Acts 14

Acceptance and Opposition

1In 1Iconium 2they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner 3that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of 4Greeks. 2But 5the Jews who 67disbelieved stirred up the 8minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against 9the brethren. 3Therefore they spent a long time there 10speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that 1112signs and wonders be done by their hands. 413But the 14people of the city were divided; and some 15sided with 16the Jews, and some with 17the apostles. 5And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and 18the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to 19stone them, 6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of 20Lycaonia, 21Lystra and 22Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7and there they continued to 23preach the gospel.

8At 24Lystra 25a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, 26when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had 27faith to be 28made well, 10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” 29And he leaped up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the 30Lycaonian language, “31The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12And they began calling Barnabas, 32Zeus, and Paul, 33Hermes, because he was 34the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was 35just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and 36wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14But when 37the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they 38tore their 39robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also 40men of the same nature as you, and 41preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these 4243vain things to a 44living God, 45who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 1646In the generations gone by He 47permitted all the 48nations to 49go their own ways; 17and yet 50He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and 51gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, 52satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

19But 53Jews came from 54Antioch and 55Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they 56stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20But while 57the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to 58Derbe. 21After they had 59preached the gospel to that city and had 60made many disciples, they returned to 61Lystra and to 62Iconium and to 63Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of 64the disciples, encouraging them to continue in 65the faith, and saying, “66Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23When 67they had appointed 68elders for them in every church, having 69prayed with fasting, they 70commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24They passed through 71Pisidia and came into 72Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in 73Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to 74Antioch, from 75which they had been 76commended to the grace of God for the work that they had 77accomplished. 27When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to 78report all things that God had done with them and 79how He had opened a 80door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent 81a long time with 82the disciples.