Acts 14
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
In Iconium, Paul And Barnabas Again Proclaim, And Then Flee a Plot To Kill Them
14 Now it came about in Iconium that according to the same plan, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in this manner, so that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews having disobeyed[a] aroused and embittered[b] the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3 So indeed they spent a considerable time speaking-boldly for the Lord, Who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting[c] that signs and wonders be taking place by their hands. 4 And the multitude of the city was divided— indeed some were with the Jews; and others with the apostles. 5 But when an attempt[d] came about by both the Gentiles and Jews together with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, 6 having become-aware, they fled[e] to the cities of Lycaonia[f]— Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding-region. 7 And there they were announcing-the-good-news.
In Lystra, Paul Heals a Man And Is Declared a God, Then Is Stoned
8 And in Lystra, a certain man powerless in the feet was sitting— a lame one from his mother’s womb, who never walked. 9 This one heard Paul speaking— who, having looked-intently at him, and having seen that he had faith that he might be restored, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet”. And he leaped and was walking. 11 And the crowds, having seen what Paul did, raised their voice, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods came down to us, having become-like men!” 12 And they were calling Barnabas “Zeus[g]”, and Paul “Hermes[h]”, since he was the one leading the speaking. 13 And the priest of the temple of Zeus being before[i] the city, having brought bulls and garlands to the gates, was intending to offer-sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul— having heard-of it, having torn their garments— leaped-out into the crowd, crying-out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of-like-nature to you, announcing-the-good-news to turn you from these worthless[j] things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, 16 Who allowed all the nations to be going their ways in the generations having gone-by. 17 And yet He did not leave Himself without-witness[k]: doing-good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful[l] seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness”. 18 And saying these things, with-difficulty they restrained[m] the crowds, that they might not offer-sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came-over from Antioch and Iconium. And having won-over[n] the crowds, and having stoned Paul, they were dragging him outside of the city, thinking[o] that he was dead[p]. 20 But the disciples having surrounded him— having stood-up, he entered into the city.
In Derbe They Make Disciples, Then Return Home, Strengthening The Churches
And on the next day he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And having announced-the-good-news-to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging[q] them to continue-in[r] the faith, and that “It-is-necessary that we enter into the kingdom of God through many afflictions”. 23 And having appointed elders for them in each church, having prayed with fastings, they commended[s] them to the Lord in Whom they had believed. 24 And having gone through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed-away to Antioch— from where they had been handed-over to the grace of God for the work which they completed. 27 And having arrived, and having gathered together the church, they were reporting all that God did with them, and that He opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
A Controversy Erupts: Do Gentile Christians Have To Follow Jewish Laws To Be Saved?
28 Now they were spending not a little time[t] with the disciples.
Footnotes
- Acts 14:2 Or, refused-to-believe.
- Acts 14:2 Lit, made-evil.
- Acts 14:3 This explains how the Lord was testifying.
- Acts 14:5 Or, impulse, onset, start.
- Acts 14:6 Or, fled-for-refuge.
- Acts 14:6 This is the district. Lystra and Derbe are cities in this district, which is still in the Roman province of Galatia.
- Acts 14:12 This is the Greek name of the chief god, the god of the sky, known as Jupiter to the Romans.
- Acts 14:12 This is the son of Zeus, the messenger of the gods, known as Mercury to the Romans. Thus Paul is seen as the spokesman for Barnabas.
- Acts 14:13 The temple was on the road before one entered the city.
- Acts 14:15 Or, futile, pointless.
- Acts 14:17 God’s works bear testimony to Him.
- Acts 14:17 Or, fruitbearing.
- Acts 14:18 Or, brought-to-rest.
- Acts 14:19 Or, persuaded, convinced.
- Acts 14:19 Or, supposing.
- Acts 14:19 Or, had died.
- Acts 14:22 Or, exhorting.
- Acts 14:22 Or, remain-in, be-true-to.
- Acts 14:23 Or, entrusted.
- Acts 14:28 That is, a long time. Some think this is when Galatians was written (or, in 18:5 or 19:10 or 20:3) to the churches just founded in 13:14-14:23 (the South-Galatia theory). Others think it was written in Acts 18:5 or 19:10 or 20:3 to the unnamed churches visited in 16:6 or 18:23 (the North-Galatia theory).
Acts 14
English Standard Version
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
14 Now at Iconium (A)they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 (B)But the (C)unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against (D)the brothers.[a] 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for (E)the Lord, who bore witness to (F)the word of his grace, (G)granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city (H)were divided; (I)some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, (J)to mistreat them and (K)to stone them, 6 they learned of it and (L)fled to (M)Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was (N)crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and (O)seeing that he had faith to be made well,[b] 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he (P)sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, (Q)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called (R)Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of (S)Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and (T)wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they (U)tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, (V)why are you doing these things? We also are men, (W)of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that (X)you should turn from these (Y)vain things to (Z)a living God, (AA)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he (AB)allowed all the nations (AC)to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet (AD)he did not leave himself without witness, for he (AE)did good by (AF)giving you rains from heaven and (AG)fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with (AH)food and (AI)gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Paul Stoned at Lystra
19 (AJ)But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, (AK)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had (AL)made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 (AM)strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them (AN)to continue in (AO)the faith, and saying that (AP)through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had (AQ)appointed (AR)elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting (AS)they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, (AT)where they had been (AU)commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, (AV)they declared all that God had done with them, and (AW)how he had (AX)opened (AY)a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
