At Iconium

14 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the ^(A)Greeks believed. ² But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and ^[a]poisoned their ^[b]minds against the brethren. ³ Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, ^(B)who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and ^(C)wonders to be done by their hands.

⁴ But the multitude of the city was ^(D)divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the ^(E)apostles. ⁵ And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, ^(F)to abuse and stone them, ⁶ they became aware of it and ^(G)fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. ⁷ And they were preaching the gospel there.

Idolatry at Lystra

^8 (H)And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. ⁹ This man heard Paul speaking. ^[c]Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ said with a loud voice, ^(I)“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. ¹¹ Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, ^(J)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² And Barnabas they called ^[d]Zeus, and Paul, ^[e]Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, ^(K)intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, ^(L)they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out ¹⁵ and saying, “Men, ^(M)why are you doing these things? ^(N)We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from ^(O)these useless things ^(P)to the living God, ^(Q)who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, ^16 (R)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. ^17 (S)Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, ^(T)gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with ^(U)food and gladness.” ¹⁸ And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Stoning, Escape to Derbe

^19 (V)Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, ^(W)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be ^(X)dead. ²⁰ However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Strengthening the Converts

²¹ And when they had preached the gospel to that city ^(Y)and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, ^(Z)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ^(AA)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ So when they had ^(AB)appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

²⁷ Now when they had come and gathered the church together, ^(AC)they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had ^(AD)opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.