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Acts 14

This is what happened in Iconium

14 When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Iconium, they did the same as they had done before. They went to the Jewish meeting place and they spoke God's message there. They spoke very clearly, so that many Jews and Gentiles believed in Jesus. 2 But some of the Jews refused to believe God's message. They told the Gentiles that they too should not believe it. The Jews put bad thoughts into the minds of the Gentiles so that they became angry against the believers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium for a long time. They were not afraid to tell people the message about the Lord Jesus. The Lord gave them power to do miracles. These showed the people that God was with Paul and Barnabas and that their message was true. They taught that God saves people because he is very kind. 4 The people in the city did not agree with each other. Some of them believed the message from the apostles, Paul and Barnabas. But some people agreed with the Jews who did not believe their message. 5 Some of the Jews and the Gentiles met with their leaders. They decided to do bad things to Paul and Barnabas. They wanted to throw stones at them and kill them. 6 Paul and Barnabas heard that these people wanted to hurt them. So they left Iconium quickly and they went to Lystra and Derbe, and other places near there. These cities were in the region called Lycaonia. 7 In all these places, they continued to tell people the good news about Jesus.

This is what happened in Lystra

8 There was a man who lived in Lystra. His feet had been weak since he was born. So he had never been able to walk. 9 While Paul was speaking God's message, this man listened to him. Paul looked at him carefully. He could see that the man believed in Jesus. The man believed that God could make him well. 10 So Paul said to him loudly, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ Immediately the man jumped up and he began to walk about.

11 The crowd saw what Paul had done. They began to shout in their own language that the people of Lycaonia spoke. ‘The gods have become like men and they have come down from the sky to us,’ they said. 12 They called Barnabas ‘Zeus’. They called Paul ‘Hermes’, because he was the one who spoke the message to the people. [ a ]

13 The temple of Zeus was very near to the town. The priest who worked there brought bulls and flowers to the town gate. Many people had come together in that place. The priest and the crowd wanted to kill the animals as sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. [ b ]

14 Paul and Barnabas heard what the people wanted to do. So they tore their own clothes to show that they were very upset. They ran into the middle of the crowd, 15 and they shouted, ‘Stop! You people should not do this. We are only men like you. We are not gods. We came here to tell you some good news about the great God. You must stop worshipping these gods who are really nothing. Instead worship the God who lives. He made the sky, the earth and the sea. He also made everything that is in them.

16 In past times, God let people everywhere do what they wanted to do. 17 But God has showed everybody very clearly what he is like. He has showed you that he is kind. He causes the rain to fall from the sky. He causes the plants to give you food at the right time each year. He gives you plenty of food to eat. In these ways he makes you very happy.’

18 Even when Paul had said all this, the people still wanted to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas. Finally Paul and Barnabas were able to stop them.

19 Then some Jews arrived there in Lystra. They had travelled from Antioch and from Iconium. They talked to the people, so that they turned against Paul. Then these Jews threw stones at Paul to kill him. They pulled his body to outside the town. They thought that he was dead. 20 But some believers came out from the town and they stood around Paul. Then Paul stood up! He went back with them into the town.

Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria

The next day, Paul and Barnabas left Lystra and they went to Derbe. 21 While they were there, they told people the good news about Jesus. Many people in Derbe became believers. After that, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra. From there they went back to Iconium. Then they returned to Antioch in the region of Pisidia. 22 In all these towns, they taught the believers to be strong. They said to them, ‘Continue to trust in the Lord Jesus! All believers will have trouble at different times. That will continue to happen in our lives. But one day we will go into the kingdom of God where he rules.’

23 Paul and Barnabas chose leaders for each group of believers in these places. They fasted and they prayed to God for some time about this. They asked the Lord Jesus to help these leaders who trusted in him.

24 Then Paul and Barnabas travelled through Pisidia. They arrived in Pamphylia. 25 They spoke God's message to the people in Perga. Then they went down to the coast, to the town of Attalia.

26 From there they went in a ship back to Antioch. That was the place where the believers had chosen them to do God's work. They had asked God to help Paul and Barnabas in this work. Now Paul and Barnabas had finished this work and they had returned home. 27 When they arrived, they sent a message to the group of believers in Antioch. When all the believers had come together, Paul and Barnabas told them about their journey. They told the believers about everything that God had helped them to do. They said, ‘God has made it possible now for Gentiles to believe in Jesus.’

28 Paul and Barnabas stayed there with the believers in Antioch for a long time.

Footnotes

  1. 14:12 Zeus and Hermes were the names of two Greek gods. Zeus was the leader of the Greek gods. And Hermes was the god who gave messages from Zeus to the people.
  2. 14:13 They thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods that they should offer sacrifices to.

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14 Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Iconium. As they did in Antioch, they entered the Jewish synagogue. They spoke to the people there. They spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks believed what they said. 2 But some of the Jews did not believe. They said things that caused the non-Jewish people to be angry and turn against the believers.

3 So Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time, and they spoke bravely for the Lord. They told the people about God’s grace. The Lord proved that what they said was true by causing miraculous signs and wonders to be done through them. 4 But some of the people in the city agreed with the Jews who did not believe Paul and Barnabas. Others followed the apostles. So the city was divided.

5 Some of the Jews there, as well as their leaders and some of the non-Jewish people, were determined to hurt Paul and Barnabas. They wanted to stone them to death. 6 When Paul and Barnabas learned about this, they left the city. They went to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding areas. 7 They told the Good News there too.

