Acts 14 8

Acts 14:8 kjv

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

Acts 14:8 nkjv

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

Acts 14:8 niv

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked.

Acts 14:8 esv

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

Acts 14:8 nlt

While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 8 Meaning

In Lystra, there was a specific man who was completely incapacitated in his feet, having been born with a severe lameness from his mother's womb, a condition that had prevented him from ever walking. This verse introduces the background of a miraculous healing event about to unfold, highlighting the incurable and verifiable nature of the man's disability.

Acts 14 8 Context

Acts chapter 14 describes Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. After facing significant opposition and attempts on their lives in Iconium (Acts 14:5-6), they fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region, where they continued to preach the Gospel (Acts 14:7). Lystra was a Roman colony, largely Gentile with some Greek influence and possibly a small Jewish presence. The local inhabitants would have been steeped in pagan beliefs, worshiping various gods and goddesses, notably Zeus and Hermes, whom they later mistook Paul and Barnabas for after the healing of this lame man. The setting emphasizes that the apostles' ministry extended beyond Jewish synagogues into thoroughly pagan environments, demonstrating God's power and the universality of the Gospel message.

Acts 14 8 Word analysis

• And: (kai - Greek: καί) Connects the ongoing narrative of Paul and Barnabas's missionary work, signifying a continuation from their departure from Iconium.
• in: (en - Greek: ἐν) Denotes location, specifying the new mission field.
• Lystra: (Lystra - Greek: Λύστρα) A city in Lycaonia, Asia Minor, now part of modern Turkey. It was a Roman colony since 6 BC, suggesting a strong Roman presence and influence on its culture and administration. The naming highlights the specific place where God chose to display His power.
• there: (ekeian - Greek: ἐκεῖ) Points to the specific spot within Lystra where the event occurred.
• sat: (ekathēto - Greek: ἐκάθητο) Imperfect active indicative of kathēmai (to sit). Describes a continuous state of sitting, suggesting his habitual position, perhaps as a beggar or simply unable to move freely. This passive posture emphasizes his complete immobility.
• a certain man: (anthrōpos tis - Greek: ἄνθρωπός τις) Highlights an individual person, not a general group, making the upcoming miracle specific and verifiable.
• impotent: (adynatos - Greek: ἀδύνατος) Meaning "without strength," "powerless," or "impossible." This word strongly conveys his physical incapability. It indicates an inherent lack of ability, not merely a temporary weakness.
• of his feet: (tois posin - Greek: τοῖς ποσίν) Dative plural of pous (foot), specifies the precise location of his physical impairment, clarifying the nature of his impotence.
• being: (ōn - Greek: ὤν) Present active participle of eimi (to be), emphasizing his persistent condition.
• a cripple: (chōlos - Greek: χωλός) Meaning "lame," "halt," "maimed," or "crippled." This term specifically refers to someone unable to walk properly due to an impairment in their legs or feet. The dual description "impotent of his feet" and "a cripple" leaves no doubt about the severity of his condition.
• from his mother’s womb: (ek koilias mētros autou - Greek: ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ) Lit. "from the belly of his mother." This crucial phrase indicates a congenital disability, meaning he was born this way. It removes any possibility of recovery through conventional means or suggesting it was a recent ailment. Such a condition is naturally irreversible, underscoring the miraculous nature of the coming healing. It also connects to passages like Psa 58:3 ("born astray") or John 9:1 ("blind from birth") where congenital issues are often chosen by God to display His glory.
• who never had walked: (hos oudepote periepatei - Greek: ὃς οὐδέποτε περιεπάτησεν) Perfect active indicative of peripateō (to walk about, live). This reinforces and certifies the man's lifelong and absolute inability to walk. The use of "never" and the perfect tense ("had walked") emphasizes the enduring nature of his incapacity up to that point, making his eventual healing undeniable and testifying powerfully to divine intervention.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And in Lystra there sat a certain man": This sets the scene precisely, identifying the location and introducing the central figure of the impending miracle. The detail provides verifiable information for the immediate audience.
• "impotent of his feet, being a cripple": These phrases together describe the man's severe and debilitating condition. "Impotent of his feet" defines the weakness, and "a cripple" names the overall state, leaving no ambiguity about his physical limitation.
• "from his mother’s womb, who never had walked": This specific, vital detail confirms the congenital and permanent nature of his disability. It eliminates any skepticism regarding a pre-existing capacity or gradual recovery. This "lame from birth" theme is recurrent in Acts (cf. Acts 3:2) for miracles that leave no doubt about their divine origin and distinguish them from charlatanry.

Acts 14 8 Bonus section

• The healing of a congenital cripple often served as an unassailable proof of divine power in the New Testament. This specific condition was universally known to be incurable by human effort, leaving no ambiguity for witnesses or critics regarding the supernatural origin of the healing.
• The meticulous detail of the man's condition in Acts 14:8 sets up a contrast with the subsequent miracle, highlighting the immediate and undeniable transformation, a key characteristic of New Testament healings attributed to Christ or His apostles.
• The emphasis on "never had walked" aligns with the theme found in Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah's coming would be accompanied by miraculous physical restorations, like the lame walking (Isa 35:6; Matt 11:5), which would distinguish genuine divine power from human magic or deceit.
• This specific miracle in Lystra was so profound it immediately convinced the local populace that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form (Zeus and Hermes), leading to an unfortunate incident where the apostles had to strongly correct their misconception, affirming that they were mere men pointing to the living God (Acts 14:11-18).

Acts 14 8 Commentary

Acts 14:8 meticulously introduces a man whose physical condition was undeniably hopeless by natural means. By stating he was "impotent of his feet" and "a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked," Luke, the physician-writer, provides medical precision that serves a theological purpose. This detailed description not only highlights the severity of the man's congenital disability but also prepares the reader for the truly miraculous nature of his impending healing by Paul. Unlike an injury, a lifelong congenital condition, confirmed by everyone in the community, leaves no room for doubt about the divine power at work. This specific type of miracle—healing someone "lame from birth"—was a potent sign in the early church, mirroring prophecies about the Messiah (Isa 35:6) and demonstrating the authenticity of the apostolic message. The miracle would validate Paul and Barnabas's preaching in a thoroughly pagan city, compelling the Lystrans to confront the power of God manifested through His servants, thus laying the groundwork for a divine encounter that, unfortunately, was initially misunderstood as a visitation from their pagan gods.