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. 2 But the Jews having disobeyed[a] aroused and embittered[b] the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3 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. 4 And the multitude of the city was divided— indeed some were with the Jews; and others with the apostles. 5 But when an attempt[d] came about by both the Gentiles and Jews together with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, 6 having become-aware, they fled[e] to the cities of Lycaonia[f]— Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding-region. 7 And there they were announcing-the-good-news.
In Lystra, Paul Heals a Man And Is Declared a God, Then Is Stoned
8 And in Lystra, a certain man powerless in the feet was sitting— a lame one from his mother’s womb, who never walked. 9 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
- Acts 14:2 Or, refused-to-believe.
- Acts 14:2 Lit, made-evil.
- Acts 14:3 This explains how the Lord was testifying.
- Acts 14:5 Or, impulse, onset, start.
- Acts 14:6 Or, fled-for-refuge.
- Acts 14:6 This is the district. Lystra and Derbe are cities in this district, which is still in the Roman province of Galatia.
- Acts 14:12 This is the Greek name of the chief god, the god of the sky, known as Jupiter to the Romans.
- 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.
- Acts 14:13 The temple was on the road before one entered the city.
- Acts 14:15 Or, futile, pointless.
- Acts 14:17 God’s works bear testimony to Him.
- Acts 14:17 Or, fruitbearing.
- Acts 14:18 Or, brought-to-rest.
- Acts 14:19 Or, persuaded, convinced.
- Acts 14:19 Or, supposing.
- Acts 14:19 Or, had died.
- Acts 14:22 Or, exhorting.
- Acts 14:22 Or, remain-in, be-true-to.
- Acts 14:23 Or, entrusted.
- 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).