How does Acts 14:14 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Setting the Scene in Lystra • Acts 14 recounts Paul healing a crippled man, prompting the crowd to hail Paul and Barnabas as the gods Zeus and Hermes. • Acts 14:14–15: “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.’” Core Principle: Worship Belongs to God Alone • Paul and Barnabas reject divine honors for themselves, underscoring that only the “living God” deserves worship. • This mirrors the First Commandment, Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • Their immediate response—tearing their clothes—shows passionate refusal to share in idolatry. Direct Connection to the First Commandment 1. Exclusive Devotion – Exodus commands worship of God alone; Acts 14:14–15 defends that exclusivity in a real-world test. 2. Rejection of Substitute “gods” – The crowd’s impulse to deify missionaries parallels any attempt to elevate people, ideas, or idols above the LORD. 3. Call to Turn from Idols – Paul urges them to “turn from these worthless things,” echoing the First Commandment’s demand to abandon every rival. 4. Affirmation of the Creator – Paul grounds his appeal in God as Maker of “heaven and earth,” reinforcing the reason Exodus gives for loyalty (cf. Exodus 20:11). Supporting Scriptures • Deuteronomy 6:13: “Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only…” • Isaiah 42:8: “I am the LORD… I will not yield My glory to another…” • Acts 10:26; Revelation 19:10—servants of God refuse worship, directing glory back to Him. • 1 Corinthians 8:4–6—there is “one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ.” Implications for Believers Today • Guard the heart: even well-intentioned admiration can drift into idolatry. • Redirect praise: celebrate God’s gifts in people without confusing the vessel with the Source. • Proclaim the Creator: like Paul, point others from “worthless things” to the living God. • Live counter-culturally: in a world quick to idolize success, power, or personalities, keep the First Commandment central—“no other gods” means Christ alone receives ultimate allegiance. |
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