Book of Common Prayer

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.

The Lamp Comes To Shine, Not To Be Hidden

²¹ And He was saying to them, “The lamp does not come in order that it may be put under the basket or under the bed, does it? Is it not in order that it may be put on the lampstand? ²² For it is not hidden, except in order that it may be made-visible^[a]. Nor did it become hidden-away, but in order that it may come into visibility. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”.

With The Measure You Use It Will Be Measured To You

²⁴ And He was saying to them, “Be watching what you listen-to^[b]. With what measure you measure^[c], it will be measured to you— and it will be added to you. ²⁵ For he who has— it will be given to him. And he who does not have— even what he has will be taken-away from him”.

The Kingdom of God Is Like Seed That Grows From Within Itself To Maturity

²⁶ And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like this: as-if a person would throw the seed upon the soil, ²⁷ and would be sleeping and arising night and day, and the seed would be budding and growing-long— how, he does not^[d] know. ²⁸ The soil bears-fruit by-itself ^[e]— first grass, then a head, then a full grain in the head. ²⁹ And whenever the fruit permits^[f], immediately he^[g] sends-forth the sickle because the harvest has come^[h]”.

The Kingdom of God Is Like a Mustard Seed. It Starts Small And Grows Large

³⁰ And He was saying, “How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what parable may we present it?— ³¹ as a seed of a mustard-plant, which when it is sown upon the soil is being smaller than all^[i] the seeds upon the soil. ³² And when it is sown, it goes-up and becomes larger than all the garden-plants. And it makes large branches so that the birds of the heaven are able to be nesting under the shade of it”.

Jesus Spoke To The Crowd In Parables And Explained Everything To His Disciples

³³ And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ And He was not speaking to them apart from a parable. But He was explaining^[j] everything privately to His own disciples.