Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifices to them.
Acts 14:8-18
In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas encounter a man crippled from birth. But the gospel message stirs his heart and he believes. He comes to faith in Jesus the same way countless others have come to faith down through the ages: by hearing the Good News and trusting in Jesus.
But what’s fascinating to me is what it says in v9: And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well…
I wonder: how could Paul see that this man had faith? Particularly the faith to be made well? Is this even possible? To see someone’s heart?
There’s certainly a word here about faith being made manifest. True faith in Jesus will see beyond the reality of the present toward the horizon of possibility, the glorious future God has in store for His people. We are to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2) and this kind of transcendent, elevated vision is evident to those around us. We might ask if our faith is as readily apparent to others.
But in my reading, I am paying special attention to Paul and I’m amazed that he sees that this man has faith. He sees beyond the physical realm — the domain of this man’s disability — to gaze deeply into the man’s heart. Both Paul and the man in Lystra are seeing with eyes of faith, taking everything in via the whole-heart commitment to the lordship of Jesus.
Maybe there’s something in the way Paul looks “intently.” Does this mean that Paul looked at him with intensity? I think that’s likely. Imagine Paul’s countenance as he sees into this man’s soul. “Intensity” is probably a good word for that kind of moment. But I think there’s more to it than this. To look intently is to look with intentionality. And perhaps this is another key to understanding this story. Paul is intentional in the way he looks at this man. Rather than seeing him in terms of his physical limitations, Paul cuts through to the deeper level, to see this man in terms of soul and spirit.
Maybe this intense, intentional gaze allows us to see beyond what’s “real” to focus on what is possible instead. And maybe that’s the true way of seeing. And maybe this is the heart of faith – what it really means to believe in Jesus in the first place.
Lord, cultivate in me this intent gaze, this intentional way of seeing.
May I look upon you — and others — with this degree of intensity.
Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, a willing spirit obedient to You and You alone.
Help me see what you see, O God.
already & not yet 