Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue
and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks
believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and
poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a
long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the
word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their
hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the
Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both
Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone
them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued
to preach the gospel.
Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet.
He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to
Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he
had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on
your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds
saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in
Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the
chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the
entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and
wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles
Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed
out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these
things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you
good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living
God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is
in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in
their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for
he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Even with these
words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice
to them.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the
crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing
that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he
rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with
Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city
and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium
and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples,
encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through
many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they
had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and
fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when
they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and
from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to
the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when
they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all
that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith
to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the
disciples.
