Chapter 14

Now it came to pass at Iconium that they went in the same way into the synagogue of the Jews and so spoke that a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed.

But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren.

They stayed a long time, therefore, acting fearlessly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace by permitting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.

But when there was a movement on the part of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers to insult and stone them,

hearing of it, they escaped to the Lycaonian cities Lystra and Derbe and the whole country round about, and there they went on preaching the gospel. Lystra

And in Lystra a certain man used to sit whose feet were crippled. He had been lame from his very birth, and had never been able to walk.

He listened to Paul as he spoke; when Paul, gazing at him and seeing that he had faith to be cured,

said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet." And he sprang up and began to walk.

Then the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, lifted up their voice saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men."

And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.

And the priest of the Jupiter that stood at the entrance to the city brought oxen and garlands to the gateways, and with the people would have offered sacrifice.

But on hearing of this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul rushed into the crowd, tearing their clothes, and shouting,

"Men, why are you doing this? We also are mortals, human being like you, bringing to you the good news that you should turn from these vain things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are in them.

In the generations that are past he let all the nations follow their own ways;

and yet he did not leave himself without testimony, bestowing blessings, giving rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

And even with these words they could hardly restrain the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

But some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium; and after winning over the crowds, they stone Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking that he was dead.

But the disciples gathered round him and he got up and re-entered the city. Derbe; the Return The next day he set out with Barnabas for Derbe.

After preaching the gospel to that city and teaching many, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch,

reassuring the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and reminding them that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

And when they had appointed presbyters for them in each church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Crossing Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia,

and after speaking the word of the Lord in Perge they went down to Attalia,

and from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they had now finished.

On their arrival they called the church together and reported all that God had done with them, and how he had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith.

And they stayed no little time with the disciples.