Paul and Barnabas Perform Signs and Wonders
"When the crowds saw what Paul had done they shouted in the Lycaonia language, "The gods have come down to in human form." Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker."
Acts 14:11-12
As Rev. Marcus Halley reminds us, having a pocket-sized God is handy - we can take God out when we want or put God away when we don't. We can tell God where to go, what to do and how to do it. When Paul and Barnabas work signs and wonders in Lystra, the crowds believe they must gods. Imagine the surprise when the crowd discovers that these two are zealots from Judea are like everyone else. The difference between the two men and rest of the people is that they brought the word of the real God to a people in sore need of it.
When we speak this kind of love into the world, people may mistake us for angels or gods because they don't hear these merciful words spoken very often — if ever. Like Paul and Barnabas, we must be willing to always point to the source of that love and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.
I hope we can go out into the world living our lives in such a way of loving and helping others that people may want to know how and why we do such things. It would be then that we could share something about our faith and the Good News of the Gospel. They may not think that we are angels or gods, but I hope that we can remember to invite them to attend church with us where they can learn about angels and the Living God.
Barnabas was a generous man. He had a plot of land that he sold and gave the money to the Apostles for the work of ministry. He also took Paul under his wing when he came to Jerusalem and the apostles did not trust him because of the harm he had done to the church. He spent a lot of time working with Paul in his early ministry.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) had persecuted the early church, but was called by Jesus to become an Apostle. He ministered to the Gentiles and brought many into the Christian faith. He was the author of 13 New Testament letters. He also made four missionary trips, started new churches and visited existing communities. The work that these two men did reaped great rewards for the Kingdom of Heaven.
As has been stated, we won't be mistaken for angels or gods, but we can be recognized as people of faith and Christian love and caring. So, go preach the Gospel and, as we say, just use words when necessary.
