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But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19–20 WEB.

After Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man and preached the good news in the city of Lystra, the people were so impressed that they wanted to offer sacrifices to them. They shouted, "The gods have come down among us in human form!" They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

Yet later, some Jews who disliked Paul came from other cities and stirred up the crowd against him. They formed a mob, stoned Paul, dragged him outside of the town, and left him believing he was dead. He may have actually been dead, for they knew how to stone people in those days.

When the disciples gathered around Paul's body later to mourn his demise, he suddenly stood up on his feet and went back into the city to spend the night. The next day he traveled to Derbe and continued to preach the good news of Jesus with signs following.

Being stoned at Lystra became a part of Paul's testimony. He added a lot more trials to his list. In 2 Corinthians 11:23, he wrote: "with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day, I was adrift at sea."

Many times in life, we get knocked down. Especially when we are trying our hardest to live right, but trials will not stop us. You will get back up and take the next step. You are not beaten. You will continue on, and what you suffer will become a part of your testimony, just as it did with Paul. Getting back up after being knocked down is a time-honored tradition for the followers of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for being there for me. Please help me pull my life together and turn this test into a testimony. I look to You, Lord, for my help comes from above. Walk with me today and show Yourself strong in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Don't forget to fall back tonight :)! "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.