Paul in Lystra and Derbe

8 In Lystra there was a man who had something wrong with his feet. He had been born crippled and had never walked. 9 He was sitting and listening to Paul speak. Paul looked straight at him and saw that the man believed God could heal him. 10 So Paul shouted, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumped up and began walking around.

11 When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, “The gods have come down to us in the form of humans!” 12 The people began to call Barnabas “Zeus,” and they called Paul “Hermes,” because he was the main speaker. 13 The temple of Zeus was near the city. The priest of this temple brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. The priest and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.

14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, understood what the people were doing, they tore their own clothes. [ a ] Then they ran in among the people and shouted to them: 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We are not gods. We are human just like you. We came to tell you the Good News. We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the true living God, the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.

16 “In the past God let all the nations do what they wanted. 17 But God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

18 Even after saying all this, Paul and Barnabas still could hardly stop the people from offering sacrifices to them.

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people to turn against Paul. So they threw stones at him and dragged him out of the town. They thought they had killed him. 20 But when the followers of Jesus gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas left and went to the city of Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 They also told the Good News in the city of Derbe, and many people became followers of Jesus. Then Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. 22 In those cities they helped the followers grow stronger in their faith and encouraged them to continue trusting God. They told them, “We must suffer many things on our way into God’s kingdom.” 23 They also chose elders for each church and stopped eating for a period of time to pray for them. These elders were men who had put their trust in the Lord Jesus, so Paul and Barnabas put them in his care.

24 Paul and Barnabas went through the country of Pisidia. Then they came to the country of Pamphylia. 25 They told people the message of God in the city of Perga, and then they went down to the city of Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed away to Antioch in Syria. This is the city where the believers had put them into God’s care and sent them to do this work. Now they had finished it.

27 When Paul and Barnabas arrived, they gathered the church together. They told them everything God had used them to do. They said, “God opened a door for the non-Jewish people to believe!” 28 And they stayed there a long time with the Lord’s followers.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:14 tore … clothes This showed they were very upset.

14 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

7 And there they preached the gospel.

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Acceptance and Opposition

14 In ( A ) Iconium ( B ) they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a way ( C ) that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of ( D ) Greeks. 2 But ( E ) the [ a ] ( F ) unbelieving Jews stirred up the [ b ] minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against ( G ) the brothers. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there ( H ) speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [ c ] ( I ) signs and wonders be performed by their hands. 4 ( J ) But the [ d ] people of the city were divided; and some [ e ] sided with ( K ) the Jews, while others, with ( L ) the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and ( M ) the Jews with their rulers, to treat them abusively and to ( N ) stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of ( O ) Lycaonia, ( P ) Lystra and ( Q ) Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to ( R ) preach the gospel.

8 In ( S ) Lystra ( T ) a man was sitting whose feet were incapacitated. He had been disabled from his mother’s womb, and had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul ( U ) looked at him intently and saw that he had ( V ) faith to be [ f ] made well, 10 and he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” ( W ) And the man leaped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the ( X ) Lycaonian language, “ ( Y ) The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, [ g ] Zeus, and Paul, [ h ] Hermes, since he was [ i ] the chief speaker. 13 Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was [ j ] just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and ( Z ) wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when ( AA ) the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it , they ( AB ) tore their [ k ] robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also ( AC ) men, of the same nature as you, ( AD ) preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these [ l ] ( AE ) useless things to a ( AF ) living God, who ( AG ) made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them . 16 [ m ] In past generations He ( AH ) permitted all the [ n ] nations to ( AI ) go their own ways; 17 yet ( AJ ) He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and ( AK ) gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, [ o ] satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

19 But ( AL ) Jews came from ( AM ) Antioch and ( AN ) Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they ( AO ) stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. 20 But while ( AP ) the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for ( AQ ) Derbe. 21 And after they had ( AR ) preached the gospel to that city and had ( AS ) made a good number of disciples, they returned to ( AT ) Lystra, to ( AU ) Iconium, and to ( AV ) Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of ( AW ) the disciples, encouraging them to continue in ( AX ) the faith, and saying , “ ( AY ) It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When ( AZ ) they had appointed ( BA ) elders for them in every church, having ( BB ) prayed with fasting, they ( BC ) entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 They passed through ( BD ) Pisidia and came into ( BE ) Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in ( BF ) Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to ( BG ) Antioch, ( BH ) where they had been ( BI ) entrusted to the grace of God for the work that they had [ p ] accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to ( BJ ) report all the things that God had done with them and [ q ] how He had opened a ( BK ) door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent [ r ] a long time with ( BL ) the disciples.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:2 Or disobeying
  2. Acts 14:2 Lit souls
  3. Acts 14:3 I.e., confirming miracles
  4. Acts 14:4 Lit multitude
  5. Acts 14:4 Lit were
  6. Acts 14:9 Lit saved
  7. Acts 14:12 In Lat Jupiter , the chief pagan god of Rome
  8. Acts 14:12 In Lat Mercury , considered the messenger or spokesman for the pagan gods of Rome
  9. Acts 14:12 Lit the leader of the speaking
  10. Acts 14:13 Lit in front of
  11. Acts 14:14 Or outer garments
  12. Acts 14:15 I.e., idols
  13. Acts 14:16 Lit Who in past generations permitted
  14. Acts 14:16 Or Gentiles
  15. Acts 14:17 Lit filling
  16. Acts 14:26 Lit fulfilled
  17. Acts 14:27 Lit that
  18. Acts 14:28 Lit not a little

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. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ( D ) 3 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 ) 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ( G ) 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, ( H ) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ( I ) 6 But they found out about it and fled ( J ) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach ( K ) the gospel. ( L )

In Lystra and Derbe

8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth ( M ) and had never walked. 9 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
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