Acts 14

1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke, so that there believed a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks;

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish meeting place and spoke very convincingly [about the Lord Jesus]. As a result, many Jews and also non-Jews believed [in Jesus].

2 and the unbelieving Jews stirred up and made the souls of the nations evil against the brothers;

But [some of] the Jews refused to believe [that message, and] told the non-Jews not to believe it. They told the non-Jewish people that the message [about Jesus] was not true. As a result, [some of] the non-Jews became angry towards the believers [there].

3 [for a] long time, indeed, therefore, they abided speaking boldly in the LORD, who is testifying to the word of His grace, and granting signs and wonders to come to pass through their hands.

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there speaking boldly for the Lord, and the Lord Jesus enabled them to do many miracles. In this way he showed [people] that the message about how the Lord saves us in a way that we do not deserve is true.

4 And the multitude of the city was divided, and some were with the Jews, and some with the apostles,

The people [who lived] in [Iconium] city strongly disagreed with each other [concerning the message about Jesus]. Some of them agreed with the Jews [SYN] [who did not believe that message]. Others agreed with Paul and Barnabas.

5 and when there was a purpose both of the nations and of the Jews with their rulers to mistreat [them], and to stone them,

Then the non-Jewish people and the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] [who opposed those two] talked among themselves about how they could mistreat them. Some of the important men in that city agreed to help them. Together, they decided that they would [kill Paul and Barnabas by] throwing stones at them.

6 they having become aware, fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the surrounding region,

But Paul and Barnabas heard about that, so they quickly went away to Lycaonia [district. They went] to Lystra and Derbe [cities in that district] and to the area surrounding [those cities].

7 and there they were proclaiming good news.

[While they were] in that area, they continually told people the message [about the Lord Jesus].

8 And a certain man in Lystra, impotent in the feet, was sitting, being lame from the womb of his mother—who never had walked;

[Once while Paul was preaching to people] in Lystra, a man was sitting there who was crippled in his legs. When [his mother] bore him he had crippled legs, so he was never able to walk.

9 this one was hearing Paul speaking, who, having steadfastly beheld him, and having seen that he has faith to be saved,

He listened as Paul was speaking [about the Lord Jesus]. Paul looked directly at him and could see [in the man’s face] that he believed that [the Lord Jesus] could make him well.

10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet upright”; and he was springing and walking,

So Paul called out [to him], “Stand up!” [When the man heard that], he [immediately] jumped up and began to walk [normally].

11 and the multitudes having seen what Paul did, lifted up their voice in the speech of Lycaonia, saying, “The gods, having become like men, came down to us”;

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, [they thought that Paul and Barnabas] [were/must be]) [the gods that they worshipped]. So they shouted [excitedly] in their [own] Lycaonia language, “[Look! These people are] the gods [that we(inc) worship! They] made themselves look like people and have come down [from the sky/heaven to help us]!”

12 they were also calling Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the leader in speaking.

They began to say that Barnabas was [probably the chief god, whose name was]. And [they began to say that] Paul was Hermes, [the messenger/spokesman for the other gods. They mistakenly thought that] because Paul was the one who had been speaking.

13 And the priest of the Zeus that is before their city, having brought oxen and garlands to the porches, wished to sacrifice with the multitudes,

Just outside [the gates of] the city there was a temple [where the people worshipped Zeus. The priest who was there heard what Paul and Barnabas had done, so he came] to the city gate, where many people had already gathered. He brought [two] bulls with wreaths [of flowers around their necks]. The priest and the other people wanted to kill the bulls [as part of a ceremony] to worship Paul and Barnabas.

