“And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.” ~ Acts 14:18-19…….
These two verses are quite a paradox. In verse 18 the people were ready to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as if they were gods. They actually were getting ready to do so before Paul and Barnabas stopped them. Then in the very next verse they stoned Paul.
What had happened was a crippled man who had never walked was healed under their ministry and the people gave all the credit and glory for the man’s healing to Paul and Barnabas and started worshipping them as gods. Soon after, some came and began to speak evil of Paul and Barnabas, and the opinion of the people changed on a dime.
The lesson here is to never be moved by the opinion of people. Those who love you today may hate you tomorrow. Those who speak good of you today may speak evil of you the next day. As a minister I’ve experienced this. If you regulate your life based on the opinions of others you’ll never fulfill the will of God for your life, the devil will see to that. Find out God’s will for you and obey Him, and don’t be moved by whether people like you or don’t like you. Just be obedient to His Word, and His will for you, and let Him take care of who likes you and who doesn’t. You’ll live a much freer life when you do!