Acts 14:8
What does Acts 14:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:8 means
Luke introduces a man in Lystra, lame from birth and never having walked. His long-standing, visible disability underscores human helplessness and the impossibility of fraud. The setting is public; the need is undeniable. Such portraits often precede divine intervention in Acts, highlighting God’s compassion and authority over creation’s brokenness. The description prepares for a miracle that will validate the message and reveal the character of the God Paul proclaims. The man’s condition also elicits hope: where human strength fails, God can act. The gospel is not just ideas; it brings tangible mercy, restoring what sin and decay have marred.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And at Lystra there was a certain man, who from birth had been without the use of his feet, never having had the power of walking.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And a certain man in Lystra, impotent in the feet, was sitting, being lame from the womb of his mother--who never had walked,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This same heard Paul speaking. Who looking upon him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And a certain man in Lystra, impotent in his feet, sat, [being] lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
Context
This verse begins the Lystra episode after the general note that they preached the gospel there (verse 7). It introduces the person around whom the upcoming miracle will revolve, setting the stage for public amazement. Verses 9–10 will describe how, through Paul’s discernment and command, the man is healed instantly. The crowd’s reaction in verse 11 will not be faith in the living God but a pagan misreading of the event, which will require immediate pastoral correction (verses 14–17). Thus, verse 8 sets the scene with a credible, dramatic need that paves the way for both wonder and misunderstanding.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 5:7
The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
- Acts 3:2
And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
- John 9:1
And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.
- Acts 4:9
if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;
- John 5:3
In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered.
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