Universal Utterings
for May 4, 2026
A Godcast
UniversalUtterings.Com
05-04-2026 Acts 14 v0518 We Are Human Beings Too
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 14 Verse 5 thru 18
5 When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone them, 6 they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, 7 where they continued to proclaim the good news. 8 At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, 10 and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” 12 They called Barnabas “Zeus”* and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. 14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, ‘who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.’ 16 In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; 17 yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
In Acts 14:5-18, we witness a remarkable episode in the missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas. After healing a crippled man in Lystra, the locals mistakenly equate the apostles with gods, calling Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes” due to their roles in the miracle. This misinterpretation is rooted in local mythology; the Lystrans believed in the Greek gods, and they saw the power of God at work in the apostles.
The reaction of the people, who intended to offer sacrifices to honor them, highlights a deep-seated cultural response to perceived divinity. In ancient cultures, miracles were often attributed to deities, and the healing act performed by Paul and Barnabas did not just astound the citizens; it prompted them to engage in ritualistic worship as a means of honoring what they believed to be divine intervention. This desire to sacrifice to the apostles illustrates the human tendency to revere and idolize figures who display extraordinary power, often blurring the lines between the Creator and creation.
However, Paul and Barnabas quickly respond to this adoration with urgency, vehemently rejecting the offerings. They emphasize that both they and the listeners are mere humans and fervently direct the glory back to God. This moment serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of humility and the need to direct worship appropriately. The apostles insist on the need to turn from worshiping created things to the Creator, underscoring the core message of the Gospel: salvation and worship belong to God alone. In this passage, Paul and Barnabas exemplify true servanthood, reminding us that our acts of service and power should ultimately point to God’s glory, not our own accord. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. Novena Day Nine for Marco’s business. Novena Day Five for Ivanna Barrios for cancer. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
05-04-2026 Acts 14 v0518
**We Are Human Beings Too**
In Lystra’s streets, a tale unfolds,
Where faith ignites and courage bold,
Two messengers from heaven’s shore,
Proclaim the grace, the love, the more.
With healing hands, the lame man stood,
Once bound by darkness, now he could,
With every leap, his spirit soared,
The crowd, amazed, began to roar.
“Gods have come down!” the people cried,
Mistaking mortals for divinities applied.
Barnabas, like Zeus, they did proclaim,
And Paul as Hermes in fervent name.
But with fervent hearts, they tore their clothes,
“Worship not us! It’s God who knows!
We bring you tidings of the living way,
The Creator’s love, so bright as day.”
“From past generations, your hearts astray,
Yet He has shown kindness, guiding your way,
With rains from heaven and fruits from the earth,
He nurtures and fosters our lives from birth.”
But soon the tides of fervor turned,
As voices shifted, the fervor burned.
From admiration to anger, a swift course,
The people rallied with an unsettling force.
Stoned and scorned, they faced the throng,
For truth stands tall where others go wrong,
Yet in their hearts, a fire remained,
For the love of Christ cannot be contained.
In every trial, they stood for the light,
With faith unyielding, they embraced the fight,
Acts of boldness in a world so torn,
A testament to how hope is reborn.
So let us walk in their steadfast way,
With courage in heart, come what may,
For through every trial, let love abide,
As we share the grace of the Savior inside. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
May 4, 2026 @ 04:47 AM EST
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