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⁵And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, ⁶the apostles^* learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; ⁷and there they continued proclaiming the good news.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe

8 In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. ⁹He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man^* sprang up and began to walk. ¹¹When 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. ¹³The 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. ¹⁴When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵‘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. ¹⁶In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; ¹⁷yet 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.’ ¹⁸Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Psalm 115

The Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

¹ Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
   for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
² Why should the nations say,
   ‘Where is their God?’

³ Our God is in the heavens;
   he does whatever he pleases.
⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
   the work of human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but do not speak;
   eyes, but do not see.
⁶ They have ears, but do not hear;
   noses, but do not smell.
⁷ They have hands, but do not feel;
   feet, but do not walk;
   they make no sound in their throats.
⁸ Those who make them are like them;
   so are all who trust in them.

⁹ O Israel, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
   He is their help and their shield.

¹² The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
   he will bless the house of Israel;
   he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the Lord,
   both small and great.

¹⁴ May the Lord give you increase,
   both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.

¹⁶ The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
   but the earth he has given to human beings.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the Lord,
   nor do any that go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the Lord
   from this time on and for evermore.
Praise the Lord!

²¹They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ ²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ ²³Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate,^* the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.