1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue as usual. They spoke there with great power. Large numbers of Jews and Greeks became believers.2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some of the Gentiles who were there. They turned them against the two men and the new believers.3So Paul and Barnabas spent a lot of time there. They spoke boldly for the Lord. He gave them the ability to do signs and wonders. In this way the Lord showed that they were telling the truth about his grace.4The people of the city did not agree with one another. Some were on the side of the Jews. Others were on the side of the apostles.5Jews and Gentiles alike planned to treat Paul and Barnabas badly. Their leaders agreed. They planned to kill them by throwing stones at them.6But Paul and Barnabas found out about the plan. They escaped to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding area.7There they continued to preach the good news.
Paul preaches in Lystra
8In Lystra there sat a man who couldn’t walk. He hadn’t been able to use his feet since the day he was born.9He listened as Paul spoke. Paul looked right at him. He saw that the man had faith to be healed.10So he called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ Then the man jumped up and began to walk.11The crowd saw what Paul had done. They shouted in the Lycaonian language. ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ they exclaimed.12They called Barnabas Zeus. Paul was the main speaker. So they called him Hermes.13Just outside the city was the temple of the god Zeus. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.14But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted,15‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them.16In the past, he let all nations go their own way.17But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons. He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy.’18Paul and Barnabas told them all these things. But they had trouble keeping the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won the crowd over to their side. They threw stones at Paul. They thought he was dead, so they dragged him out of the city.20The believers gathered around Paul. Then he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch
21Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in the city of Derbe. They won large numbers of followers. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.22There they helped the believers gain strength. They told them to remain faithful to what they had been taught. ‘We must go through many hard times to enter God’s kingdom,’ they said.23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church. The elders had trusted in the Lord. Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted. They placed the elders in the Lord’s care.24After going through Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas came into Pamphylia.25They preached the good news in Perga. Then they went down to Attalia.26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch. In Antioch they had been put in God’s care to preach the good news. They had now completed the work God had given them to do.27When they arrived at Antioch, they gathered the church together. They reported all that God had done through them. They told how he had opened a way for the Gentiles to believe.28And they stayed there a long time with the believers.
Acts 14
English Standard Version
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
1Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. (Ac 13:5)2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.[1] (Joh 3:36; Joh 21:23; Ac 13:50; Ac 19:9; Ro 15:31)3So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Mr 16:20; Ac 4:29; Ac 15:8; Ac 20:32; Heb 2:4)4But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. (Ac 17:4; Ac 19:9; Ac 23:7; Ac 28:24)5When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, (Ac 14:19; 2Co 12:10; 1Th 2:2)6they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, (Mt 10:23; 2Ti 3:11)7and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
8Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. (Ac 3:2)9He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,[2] (Mt 9:2)10said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. (Isa 35:6; Ac 3:8)11And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (Ac 8:10; Ac 28:6)12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. (Ac 19:35; Ac 28:11)13And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. (Da 2:46; Ac 14:12)14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, (Ge 37:29)15“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. (Ge 1:1; Ex 20:11; De 32:21; 1Sa 12:21; Ps 146:6; Jer 14:22; Mt 16:16; Lu 1:16; Ac 9:35; Ac 10:26; Ac 15:3; Ac 15:19; Ac 17:24; Ac 26:18; Ac 26:20; 1Co 8:4; 1Th 1:9; Jas 5:17; Jas 5:19; Re 4:11; Re 10:6; Re 14:7)16In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. (Ps 81:13; Mic 4:5; Ac 17:30; 1Pe 4:3)17Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Le 26:4; Nu 10:32; De 11:14; De 28:12; Job 5:10; Ps 65:10; Ps 67:6; Ps 85:12; Ps 104:15; Ps 104:27; Ps 147:8; Ps 147:18; Eze 34:26; Eze 34:27; Joe 2:23; Joe 2:24; Zec 8:12; Ac 17:27; Ro 1:19)18Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Paul Stoned at Lystra
19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (Ac 7:58; Ac 13:45; Ac 13:50; Ac 14:5; 2Co 11:25; 2Ti 3:11)20But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.21When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, (Mt 28:19)22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Mr 10:30; Lu 22:28; Joh 15:20; Joh 16:33; Ac 6:7; Ac 9:16; Ac 13:43; Ac 15:32; Ac 15:41; Ac 18:23; Ro 8:17; Php 1:20; Col 1:23; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:3; 1Th 3:13; 2Th 1:5; 2Ti 2:12; 2Ti 3:12; 1Pe 5:10; Re 1:9)23And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Ac 11:30; Ac 20:32; Tit 1:5)
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
24Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,26and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. (Ac 13:3; Ac 15:40)27And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Ho 2:15; Ac 11:18; Ac 15:3; Ac 15:4; Ac 15:12; Ac 21:19; 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3; Re 3:8)28And they remained no little time with the disciples.