As in Cyprus, Antioch, and Iconium the Word of God spoken by Paul and Barnabas was followed by signs and wonders here in Lystra. A man who had NEVER walked was healed. But the response of the people was a bit surprising to Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 14:11-12
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Everyone believes something and these people were no exception. They saw the power of God demonstrated in the miracle of healing and they believed. But WHAT they believed was that the gods they had been led to follow over the years had come down to earth in the likeness of men. You cannot go beyond what you have been taught. Now Paul and Barnabas must teach them the truth and get them to turn to the one, true, living God.
In the Bible lands and times to "rent your clothes" was to tear them to show great grief or emotional hurt. In the Old Testament a man of God, such as Samuel, would wear a "mantle" as symbol of his office. When in great distress before God the man would tear or rent his "mantle." In I Samuel 15:27 Samuel rent his mantle to symbolize to Saul that the kingdom was to be torn out of Saul's hands and given to David.
Paul and Barnabas rent their clothing in disgust at the idea of the people worshiping them and also to show that under their clothing they were men just like the men of Lystra and not gods.
Acts 14:15-18
. . .We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Paul and Barnabas did their best to persuade the people that they were men just like the men of Lystra and that it was God's Word and His power that the people had witnessed. They encouraged the people to turn from the way they had been led in the past. Turn unto the living God.
Acts 14:19
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
This is just one verse but it contains a lot. Words are very powerful things. By God's powerful Word a man who had never walked leaped and walked. By words the people of Lystra had been taught to worship Jupiter and Mercurius and were convinced to attempt sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. By words Paul and Barnabas convinced the people they were not gods and that they should turn to the living God. And by words, these same people were convinced by the Jews from Antioch and Iconium that Paul was evil and needed to be stoned. Believing is having convidence in the information you have received to the end that you act upon it. The people of Lystra were people who easily believed what they were told and acted accordingly.
The people stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city "supposing he had been dead." The text reads "judging from the evidence that he was dead." They took his pulse. They held a mirror to his mouth to check for breath. He was dead. Now, most people (if they really check) can tell when a person is dead. Paul was stoned to death and dragged out of the city.
Barnabas and the disciples (those had disciplined themselves to believe God's Word) stood round about the body of Paul and prayed. The result was that Paul was raised from the dead. He went back into the city so all could see he was alive and turn to the living God. The next day Paul and Barnabas moved on to Derbe.
Gladly
Acts