Acts of the Apostles 14:11‭-‬15  When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. ¶Lystrans, steeped in many generations of worship of the debauched gods of the Roman pantheon, brought sacrifices to Paul...

Acts 20:31-35 31  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32  And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33  I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34  You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”  Paul hopes to inspire the Ephesian church to model selfless service to the world. This is the power of the gospel: what is not only heard in word, but seen in action (Phil 4:9), to be imitated (1Cor 4:16), to model good works (Titus 2:5), to give of ourselves an example to imitate (2Thessalonians 3:8-9). Yet,...