14:1 NOW AT Iconium [also Paul and Barnabas] went into the Jewish synagogue together and spoke with such power that a great number both of Jews and of Greeks believed (became Christians); |
14:2 But the unbelieving Jews [who rejected their message] aroused the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren. |
14:3 So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long time, speaking freely {and} fearlessly {and} boldly in the Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands. |
14:4 But the residents of the town were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles. |
14:5 When there was an attempt both on the part of the Gentiles and the Jews together with their rulers, to insult {and} abuse {and} molest [Paul and Barnabas] and to stone them, |
14:6 They, aware of the situation, made their escape to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and the neighboring districts; |
14:7 And there they continued to preach the glad tidings (Gospel). |
14:8 Now at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked. |
14:9 He was listening to Paul as he talked, and [Paul] gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed, |
14:10 Shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked. |
14:11 And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, lifted up their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian language, The gods have come down to us in human form! |
14:12 They called Barnabas Zeus, and they called Paul, because he led in the discourse, Hermes [god of speech]. |
14:13 And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was at the entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the [city's] gates and wanted to join the people in offering sacrifice. |
14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothing and dashed out among the crowd, shouting, |
14:15 Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these foolish {and} vain things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that they contain. |
14:16 In generations past He permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways; |
14:17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good {and} [showed you] kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness. |
14:18 Even in [the light of] these words they with difficulty prevented the people from offering sacrifice to them. |
14:19 But some Jews arrived there from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the people {and} won them over, they stoned Paul and [afterward] dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead. |
14:20 But the disciples formed a circle about him, and he got up and went back into the town; and on the morrow he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. |
14:21 When they had preached the good news (Gospel) to that town and made disciples of many of the people, they went back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, |
14:22 Establishing {and} strengthening the souls {and} the hearts of the disciples, urging {and} warning {and} encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships {and} tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. |
14:23 And when they had appointed {and} ordained elders for them in each church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had come to believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah]. |
14:24 Then they went through Pisidia and arrived at Pamphylia. |
14:25 And when they had spoken the Word in Perga [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God], they went down to Attalia; |
14:26 And from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had [first] been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had [now] completed. |
14:27 Arriving there, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salvation in the kingdom of God]. |
14:28 And there they stayed no little time with the disciples. |