Act 14 | BSB | STEP | At Iconium, [Paul and Barnabas] went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, [where] they spoke so [ well ] that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

1 At Iconium, [Paul and Barnabas] went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, [where] they spoke so [ well ] that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned [their] minds against the brothers. 3 So [Paul and Barnabas] spent considerable time {there} , speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided. [Some] sided with the Jews, and [others] with the apostles. 5 But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding region, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

8 In Lystra sat a man crippled in [his] feet, who was lame from birth [and] {had} never walked. 9 This [man] was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 In a loud voice [Paul] called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And [the man] jumped up and began to walk. 11 [When] the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul [they called] Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, [whose temple] was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the [city] gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. 14 But [when] the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes [and] rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are [only] men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to [the] living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In past generations, [He] let all nations go their [own] way. 17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words, [Paul and Barnabas] could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them. 19 Then [some] Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul [and] dragged [him] outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20 But [after] the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

The Return to Syrian Antioch

21 They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. [Then] they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples [and] encouraging [them] to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” [they said] . 23 [Paul and Barnabas] appointed elders for them in each church, praying [and] fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. 24 [After] passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And [when] they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

The Report to the Church at Antioch

26 From [Attalia] they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27 [When] they arrived, they gathered the church {together} [and] reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened [the] door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time [there] with the disciples.