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In Iconium, Paul And Barnabas Again Proclaim, And Then Flee a Plot To Kill Them

14 Now it came about in Iconium that according to the same plan, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in this manner, so that a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews having disobeyed[a] aroused and embittered[b] the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. So indeed they spent a considerable time speaking-boldly for the Lord, Who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting[c] that signs and wonders be taking place by their hands. And the multitude of the city was divided— indeed some were with the Jews; and others with the apostles. But when an attempt[d] came about by both the Gentiles and Jews together with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, having become-aware, they fled[e] to the cities of Lycaonia[f]— Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding-region. And there they were announcing-the-good-news.

In Lystra, Paul Heals a Man And Is Declared a God, Then Is Stoned

And in Lystra, a certain man powerless in the feet was sitting— a lame one from his mother’s womb, who never walked. This one heard Paul speaking— who, having looked-intently at him, and having seen that he had faith that he might be restored, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet”. And he leaped and was walking. 11 And the crowds, having seen what Paul did, raised their voice, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods came down to us, having become-like men!” 12 And they were calling Barnabas “Zeus[g]”, and Paul “Hermes[h]”, since he was the one leading the speaking. 13 And the priest of the temple of Zeus being before[i] the city, having brought bulls and garlands to the gates, was intending to offer-sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul— having heard-of it, having torn their garments— leaped-out into the crowd, crying-out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of-like-nature to you, announcing-the-good-news to turn you from these worthless[j] things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, 16 Who allowed all the nations to be going their ways in the generations having gone-by. 17 And yet He did not leave Himself without-witness[k]: doing-good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful[l] seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness”. 18 And saying these things, with-difficulty they restrained[m] the crowds, that they might not offer-sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came-over from Antioch and Iconium. And having won-over[n] the crowds, and having stoned Paul, they were dragging him outside of the city, thinking[o] that he was dead[p]. 20 But the disciples having surrounded him— having stood-up, he entered into the city.

In Derbe They Make Disciples, Then Return Home, Strengthening The Churches

And on the next day he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And having announced-the-good-news-to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging[q] them to continue-in[r] the faith, and that “It-is-necessary that we enter into the kingdom of God through many afflictions”. 23 And having appointed elders for them in each church, having prayed with fastings, they commended[s] them to the Lord in Whom they had believed. 24 And having gone through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed-away to Antioch— from where they had been handed-over to the grace of God for the work which they completed. 27 And having arrived, and having gathered together the church, they were reporting all that God did with them, and that He opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

A Controversy Erupts: Do Gentile Christians Have To Follow Jewish Laws To Be Saved?

28 Now they were spending not a little time[t] with the disciples.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:2 Or, refused-to-believe.
  2. Acts 14:2 Lit, made-evil.
  3. Acts 14:3 This explains how the Lord was testifying.
  4. Acts 14:5 Or, impulse, onset, start.
  5. Acts 14:6 Or, fled-for-refuge.
  6. Acts 14:6 This is the district. Lystra and Derbe are cities in this district, which is still in the Roman province of Galatia.
  7. Acts 14:12 This is the Greek name of the chief god, the god of the sky, known as Jupiter to the Romans.
  8. Acts 14:12 This is the son of Zeus, the messenger of the gods, known as Mercury to the Romans. Thus Paul is seen as the spokesman for Barnabas.
  9. Acts 14:13 The temple was on the road before one entered the city.
  10. Acts 14:15 Or, futile, pointless.
  11. Acts 14:17 God’s works bear testimony to Him.
  12. Acts 14:17 Or, fruitbearing.
  13. Acts 14:18 Or, brought-to-rest.
  14. Acts 14:19 Or, persuaded, convinced.
  15. Acts 14:19 Or, supposing.
  16. Acts 14:19 Or, had died.
  17. Acts 14:22 Or, exhorting.
  18. Acts 14:22 Or, remain-in, be-true-to.
  19. Acts 14:23 Or, entrusted.
  20. Acts 14:28 That is, a long time. Some think this is when Galatians was written (or, in 18:5 or 19:10 or 20:3) to the churches just founded in 13:14-14:23 (the South-Galatia theory). Others think it was written in Acts 18:5 or 19:10 or 20:3 to the unnamed churches visited in 16:6 or 18:23 (the North-Galatia theory).

In Iconium

14 At Iconium(A) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.(B) There they spoke so effectively that a great number(C) of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(D) So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly(E) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.(F) The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.(G) There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,(H) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.(I) But they found out about it and fled(J) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach(K) the gospel.(L)

In Lystra and Derbe

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth(M) and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed(N) 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”(O) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.(P)

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(Q) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(R) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(S) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(T) like you. We are bringing you good news,(U) telling you to turn from these worthless things(V) to the living God,(W) who made the heavens and the earth(X) and the sea and everything in them.(Y) 16 In the past, he let(Z) all nations go their own way.(AA) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(AB) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(AC) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(AD) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews(AE) came from Antioch and Iconium(AF) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul(AG) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples(AH) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 They preached the gospel(AI) in that city and won a large number(AJ) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium(AK) and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.(AL) “We must go through many hardships(AM) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a](AN) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,(AO) committed them to the Lord,(AP) in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,(AQ) 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,(AR) where they had been committed to the grace of God(AS) for the work they had now completed.(AT) 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them(AU) and how he had opened a door(AV) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 14:23 Or Barnabas ordained elders; or Barnabas had elders elected