Thank you so much for this! It really does amaze me how you can tease out such meaning from just one word or a phrase or two. I have read that passage before but never really thought about why those two gods were chosen by the people. I love the quote from CS Lewis tho and I think if we could only open the eyes of our heart or clear some of the years and years of cobwebs from our brain and dust and dirt and distractions from our mind, not to mention shut off the constant screaming of our ego etc etc we would really be able to see the light of God in our brothers and sisters right here right now right next to us.
Thanks Holly, I agree. Those Greeks saw the light, thought it was Zeus, but it was the light of God manifested differently in different people. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Eugene. This has been a stimulating exercise for me, who has just finished Acts of the Apostles in a complete reading. I had a certain motive for doing so, which may come up in time. Now, just after Paul and Barnabas are extolled in Lystra as Greek Gods, which they actively resist in favor of being considered simply as human beings who follow the Word of God, this takes place:
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. John 14
Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city, and presumed dead. But, he got up and went back into the city as a testimonial. It reminds one of the old adage: "Physician, heal thyself". Hermes was proven again. They would come back to Lystra before returning to Antioch.
Brother, this is so enlightening (pardon the pun). I never made the connection regarding the "why" for Barnabas as Zeus, but that makes a great deal of sense to me. There are other indicators in the New Testament that support that kind of dynamic between them; Paul has some introvert tendencies; Barnabas' name is listed before Paul's initially in the Acts narrative, indicating primacy. Typically, dynamic duos have contrasting strengths. I could totally see Barnabas being the more outgoing, visibly joyful "son of consolation" of the two. It fits. Thanks for writing this, it's wonderful.
At Lystra, Paul healed a man, lame from birth, by simply saying, "stand upright on your feet".The man began to leap and walk! I think this is why Paul was attributed with the name, Hermes, for his miraculous healing power.
In a book we had of bible stories for children, indeed; this is how Barnabas is depicted. In a different adventure, he and Paul are arrested. They spend the night singing songs of praise to God (this is what is illustrated). In the night, the prison is shaken, the chains fall off, and everyone is free. The guards come to their senses are feel doomed to the point of suicide. "No, don't worry, we are all still here," replies Paul. That is it. The guards announce allegiance to Paul and Barnabas' god, bring everyone over to their home in the night; they all announce allegiance to Paul and Barnabas' god, and have a big celebration.
In the illustration, Barnabas is drawn exactly as you describe: "someone timeless, someone electrified with divine light, someone contagiously jovial."
Actually, I guess it was Silas and not Barnabas. The point stands, though; Silas was drawn as you describe. And that story; it compares with all of the classics from the Greeks, no?
Barnabas did go all the way with Paul on the first missionary journey. It was the second journey that Barnabas had a falling out with Paul over Mark, and was replaced by Silas. Acts 15. Barnabas sailed off with John-Mark to Cyprus, where he was born.
Mark had quit the first missionary journey in order to return to Jerusalem after Peter's miraculous release from the chains of his jail experience, described in Acts 12. Peter went to Mary, mother of Mark, to let her know that he had been freed by an Angel of the Lord.
Thank you so much for this! It really does amaze me how you can tease out such meaning from just one word or a phrase or two. I have read that passage before but never really thought about why those two gods were chosen by the people. I love the quote from CS Lewis tho and I think if we could only open the eyes of our heart or clear some of the years and years of cobwebs from our brain and dust and dirt and distractions from our mind, not to mention shut off the constant screaming of our ego etc etc we would really be able to see the light of God in our brothers and sisters right here right now right next to us.
Thanks Holly, I agree. Those Greeks saw the light, thought it was Zeus, but it was the light of God manifested differently in different people. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Eugene. This has been a stimulating exercise for me, who has just finished Acts of the Apostles in a complete reading. I had a certain motive for doing so, which may come up in time. Now, just after Paul and Barnabas are extolled in Lystra as Greek Gods, which they actively resist in favor of being considered simply as human beings who follow the Word of God, this takes place:
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. John 14
Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city, and presumed dead. But, he got up and went back into the city as a testimonial. It reminds one of the old adage: "Physician, heal thyself". Hermes was proven again. They would come back to Lystra before returning to Antioch.
Brother, this is so enlightening (pardon the pun). I never made the connection regarding the "why" for Barnabas as Zeus, but that makes a great deal of sense to me. There are other indicators in the New Testament that support that kind of dynamic between them; Paul has some introvert tendencies; Barnabas' name is listed before Paul's initially in the Acts narrative, indicating primacy. Typically, dynamic duos have contrasting strengths. I could totally see Barnabas being the more outgoing, visibly joyful "son of consolation" of the two. It fits. Thanks for writing this, it's wonderful.
Thanks, Kaleb! I have been puzzled over this for quite a while until it struck me like a lightning bolt (pun intended).
At Lystra, Paul healed a man, lame from birth, by simply saying, "stand upright on your feet".The man began to leap and walk! I think this is why Paul was attributed with the name, Hermes, for his miraculous healing power.
In a book we had of bible stories for children, indeed; this is how Barnabas is depicted. In a different adventure, he and Paul are arrested. They spend the night singing songs of praise to God (this is what is illustrated). In the night, the prison is shaken, the chains fall off, and everyone is free. The guards come to their senses are feel doomed to the point of suicide. "No, don't worry, we are all still here," replies Paul. That is it. The guards announce allegiance to Paul and Barnabas' god, bring everyone over to their home in the night; they all announce allegiance to Paul and Barnabas' god, and have a big celebration.
In the illustration, Barnabas is drawn exactly as you describe: "someone timeless, someone electrified with divine light, someone contagiously jovial."
Actually, I guess it was Silas and not Barnabas. The point stands, though; Silas was drawn as you describe. And that story; it compares with all of the classics from the Greeks, no?
Thanks for your comment, Jeff. I think it does align very well! That's why the Greeks and Romans were so taken with them.
Barnabas did go all the way with Paul on the first missionary journey. It was the second journey that Barnabas had a falling out with Paul over Mark, and was replaced by Silas. Acts 15. Barnabas sailed off with John-Mark to Cyprus, where he was born.
Yes. They had a disagreement over Mark.
Mark had quit the first missionary journey in order to return to Jerusalem after Peter's miraculous release from the chains of his jail experience, described in Acts 12. Peter went to Mary, mother of Mark, to let her know that he had been freed by an Angel of the Lord.
Love it!
Thanks!
Wonderful. Makes one feel eager for tomorrow, for the unexpected that Our Lord can bestow on us.