The faith of the lame man in Lystra

Faith in Acts - Paul perceives the Faith of a Man:

We continue tracing the Greek word “Pistis” through Acts, where it is translated “faith” 15 times and “assurance” once in the King James Version. Today we find Paul preaching on his first missionary journey with Barnabas, Acts 14:6 & 76 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7 And there they preached the gospel.

: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Acts 14:8 - 108 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

. Three words stand out - “steadfastly beholding,” “perceiving” and “healed,” as important in understanding this passage.

1. Paul is described as “steadfastly beholding” the lame man. The Greek word translated “steadfastly beholding” is “atenidzo,” (#G816) found 14 times in the New Testament (NT), 10 in Luke, twice in Acts and twice in 2 Corinthians. It always has to do with Jews “steadfastly beholding” something except once where the devout Gentile Centurion in Caesarea “looked on,” i.e., “steadfastly beheld” the Angel of the Lord who appeared and told him to send for Peter to hear the Word of God, Acts 10:1 & 21 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

, after which he was saved.

2. Paul was able to “perceive” the lame man had “faith.” The Greek word “eido” (G1492) translated “perceive” is found 664 times in the NT where it is translated “know” 281 times, “see” or “saw” 314 times, “perceive” only 6 times, as well as by several other words such as “behold,” “look,” etc. It means “to know,” “understand” or “perceive,” so the thought here is that Paul, just by “steadfastly beholding” this man, knew and understood he had faith. I read all occurrences of the word “faith” in the NT and found only one other person besides Paul who this is said of, that being Jesus Christ, but under different circumstances, Mark 2:1 - 51 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

; Luke 5:17 - 2017 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

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3. The word “healed” is the Greek word “sodzo” (G4882) found 111 times in the NT where it is translated “save” or “saved” 94 times and healed only 3 times. Generally, it describes someone saved from their sins such as the first time it appears in the NT where the Angel of the Lord told Joseph that Jesus would “save” His people from their sins. It is the same word used by Paul when he wrote: “For by grace are ye saved (sodzo) through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:88 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

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Paul, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, supernaturally recognized this man’s faith. He had been preaching the Word of God and this man heard it, Acts 14:7 - 97 And there they preached the gospel.

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

. What Paul later wrote to the Galatians applies here: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:55 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

. Paul was the one ministering the Spirit and working miracles there in Lystra. Hearing the Word (thus believing it) saved the lame man and Paul recognized his faith. In these early days of Paul’s ministry he had the gifts of an Apostle and thus the man lame from birth was not only saved from his sins but he was also healed physically.

This incident is similar to when Peter was used to heal the man lame from birth at the Temple gate in Jerusalem, Acts 3:1 - 131 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

(see Vol 4, # 1 & 10), but it also differs because of the respective ministries of Peter and Paul. The two incidents were similar in that:

•Both men had been lame from birth, which means they had never learned to walk and their leg muscles must have been terribly atrophied,

•The same Greek word translated “fastening his eyes,” is used to describe how both Peter, Acts 3:44 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

, and Paul, Acts 14:99 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

focused their attention on the two lame men,

•Both men were able to leap up and walk, Acts 3:88 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

a; 14:10b.

The two incidents differ, as follows:

•The incident involving Peter occurred during the peak period when Christ’s Kingdom was offered to Israel and it occurred in the epicenter of that offer, which was at the Temple in Jerusalem. The incident involving Paul occurred after that Kingdom offer was set aside. Peter was preaching to Jews at Jerusalem, Paul was preaching to both Jews and Gentiles in a Gentile country,

•There is nothing mentioned about Peter’s lame man having faith himself, he was simply begging at the Temple gate, Acts 3:33 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

, whereas Paul perceived the Lystra man’s faith to be saved, Acts 14:9,

•Peter took the lame man by the right hand and lifted him up, Acts 3:77 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

; Paul told the man in a loud voice to stand upright on his feet, Acts 14:1010 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

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•Peter’s man went into the Tempe praising God, giving Peter an opportunity to preach the Name of Jesus, Acts 3:8 - 128 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

, while we know nothing more about the man healed through Paul,

•Israel’s religious leaders were jealous and threatened Peter, ordering him not to teach in the name of Jesus, Acts 4:1 - 31 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

, 15 - 21 whereas the idol worshipers around Lystra proclaimed Paul and Barnabas to be heathen gods and tried to worship them, after which Jews persuaded the people to stone Paul to the point they thought they killed him, Acts 14:1919 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

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These two incidents demonstrate the transition from the Kingdom message preached by Peter for Israel to the Grace message preached by Paul to individual Gentiles and Jews, as highlighted by different applications of faith in the two lame men. “The faith” that healed Peter’s lame man was that which proceeds out of the Name of Jesus, Acts 3:1616 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

(see Faith Study Vol 4, No 2, paragraph 2 of page 2). There is nothing about him having an expectation of being saved or healed, much less having faith or even recognizing Peter and John as Apostles of Jesus Christ. He looked to Peter and John for a handout when Peter lifted him by the hand and told him to rise up and walk “in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth,” Acts 3:66 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

b. At that time Peter was fulfilling Jesus Christ’s Commission to he and the other 11 Apostles by offering the Kingdom to Israel, which was marked by the casting out of demons, speaking in the languages of others, immunity from deadly serpents or poison and healing the sick by laying hands on them, Mark 16:14 - 1814 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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Both Peter and Paul were true Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the case of Peter, Jesus had told him He would give him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever Peter bound on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven, Matthew 16:17 - 1917 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

and that when He, Christ, the Son of Man, sits on the throne of His glory, Peter and the other 11 Apostles will be with him sitting on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel, Matthew 19:27 & 2827 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

and Luke 22:29 & 3029 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

. But Peter and the 11 died, leaving these promises unfulfilled, however, they will be fulfilled in the future when Christ returns to earth after the Great Tribulation and establishes His Kingdom. Peter and his associates will be resurrected and miracles will again be prominent in that yet future Kingdom.

As to Paul’s Apostleship, he wrote the Corinthian church: “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” 2 Corinthians 12:11 & 1211 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

. Paul identifies himself as an Apostle at the beginning of every epistle he wrote except the four he co-wrote with Timothy and Silvanus, i.e., Philippians, 1st & 2nd Thessalonians and Philemon. In Romans 11:1313 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

he identifies himself as an Apostle to the Gentiles, which sets him apart from Peter who was Christ’s Apostle to Israel. (See Faith Study Vol 4, No 2 for Scriptures identifying the miracles Paul performed demonstrating he was as much an apostle as Peter.) No one since Paul, almost 2000 years now, has come close to matching the miracles performed by Peter and Paul because there have been no Apostles since then. Yes, we see people healed today, but not like then.

Peter is not mentioned in the book of Acts after the 15th chapter because the offer of the Kingdom of God on earth promised to the Nation of Israel was set aside temporarily, Romans 9 - 11, while Paul preached his message of Grace to believing individual Gentiles and Jews. Paul teaches that the miracles and signs that existed during those early years were to demonstrate they were the Apostles of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:1212 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

, but that they disappeared when the Word of God was completed, 1 Corinthians 13:8 - 138 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

. Demonstrating the end of the sign gifts, Paul and his followers suffered sickness, were jailed, etc., at the end of their ministries.

With my present understanding, it appears the difference in the involvement of faith between the Jewish lame man at the Temple gate in Acts 3 and the Gentile lame man in Lystra, Acts 14, is summed up by Paul: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision (the Jews) by faith, and uncircumcision (the Gentiles) through faith.” Romans 3:28 - 3028 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

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