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The lame man of Lystra is said to have "heard" Paul speak, and his faith came by
"hearing". In this respect Israel failed, and Rom. 10:, which gives us the text: "Faith
cometh by hearing", is a sad indictment against them.
Paul's two miracles on his first missionary journey are prophetic:
(1) A Jew is blinded, upon which a Gentile (named Paul) is saved. This foreshadows the
setting aside of Israel and the salvation of the Gentile as recorded in Acts 28:
(2) A lame Gentile is healed, the language of the account being identical with that of
Peter's miracle of healing.
With reference to the parallel between Paul's miracle in Acts 14: and Peter's miracle
in Acts 3:, we note that both miracles take place in the proximity of a temple, and both
are followed by an outbreak of persecution. Peter is put into prison and brought before
the High Priest; Paul is stoned and left for dead. Peter, and those with him, after his
release, address their prayer to God, saying:
"Lord, Thou art God, Which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in
them is" (Acts 4: 24).
Paul, speaking to the idolatrous people of Lystra, says:
"We preach unto you that ye shall turn from these vanities unto the living God, which
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein" (Acts 14: 15).
Moreover his reference to "vanities" finds an echo in Peter's quotation concerning the
heathen imagining "vain" things (Acts 4: 25), although the actual words used are not the
same.
Enough has been indicated, we trust, to demonstrate the Holy Spirit's intention in this
narrative, and to see its place in the outworking of God's purposes of grace. Before
concluding, however, we allude to one further point, which is not actually mentioned in
Acts 14:, but which, from subsequent Scriptures, is necessarily implied. It was here, in
these circumstances, that Paul first became acquainted with the household of Lois, Eunice
and Timothy. Paul refers to Timothy in his epistle as his own son in the faith, and in
chapter 16: we find him ready to accompany Paul on his journey. Here, therefore, must
be placed the conversion of Timothy.
Writing from his last prison in II Tim. 3:, Paul reminds his young successor of these
early days:
"Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra: what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3: 10-12).
What memories these words would produce in the heart of Timothy! And what
significance they give to the recorded summary of this early work: