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 Jewish Leaders Want To Kill Jesus For Blasphemy Because He Is Making Himself God

³¹ The Jews again carried stones in order that they might stone Him. ³² Jesus responded to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father. For which work of them do you stone Me?” ³³ The Jews answered Him, “We do not stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy— even because You, being a human, are making Yourself God”.

Jesus Responds: Saying “I Am God’s Son” Is Not Blasphemy If I Am Doing God’s Works

³⁴ Jesus responded to them, “Has it not been written in your Law that ‘I said, you are gods^[a]’? ³⁵ If He^[b] called those ones to whom the word of God came gods— and the Scripture cannot be broken— ³⁶ do you^[c] say as to the One Whom the Father set-apart and sent-forth into the world that ‘You are blaspheming’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? ³⁷ If I am not doing the works of My Father, do not be believing Me. ³⁸ But if I am doing them— even if you do not believe Me, be believing the works, in order that you may come-to-know and be understanding^[d] that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father”. ³⁹ Then they were seeking again to seize Him, and He went out of their hand.

Jesus Leaves Judea

⁴⁰ And He went away again beyond the Jordan, to the place where John was first baptizing. And He was staying there. ⁴¹ And many came to Him, and were saying that “John did no sign— but all that John said about this One was true”. ⁴² And many believed in Him there.