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Here we have an account of the fifth journey which the apostles Barnabas and Paul undertook in their travels to plant and propagate the Christian faith; and that was at Lystra and Derbe. Here their first work was to preach the gospel; which done, God honoured Paul to work a glorious miracle for the confirmation of what they had preached.
Where note, 1. The subject which this miraculous cure was wrought upon: a man that was a cripple, not by accident, but by nature, from his mother's womb, and consequently never had walked. They that are lame by causalty, may possibly be relieved by art and industry: but to cure one that is born lame, nothing less is required than a divine power: such defects as are from nature, can only be relieved by the God of nature.
Note, 2. What an extraordinary spirit of discerning was at some times, and upon certain occasions, found with the apostles: St. Paul perceived that this poor cripple had faith to be healed; that is, by that extraordinary gift of discerning spirits, which at this time the apostle had. The like had St. Peter also upon a special occasion; (for this gift of discerning spirits, was not at all times found with the apostles,) he discerned the hypocrisy and falsehood of Ananias and Simon Magus.
The gift of discerning spirits, were for a time conferred upon the apostles, for confirming their testimony, but are long since ceased in the church; the reason of their ceasing is, the gospel being sufficiently established and confirmed.
Note, 3. The reality of this miracle: it was not a lying wonder, but a real miracle: the man not only walked, but leaped for joy, to show that he was perfectly cured, and thoroughly recovered. All the works of God, especially his miraculous words, are perfect. Whom God cures, he cures effectually.
Note, 4. What influence the sight of this miracle had upon the minds of the people of Lystra: they ascribe the honour of this glorious miracle to their dunghill deities, not to the true God; they pay their rent to a wrong landlord. Such was the blind superstition of these poor Pagans, that believing their gods were come down to them in the likeness of men, they called Barnabas, Jupiter, who was their chief god; and Paul, Mercurius, whom they accounted the messenger and interpreter of the gods.
Lord! how blind are the principles of corrupt reason in fallen mankind! And how forcible is an evil custom and a vain conversation received by tradition from their forefathers! And how hard a matter it is to rectify such mistakes in religion, as time and general consent have rooted and riveted in the minds of men!