Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
14:1 The same thing happened in Iconium1 when Paul and Barnabas2 went into the Jewish synagogue3 and spoke in such a way that a large group4 of both Jews and Greeks believed. 14:2 But the Jews who refused to believe5 stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds6 against the brothers. 14:3 So they stayed there7 for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified8 to the message9 of his grace, granting miraculous signs10 and wonders to be performed through their hands. 14:4 But the population11 of the city was divided; some12 sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 14:5 When both the Gentiles and the Jews (together with their rulers) made13 an attempt to mistreat14 them and stone them,15 14:6 Paul and Barnabas16 learned about it17 and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra18 and Derbe19 and the surrounding region. 14:7 There20 they continued to proclaim21 the good news.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
14:8 In22 Lystra23 sat a man who could not use his feet,24 lame from birth,25 who had never walked. 14:9 This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul26 stared27 intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed, 14:10 he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.”28 And the man29 leaped up and began walking.30 14:11 So when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted31 in the Lycaonian language,32 “The gods have come down to us in human form!”33 14:12 They began to call34 Barnabas Zeus35 and Paul Hermes,36 because he was the chief speaker. 14:13 The priest of the temple37 of Zeus,38 located just outside the city, brought bulls39 and garlands40 to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them.41 14:14 But when the apostles42 Barnabas and Paul heard about43 it, they tore44 their clothes and rushed out45 into the crowd, shouting,46 14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures47 just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn48 from these worthless49 things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth,50 the sea, and everything that is in them. 14:16 In51 past52 generations he allowed all the nations53 to go their own ways, 14:17 yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good,54 by giving you rain from heaven55 and fruitful seasons, satisfying you56 with food and your hearts with joy.”57 14:18 Even by saying58 these things, they scarcely persuaded59 the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them.
14:19 But Jews came from Antioch60 and Iconium,61 and after winning62 the crowds over, they stoned63 Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. 14:20 But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back64 into the city. On65 the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.66
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
14:21 After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra,67 to Iconium,68 and to Antioch.69 14:22 They strengthened70 the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue71 in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom72 of God through many persecutions.”73 14:23 When they had appointed elders74 for them in the various churches,75 with prayer and fasting76 they entrusted them to the protection77 of the Lord in whom they had believed. 14:24 Then they passed through78 Pisidia and came into Pamphylia,79 14:25 and when they had spoken the word80 in Perga,81 they went down to Attalia.82 14:26 From there they sailed back to Antioch,83 where they had been commended84 to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.85 14:27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported86 all the things God87 had done with them, and that he had opened a door88 of faith for the Gentiles. 14:28 So they spent89 considerable90 time with the disciples.