11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”
12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out
15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you 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.” Acts 14:8-15.
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The humility of Barnabas and Paul in today’s Scripture is a sharp contrast to the arrogance of Herod in Acts 12:20-23. All three were called “gods”; but Barnabas and Paul “tore their robes and rushed out” to deny that title and to point out that they were only men “of the same nature as you” and to give all the glory to God; whereas, in contrast, Herod “did not give God the glory”.
When Scripture quickly follows an example of what is bad with an example of what is good, we should pay more attention to the teaching and meditate on it more. So, what can we learn from this good example of the humility of Barnabas and Paul in today’s Scripture?
We may preach or teach the “total depravity” of man, but when was the last time that we tore our clothes in humility?
When was the last time that we “rushed out” to deny some praise?
When was the last time that we sincerely identified ourselves with a pagan or someone that we thought was more wrong than us?
In summary, does our behavior match our teaching of the importance of humility?
Yesterday, our church had communion. I made a personal decision that because I had some bad unresolved feelings toward some family member, I should not take communion. It was humbling and embarrassing to not take communion. It was the only time that I can remember in the last 40 years or so of taking communion that I remember ever passing the communion plate without participating. (Later that Sunday, I reconciled with the family member mostly to his credit for first coming to me. He apologized, and I then also apologized to him.)
1 Peter 5:5
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 