14 and having heard, the apostles Barnabas and Paul, having torn their garments, sprung into the multitude, crying

But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard about that, [and understood that the people thought that they were gods and wanted to sacrifice the bulls to worship them], they [were very distressed], so they tore their own clothes. They rushed among the people, shouting,

15 and saying, “Men, why do you do these things? And we are similar-feeling men with you, proclaiming good news to you, to turn to the living God from these vanities, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all the things in them;

“Men, (you must not kill those bulls [to worship us(dl)!]/why are you doing this?) [RHQ] [We are not gods]! We are just human beings like you! We have come to tell you some good news! [We have come to tell you about] God who is all-powerful. He wants you to stop worshipping other gods, because they cannot help you. This true God made the heaven/sky and the earth and the oceans and everything in it.

16 who in the past generations permitted all the nations to go on in their ways,

In the past, all of you non-Jewish people [worshipped whatever gods that you wanted to]. God let you worship them, [because you did not know him].

17 though, indeed, He did not leave Himself without witness, doing good—giving rains to us from Heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”;

But he has shown us [LIT] [that] he acts kindly [toward us(inc)]. He is the one who causes it to rain and causes crops to grow. He is the one who gives you plenty of food, and makes you very happy.”

18 and saying these things, they scarcely restrained the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

The people heard what [Paul] said, but they still thought that they should sacrifice those bulls to worship Paul and Barnabas. [But finally, the people decided not to do it].

19 And there came there, from Antioch and Iconium, Jews, and they having persuaded the multitudes, and having stoned Paul, drew him outside of the city, having supposed him to be dead;

[However], after that, some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded many of the people of Lystra [that the message Paul had been telling them] was not true. The people [who believed what those Jews said became angry with Paul. They let the Jews] throw stones at him [until he fell down, unconscious]. They [all] thought that he was dead, so they dragged him outside the city [and left him lying there]. But some of the believers [in Lystra had followed them outside the city].

20 and the disciples having surrounded him, having risen he entered into the city, and on the next day he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.

They came and stood around Paul, [where he was lying on the ground]. And Paul [became conscious! He] stood up and went back into the city [with the believers]. Acts 14:20b-23 The next day, Paul and Barnabas [left Lystra and] traveled to Derbe.

21 Having also proclaimed good news to that city, and having discipled many, they turned back to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch,

They [stayed there several days and they kept telling] the people the good message [about Jesus]. Many people became believers. After that, Paul and Barnabas [started on their way back. They] went again to Lystra. [Then they went from there] to Iconium, and [then they went] to Antioch [in Pisidia province].

22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting to remain in the faith, and that it is required of us to enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations,

[In each city], they helped the believers [SYN] to become strong [spiritually], and they urged them to keep on trusting in [the Lord Jesus]. They told [the believers], “It is necessary that [we endure] people often persecuting us [(inc)] before we enter the place where God will rule [over us forever].”

23 and having appointed to them elders in every assembly by vote, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the LORD in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders for each congregation. [And before Paul and Barnabas left each town, they gathered the believers together and spent some time] praying and (fasting/not eating any food). Then Paul and Barnabas entrusted the [leaders and other believers] to the Lord [Jesus], in whom they had believed, [in order that he would care for them].

24 And having passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia,

After Paul and Barnabas had traveled through Pisidia [district], they went [south] to Pamphylia [district].

25 and having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,

[In that district], they [arrived] at Perga and preached God’s message [about the Lord Jesus to the people there. Then] they went down [to the seacoast] at Attalia.

26 and [from] there sailed to Antioch, from where they had been given by the grace of God for the work that they fulfilled;

There they got on a ship and went back to Antioch [in Syria province]. That was the place where Paul and Barnabas had been appointed {where [believers] had sent Paul and Barnabas} to go [to other places] and preach. [Antioch was the place where the believers] had asked God to kindly help Paul and Barnabas in the work that they had now completed.

27 and having come and gathered the assembly together, they declared as many things as God did with them, and that He opened a door of faith to the nations;

When they arrived in Antioch, they called the believers together. Then Paul and Barnabas told them all that God had helped them to do. [Specifically, they told them how God] had enabled [IDM] [many] non-Jewish people to believe [in Jesus].

28 and they abided there with the disciples [for] not a short time.

Then Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch with the [other] believers for several months.