Acts 14

They Called Them Gods, and Then They Stoned Him

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Iconium

14:1In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.

14:2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brothers.

14:3So they stayed a considerable time, speaking boldly in reliance on the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace by granting signs and wonders to take place through their hands.

14:4The city’s multitude was divided: some sided with the Jews and others with the apostles.

14:5When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,

14:6they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and the surrounding region.

14:7There they continued proclaiming the good news.

The Lame Man at Lystra

14:8In Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, unable to walk from his mother’s womb; he had never walked.

14:9He listened to Paul speaking. Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be made well,

14:10and said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” He leaped up and began walking.

14:11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human likeness.”

14:12They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the leading speaker.

14:13The priest of Zeus, whose shrine was before the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14:14When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

14:15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are human beings, of the same nature as you. We proclaim good news to you: turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them.

14:16In past generations He allowed all the nations to go their own ways.

14:17Yet He did not leave Himself without witness in doing good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

14:18Even by saying these things, they scarcely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

14:19Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, persuaded the crowds, stoned Paul, and dragged him outside the city, supposing he was dead.

14:20But when the disciples surrounded him, he rose and entered the city. The next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe.

Strengthening the Disciples

14:21After proclaiming the good news to that city and making many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith, and saying, “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.”

14:23They appointed elders for them in each Church and, after praying with fasting, entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

14:24They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

14:25After speaking the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

The Return to Antioch

14:26From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

14:27When they arrived and gathered the Church, they reported all that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

14:28They stayed no little time with the disciples.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.