in Heaven, but idols. Remember what God says about idols? One of the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not worship idols. (Exodus 20:3-5) 

 

Click here to download the poster.

The people thought that what they had done in curing the crippled man was so great that they thought they had to be some kind of Greek gods! (They thought Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes because Paul was the main speaker.) The priest that worshipped idols, came with oxen so he could sacrifice the ox in front of the people.

When Paul and Barnabas heard about that, they tore their clothes and ran into the group of people asking, “why are you doing this?” We are just normal men preaching about God Who created the heaven and the earth and everything in them.

The Jews from Antioch were there, and they talked the people into stoning Paul. They dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Remember we talked about Stephen being stoned to death and Paul watching. Now Paul is being stoned. The people left Paul laying on the ground, thinking he was dead. But the Christians took Paul back to the city and the next day, Paul left with Barnabas and traveled to Derbe.

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples, encouraging them to continue to be faithful, telling them, “There are many trials to enter the kingdom of God.” They prayed and appointed elders in every church. (Acts 14:23)

These discussion starter worksheets are in color and black & white. Students will write things that God in Heaven created. Click here to download.

These accordions were designed for this lesson to discuss things God created. The anchor charts can be used for each section. Students can write their favorite item, draw it, or you can have stickers available. This can be used for any lesson that you want to discuss things God made and is perfect for lapbooks, too. Click here to download.  

I created this star puzzle as a basic put the facts in order type printable. There are a couple of fill-in-the-blanks. The students can cut these puzzles out, unless you prefer to have them ready before class. They can assemble and fill in the blanks during the lesson, or as a review after the lesson. These will work better if they are printed onto cardstock. You can print in color or black and white. Click here to download.

Click here to print the worksheet.

You can find all the Acts worksheets here.

Click here to see the updated posters.

Click here to download the updated Old Law vs. New Law poster. 

Click here to see an Old Law vs. New Law bulletin board with scriptures and printables.

Bible Verse: Acts 14:8  

Passport location for today is Lystra.

Click here to download the visuals.
This file includes all visuals for Acts 14.
All are not shown, and a map is included.

Click here to download the pictures to color.
(These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.)

Click here to download the lesson.

You can see this lesson with different ideas here.