Acts Chapter 14 (NIV)
undefined
In IconiumAt Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
undefined
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
undefined
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
undefined
The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.
undefined
There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.
undefined
But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,
undefined
where they continued to preach the good news.
undefined
In Lystra and DerbeIn Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
undefined
He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed
undefined
and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.
undefined
When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
undefined
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
undefined
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.
undefined
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:
undefined
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
undefined
In the past, he let all nations go their own way.
undefined
Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
undefined
Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
undefined
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
undefined
But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
undefined
The Return to Antioch in SyriaThey preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
undefined
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
undefined
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
undefined
After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,
undefined
and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
undefined
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
undefined
On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
undefined
And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Deepen Your Study
Use AI-powered tools to understand this passage better
Ask AI About This Chapter Search Related Verses