Book of Common Prayer

Paul and Barnabas preach at Iconium. Some believe, some stir up a revolt. At Lystra the people want to make sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul, who refuse it and exhort the people to worship the true God. Paul is stoned. After that, he goes to Derbe, and again to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

14 And it happened in Iconium that Paul and Barnabas went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great number both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed. ² But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and disquieted the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren.

³ They remained there a long time, and acquitted themselves boldly with the help of the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, causing signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ The people of the city were divided: part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. ⁵ When an assault was planned, both by the Gentiles and also by the Jews with their leaders, to put them to shame and to stone them, ⁶ they were aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the region that lies round about, ⁷ and there preached the gospel.

⁸ And at Lystra there sat a certain man weak in his feet, being crippled from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. ⁹ This man heard Paul preach. Paul looked at him and perceived that he had faith to be whole, ¹⁰ and said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet! And he started up and walked.

¹¹ And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, Gods have come down to us in the likeness of men! ¹² And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the preacher. ¹³ Then the priest of Jupiter, who dwelt in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the temple porch, and wanted to make sacrifice with the people.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, ¹⁵ Sirs, why do you do this? We are mortal men like you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them – ¹⁶ who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without witness, in that he showed his goodness in giving us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. ¹⁸ And with these words, they barely refrained the people from making sacrifice to them.

²¹ And Jesus said to the people, Is the candle lighted to be put under a bushel or under the table, and not rather to be put on a candlestick? ²² For there is nothing so hid that it will not be revealed, nor so secret but that it may become clear. ²³ If any person has ears to hear, let him hear.

²⁴ And he said to them, Attend with care to what you hear. With the same measure you give, it will be measured back to you. And to you who hear, more will be given. ²⁵ For to him who has, it will be given, but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.

²⁶ And he said, The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man sows seed in the ground, ²⁷ and sleeps, and rises up night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows up, he knows not how. ²⁸ For the earth brings forth fruit of herself: first the blade, then the ears, after that the full grain in the ears. ²⁹ And as soon as the fruit is brought forth, immediately the man thrusts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.

³⁰ And he said, To what may we liken the kingdom of God? or what comparison can we use? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is the least of all seeds that are in the earth. ³² But after it is sown, it grows up and is greatest of all shrubs, and bears great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the cover of it.

³³ And with many such similitudes he preached the word to the people, as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ And without similitude he spoke nothing to them. But when they were apart, he expounded all things to his disciples.