Growth and Persecution in Iconium

14 The same thing happened in Iconium; they entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.^{(A) 2} But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.^{(B) 3} So they stayed there for some time and spoke boldly in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them.^{(C) 4} But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.^{(D) 5} When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to assault and stone them, ⁶ they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns called Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding countryside.^{(E) 7} And there they kept evangelizing.^(F)

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

⁸ In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth,^[a] and who had never walked, sat ⁹ and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And he jumped up and started to walk around.^(G)

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!”^{(H) 12} And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker. ¹³ Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice.

¹⁴ The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:^{(I) 15} “Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things^(J) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.^{(K)[b] 16} In past generations He allowed all the nations^(L) to go their own way, ¹⁷ although He did not leave Himself without a witness,^(M) since He did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons^(N) and satisfying your^[c] hearts with food and happiness.” ¹⁸ Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.^{(O) 20} After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.^(P)

Church Planting

²¹ After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,^{(Q) 22} strengthening the^[d] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith^(R) and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles^(S) on our way into the kingdom of God.”

²³ When they had appointed elders^(T) in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.^{(U) 27} After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them^(V) and that He had opened the door^(W) of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they spent a considerable time^[e] with the disciples.