What is the meaning of Acts 14:9? This man • Luke immediately draws our attention to a specific individual—a crippled man in Lystra (Acts 14:8). • Scripture often highlights “a man,” “a woman,” or “a child” to show God’s personal knowledge and concern (John 4:7–10; Mark 10:46–52). • The verse reminds us that the gospel is never merely theoretical; it lands in real lives in real places, just as Jesus “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). was listening to the words of Paul • Faith begins with hearing: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • Paul’s preaching in Lystra centered on the risen Christ, urging listeners to “turn from worthless things to the living God” (Acts 14:15). • The crippled man’s attentive listening shows the posture of a heart ready for God to act (Luke 10:39; Proverbs 2:1–5). who looked intently at him • Paul’s fixed gaze echoes Peter’s at the Beautiful Gate: “Peter looked directly at him” before the lame man walked (Acts 3:4). • The Spirit often prompts a servant of God to see beneath outward circumstances, as Elijah did with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16). • The narrative underscores spiritual discernment: “The LORD does not see as man sees” (1 Samuel 16:7). and saw that he had faith • Faith is visible through God-given insight. Jesus “saw their faith” when friends lowered a paralytic through the roof (Mark 2:5). • True faith trusts God’s power and goodness (Hebrews 11:6) and prepares the heart for His intervention (Matthew 9:28–29). • Paul recognized in the man the same faith that Cornelius displayed (Acts 10:1–4) and Lydia embraced (Acts 16:14). to be healed • The Greek word translated “healed” is often rendered “saved”; physical restoration here visibly confirms spiritual reality, as with the paralytic in Capernaum (Luke 5:23–25). • God still delights to heal according to His will (James 5:14–16) and always saves those who call on Christ (Romans 10:13). • The miracle in Lystra opened a door for many to believe, paralleling the signs in Samaria that “brought great joy to that city” (Acts 8:6–8). summary Acts 14:9 paints a vivid picture of how the gospel works: a real person listens, faith ignites, God’s servant discerns, and the Lord acts. The crippled man’s attentive ear and believing heart met the living word of Christ, and healing followed. The verse assures us that whenever God’s Word is proclaimed, He sees individuals, recognizes genuine faith, and remains able to save and restore. |
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