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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. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up and disquieted the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren.

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. The people of the city were divided: part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 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, they were aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the region that lies round about, and there preached the gospel.

And at Lystra there sat a certain man weak in his feet, being crippled from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 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.

19 But certain Jews from Antioch and lconium came there, and they won the people over, and stoned Paul and drew him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and went into the city.

And the next day, Paul departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium and Antioch, 22 and strengthened the disciples’ souls, exhorting them to continue in the faith, affirming that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And they appointed elders by election in every congregation, and prayed and fasted, and committed them to God on whom they believed.

24 And they went through Pisidia, and came into Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word of God in Perga, they descended into Attalia, 26 and from there returned by ship to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. 27 When they arrived and had gathered the congregation together, they described all that God had done by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained there a long time with the disciples.

In Iconium

14 At Iconium(A) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.(B) There they spoke so effectively that a great number(C) of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(D) So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly(E) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.(F) The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.(G) There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,(H) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.(I) But they found out about it and fled(J) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach(K) the gospel.(L)

In Lystra and Derbe

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth(M) and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed(N) 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”(O) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.(P)

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(Q) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(R) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(S) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(T) like you. We are bringing you good news,(U) telling you to turn from these worthless things(V) to the living God,(W) who made the heavens and the earth(X) and the sea and everything in them.(Y) 16 In the past, he let(Z) all nations go their own way.(AA) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(AB) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(AC) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(AD) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews(AE) came from Antioch and Iconium(AF) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul(AG) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples(AH) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 They preached the gospel(AI) in that city and won a large number(AJ) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium(AK) and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.(AL) “We must go through many hardships(AM) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a](AN) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,(AO) committed them to the Lord,(AP) in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,(AQ) 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,(AR) where they had been committed to the grace of God(AS) for the work they had now completed.(AT) 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them(AU) and how he had opened a door(AV) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:23 Or Barnabas ordained elders; or Barnabas had elders elected