Acts 14

Acceptance and Opposition

1In 1Iconium 2they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a way 3that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of 4Greeks. 2But 5the 67unbelieving Jews stirred up the 8minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against 9the brothers. 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 performed by their hands. 413But the 14people of the city were divided; and some 15sided with 16the Jews, while others, with 17the apostles. 5And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and 18the Jews with their rulers, to treat them abusively 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.

8In 24Lystra 25a man was sitting whose feet were incapacitated. He had been disabled from his mother’s womb, and had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul 26looked at him intently and saw that he had 27faith to be 28made well, 10and he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” 29And the man 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, since he was 34the chief speaker. 13Moreover, the 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 about 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, 41preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these 4243useless things to a 44living God, who 45made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. 1646In past generations He 47permitted all the 48nations to 49go their own ways; 17yet 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.” 18And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices 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, thinking that he was dead. 20But while 57the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for 58Derbe. 21And after they had 59preached the gospel to that city and had 60made a good number of disciples, they returned to 61Lystra, to 62Iconium, and to 63Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of 64the disciples, encouraging them to continue in 65the faith, and saying, “66It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23When 67they had appointed 68elders for them in every church, having 69prayed with fasting, they 70entrusted 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, 75where they had been 76entrusted 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 the 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.