New Testament
Acts 14:18
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Even with these words, they barely restrained the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
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And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
What Acts 14:18 means
Plain-English insight for readers
In this moment, Paul and Barnabas found themselves in a challenging situation. The people were so amazed by their miraculous work that they wanted to worship them as gods. Despite their attempts to explain that they were just ordinary men, the crowd was still eager to offer sacrifices. This shows how easily people can misinterpret acts of goodness and power. Paul and Barnabas were clear that the true source of their abilities was God, not themselves. They wanted to redirect the people's admiration away from them and towards the Creator. This incident highlights the importance of humility and the need to give credit where it is due. It reminds us that even good intentions can lead to misunderstandings if we don’t clarify our role in the bigger picture. The challenge is to remain grounded and ensure that our actions point others to a higher purpose, rather than to ourselves. This story encourages us to be vigilant in our humility and to always acknowledge the source of our strengths.
How to apply Acts 14:18 to your life
When you achieve something great, remember to acknowledge the support and strength that helped you. Share your story in a way that points others to the source of your inspiration. This can help prevent misunderstandings and keep your focus on what truly matters. Stay humble and grateful in your journey of success. Celebrate your achievements while giving credit to those who helped you along the way.
Curated for this public verse page. Acts Summary
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Illustrated scene from Paul's story: Mistaken for Gods at Lystra (Acts 14:1–18)
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Paul
Photo: zeevveez, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 2.0. Source. Location: Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Resized for the web.
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Capernaum
Jesus' home base by the Sea of Galilee, and the town where Peter lived.
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Keep studying Acts 14:18
Related Bible verses
Key themes
Related topics
At a Glance — the Book of Acts
- Author
- Luke the physician
- Written
- Around AD 62
- Genre
- Historical narrative
- Original Audience
- Gentile Christians (addressed to Theophilus)
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Acts 14:18 teach about humility?
Acts 14:18 illustrates the importance of humility by showing how Paul and Barnabas redirected the crowd's admiration away from themselves and towards God. Despite performing miracles, they emphasized that they were merely human and that the true source of their power was divine. This teaches us that in moments of success, we should remain humble and acknowledge the greater force behind our achievements.
Why did the crowd want to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas?
The crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas because they were amazed by the miraculous healing performed by them. In their cultural context, such acts of power were often attributed to divine beings. This reaction highlights how easily people can misinterpret extraordinary events and mistakenly idolize individuals instead of recognizing the divine source behind those acts.
How can we apply the lesson from Acts 14:18 in our lives?
We can apply the lesson from Acts 14:18 by ensuring that we acknowledge the support and strength we receive from others and from God in our achievements. When we succeed, it's vital to share our stories in a way that points to the true source of our inspiration, fostering humility and gratitude. This practice helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps our focus on what truly matters.
What can we learn about the dangers of misunderstanding from this verse?
From Acts 14:18, we learn that misunderstandings can arise easily, especially in moments of awe and admiration. The eagerness of the crowd to offer sacrifices shows how quickly people can misinterpret acts of goodness. This teaches us the importance of clear communication and humility, as well as the need to redirect attention appropriately to avoid being misrepresented or idolized.
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