They stoneed Paul and left him for (what they thought was) dead. His executioners dragged Paul out of Lystra (in modern day southwestern Turkey) and quickly departed. The disciples appeared and surrounded the apostle’s lifeless body, quietly planning his burial and mostly wondering what to do next.
Slowly, with or without the disciples, in serious pain, against all logic, not waiting for the counsel of those whose primary interest was his welfare, but with only the interest of God at heart, Paul miracously “got up and went back into the city,” (Acts 14.19-20).
I used to have the audacity to pray “Lord, make me like Paul.” Today I would be satisfied if He gave me the courage to follow a leader like Paul, if I could find one.
