14Acts 14

1At Iconium the Apostles went together to the Jewish synagogue and preached, with the result that a great number both of Jews and Greeks believed.Select Acts 14:1

2But the Jews who had refused obedience stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren.Select Acts 14:2

3Yet Paul and Barnabas remained there for a considerable time, speaking freely and relying on the Lord, while He bore witness to the Message of His grace by permitting signs and marvels to be done by them.Select Acts 14:3

4At length the people of the city split into parties, some siding with the Jews and some with the Apostles.Select Acts 14:4

5And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with the sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them,Select Acts 14:5

6the Apostles, having become aware of it, made their escape into the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe, and the neighbouring country.Select Acts 14:6

7And there they continued to tell the Good News.Select Acts 14:7

8Now a man who had no power in his feet used to sit in the streets of Lystra. He had been lame from his birth and had never walked.Select Acts 14:8

9After this man had listened to one of Paul's sermons, the Apostle, looking steadily at him and perceiving that he had faith to be cured,Select Acts 14:9

10said in a loud voice, "Stand upright upon your feet!"Select Acts 14:10

11So he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, rent the air with their shouts in the Lycaonian language, saying, "The gods have assumed human form and have come down to us."Select Acts 14:11

12They called Barnabas `Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, `Hermes.'Select Acts 14:12

13And the priest of Zeus--the temple of Zeus being at the entrance to the city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, and in company with the crowd was intending to offer sacrifices to them.Select Acts 14:13

14But the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it; and tearing their clothes they rushed out into the middle of the crowd, exclaiming, "Sirs, why are you doing all this?Select Acts 14:14

15We also are but men, with natures kindred to your own; and we bring you the Good News that you are to turn from these unreal things, to worship the ever-living God, the Creator of earth and sky and sea and of everything that is in them.Select Acts 14:15

16In times gone by He allowed all the nations to go their own ways;Select Acts 14:16

17and yet by His beneficence He has not left His existence unattested--His beneficence, I mean, in sending you rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness."Select Acts 14:17

18Even with words like these they had difficulty in preventing the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them.Select Acts 14:18

19But now a party of Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and, having won over the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, believing him to be dead.Select Acts 14:19

20When, however, the disciples had collected round him, he rose and went back into the town. The next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe;Select Acts 14:20

21and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.Select Acts 14:21

22Everywhere they strengthened the disciples by encouraging them to hold fast to the faith, and warned them saying, "It is through many afflictions that we must make our way into the Kingdom of God."Select Acts 14:22

23And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested.Select Acts 14:23

24Then passing through Pisidia they came into Pamphylia;Select Acts 14:24

25and after telling the Message at Perga they came down to Attaleia.Select Acts 14:25

26Thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had previously been commended to the grace of God in connexion with the work which they had now completed.Select Acts 14:26

27Upon their arrival they called the Church together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the Gentiles the door of faith.Select Acts 14:27

28And they remained a considerable time in Antioch with the disciples.Select Acts 14:28