¹⁹ But some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and persuaded the crowds to stone Paul. They dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ The disciples gathered round him, however, and he got up and went into the city. The next day he and Barnabas went off to Derbe.

Opening the door of faith

²¹ They preached in Derbe, and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the hearts of the disciples, and urging them to remain in the faith. They warned them that getting into God’s kingdom would mean going through considerable suffering. ²³ In every church they appointed elders by laying hands on them. They fasted, prayed, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

²⁴ They went through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia; ²⁵ and when they had spoken the word in Perga they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, which was where they had been commended to God’s grace for the work which they had accomplished. ²⁷ Once there, they called the church together, and told them all the things which God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. ²⁸ They stayed there a long time with the disciples.

A light to the Gentiles

⁴⁴ On the next sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with righteous indignation, and spoke blasphemous words against what Paul was saying.

⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas grew very bold.

“God’s word had to be spoken to you first,” they declared. “But since you are rejecting it, and judging yourselves unworthy of the life of God’s new age, look! We are turning to the Gentiles! ⁴⁷ This is what the Lord has commanded, you see:

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were thrilled, and they praised the word of the Lord. All those who were marked out for the life of God’s new age became believers. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord spread through the whole land.

⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the devout aristocratic women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ They, however, shook the dust off their feet and went on to Iconium. ⁵² The disciples were filled with joy and with the holy spirit.