First Reading
Acts 14:5-18
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
5And when there was an assault made by the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to use them contumeliously, and to stone them:
6They understanding it, fled to Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the whole country round about, and were there preaching the gospel.
7And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
8This same heard Paul speaking. Who looking upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
9Said with a loud voice: Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up, and walked.
10And when the crowds had seen what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice in the Lycaonian tongue, saying: The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men;
11And they called Barnabas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mercury; because he was chief speaker.
12The priest also of Jupiter that was before the city, bringing oxen and garlands before the gate, would have offered sacrifice with the people.
13Which, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul had heard, rending their clothes, they leaped out among the people, crying,
14And saying: You men, why do you these things? We also are mortals, men like to you, preaching to you to be converted from these vain things, to the living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them:
15Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
16Nevertheless he left not himself without teaching, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
17And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them.
18Now there came there certain Jews from Antioch, and Iconium: and persuading the crowd, and stoning Paul, drew him out of the city, thinking him to be dead.