Add parallel Print Page Options

In Iconium

14 Now it happened that in (A)Iconium (B)they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner (C)that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of (D)Greeks. But (E)the [a](F)unbelieving Jews instigated and embittered the [b]minds of the Gentiles against (G)the brothers. Therefore they spent a long time there (H)speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [c](I)signs and wonders be done through their hands. (J)But the multitude of the city was divided; and some [d]sided with (K)the Jews, and some with (L)the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and (M)the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to (N)stone them, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of (O)Lycaonia, (P)Lystra and (Q)Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they continued to (R)proclaim the gospel.

In Lystra and Derbe

And at (S)Lystra (T)a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man listened to Paul as he spoke, who, (U)when he fixed his gaze on him and saw that he had (V)faith to be [e]saved from being lame, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” (W)And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the (X)Lycaonian language, “(Y)The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, [f]Zeus, and Paul, [g]Hermes, because he was [h]the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was [i]just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and (Z)was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when (AA)the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they (AB)tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also (AC)men of the same nature as you, (AD)proclaiming the gospel to you that you should turn from these [j](AE)vain things to a (AF)living God, (AG)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 [k]In the generations gone by He (AH)permitted all the [l]nations to (AI)go their own ways; 17 and yet (AJ)He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and (AK)gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But (AL)Jews came from (AM)Antioch and (AN)Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and (AO)stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while (AP)the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to (AQ)Derbe. 21 And after they had (AR)proclaimed the gospel to that city and had (AS)made many disciples, they returned to (AT)Lystra and to (AU)Iconium and to (AV)Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of (AW)the disciples, encouraging them to continue in (AX)the faith, and saying, “(AY)Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 And when (AZ)they had appointed (BA)elders for them in every church, having (BB)prayed with fasting, they (BC)commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

The Return to Antioch

24 And when they passed through (BD)Pisidia, they came into (BE)Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in (BF)Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed to (BG)Antioch, from (BH)where they had been (BI)committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to (BJ)report all things that God had done with them and [m]how He had opened a (BK)door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent not a little time with (BL)the disciples.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:2 Or disobeying
  2. Acts 14:2 Lit souls
  3. Acts 14:3 Or attesting miracles
  4. Acts 14:4 Lit were
  5. Acts 14:9 Or made well
  6. Acts 14:12 In Lat Jupiter, the chief pagan god
  7. Acts 14:12 In Lat Mercury, considered the messenger or spokesman for the pagan gods of Greece and Rome
  8. Acts 14:12 Lit the leader of the speaking
  9. Acts 14:13 Lit in front of
  10. Acts 14:15 Idols
  11. Acts 14:16 Lit Who in the generations gone by permitted
  12. Acts 14:16 Or Gentiles
  13. Acts 14:27 Lit that

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke as they had before. As a result, a huge number of Jews and Greeks believed. However, the Jews who rejected the faith stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the brothers. Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas stayed there for quite some time, confidently speaking about the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the word about his grace by the signs and wonders he enabled them to perform. The people of the city were divided—some siding with the Jews, others with the Lord’s messengers. Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area, where they continued to proclaim the good news.

Healing a crippled man in Lystra

In Lystra there was a certain man who lacked strength in his legs. He had been crippled since birth and had never walked. Sitting there, he heard Paul speaking. Paul stared at him and saw that he believed he could be healed.

10 Raising his voice, Paul said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” He jumped up and began to walk.

11 Seeing what Paul had done, the crowd shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have taken human form and come down to visit us!” 12 They referred to Barnabas as Zeus and to Paul as Hermes, since Paul was the main speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was located just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. Along with the crowds, he wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 When the Lord’s messengers Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes in protest and rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, 15 “People, what are you doing? We are humans too, just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you: turn to the living God and away from such worthless things. He made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.[a] 16 In the past, he permitted every nation to go its own way. 17 Nevertheless, he hasn’t left himself without a witness. He has blessed you by giving you rain from above as well as seasonal harvests, and satisfying you with food and happiness.” 18 Even with these words, they barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. 20 When the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city again. The following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Returning to Antioch

21 Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where 22 they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, “If we are to enter God’s kingdom, we must pass through many troubles.” 23 They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust.

24 After Paul and Barnabas traveled through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 They proclaimed the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted by God’s grace to the work they had now completed. 27 On their arrival, they gathered the church together and reported everything that God had accomplished through their activity, and how God had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28 They stayed with the disciples a long time.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:15 Ps 146:6