Acts 14

1 In Iconium it happened that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great number both of Jews and of Gentiles believed.

2 But the disobedient Jews stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and embittered them against them against the brothers.

3 Long time, therefore, they tarried there, speaking fearlessly in the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by permitting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.

4 But the mass of the city’s people was divided; part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5 And when both the Gentiles and the Jews with their ruler made a hostile move to maltreat and to stone them,

6 the apostles got wind of it, and made their escape to the Lycaonian towns of Derbe and Lystra and the neighboring country.

7 And there they continued to proclaim the gospel.

8 Now at Lystra there used to sit a certain man, lame in his feet, a cripple from birth, who had never walked.

9 He was listening while Paul was preaching, and Paul, looking intently at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be made whole,

10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!"

11 And he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian tongue, saying, "The gods are come down to us in human form."

12 And they began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and Paul, since he was the principal speaker, "Hermes";

13 and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and along with the crowds was about to offer sacrifices.

14 But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard of it, they rent their garments and rushed out among the crowd, shouting and crying.

15 "Men, why are you doing all this? We also are men, with natures like your own! We are bringing you good tidings, that you are to turn from these empty things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is.

16 In bygone generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways,

17 and yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

18 Even with saying this they with difficulty restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 And now a party of Jews came down form Antioch and Iconium, and after persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

20 But as the disciples collected around him, he rose and went back into the city. The next day he went off with Barnabas into Derbe;

21 and after preaching the gospel to that town, and winning many converts, they went back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch,

22 Everywhere they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold to the faith. "It is through many tribulations," they said, "that we must enter into the kingdom of God."

23 They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 Then passing through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia and,

25 after preaching the word in Perga, they came down to Attaleia.

26 Thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God, for the work which they had now completed.

27 On their arrival they assembled the church and reported all things that God had done through them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.