Acts Theology 98: Paul & Barnabas Refuse Deification

When the crowds in Lystra saw Paul heal a lame man, they exclaimed, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, preparing to offer sacrifices to them.
This reaction stemmed from a Greco-Roman worldview where physical manifestations of deities, while not necessarily human-bodied in classical myths, indicated a visitation. The profound part for the people of Lystra was not the 'likeness of men' itself, but the novelty of the gods appearing to *them* in *their* city, doing something spectacular. Their understanding of divine intervention led them to deify Paul and Barnabas.
However, Paul and Barnabas tore their garments, emphatically declaring, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you." This moment highlights the crucial distinction between divine power working *through* humans and humans *being* divine. It teaches us to constantly redirect glory and worship to the one true God, understanding that any supernatural work is a testament to His power, not ours. Our role is to be witnesses, not objects of worship.