1 N ow at Iconium went into the Jewish synagogue together and spoke with such power that a great number both of Jews and of Greeks believed (became Christians);

In the city of Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish place of worship. They preached with power and many people became Christians. These people were Jews and Greeks.

2 B ut the unbelieving Jews aroused the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren.

But the Jews who did not want to believe worked against those who were not Jews. They made them turn against the Christians.

3 S o 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.

Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time preaching with the strength the Lord gave. God helped them to do powerful works when they preached which showed He was with them.

4 B ut the residents of the town were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.

The people of the city were divided. Some were on the side of the Jews. Some were on the side of the missionaries.

5 W hen there was an attempt both on the part of the Gentiles and the Jews together with their rulers, to insult and abuse and molest and to stone them,

All the people and the leaders tried to hurt them and throw stones at them. Paul and Barnabas Go to Lystra

6 T hey, aware of the situation, made their escape to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and the neighboring districts;

When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they got away and went to the cities of Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the country close by.

7 A nd there they continued to preach the glad tidings (Gospel).

They stayed there and kept on preaching the Good News.

8 N ow at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked.

There was a man in Lystra who had never walked from the time he was born.

9 H e was listening to Paul as he talked, and gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed,

This man listened as Paul spoke. Paul watched him. He saw that the man believed he could be healed.

10 S houted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked.

Calling to him with a loud voice, Paul said, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumped up and walked around. Paul and Barnabas Are Called Gods, Then Stoned

11 A nd 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!

The people saw what Paul did. They called with loud voices in the language of the people of Lycaonia, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”

12 T hey called Barnabas Zeus, and they called Paul, because he led in the discourse, Hermes.

They said that Barnabas was Jupiter. Paul was called Mercury because he spoke more than Barnabas.

13 A nd the priest of Zeus, whose was at the entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the gates and wanted to join the people in offering sacrifice.

The god of Jupiter was in a building near the gate leading into the city. The religious leader of that place brought cattle and flowers to the gate. He and many other people wanted to burn these as gifts in an act of worship to Paul and Barnabas.

14 B ut when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothing and dashed out among the crowd, shouting,

When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they ran among the people. They tore their clothes and cried out,

15 M en, why are you doing this? We also are 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.

“Why are you doing this? We are only men with feelings like yours. We preach the Good News that you should turn from these empty things to the living God. He made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

16 I n generations past He permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways;

Long ago He allowed all people to live the way they wanted to.

17 Y et He did not neglect to leave some witness of Himself, for He did you good and kindness and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with nourishment and happiness.

Even then God did not leave you without something to see of Him. He did good. He gave you rain from heaven and much food. He made you happy.”

18 E ven in these words they with difficulty prevented the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Even with these words it was hard for Paul and Barnabas to keep the people from burning cattle in an act of worship to them.

19 B ut 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.

By this time some Jews from the cities of Antioch and Iconium came. They turned the minds of the people against Paul and Barnabas and told them to throw stones at Paul. After they threw stones at him, they dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead. Paul and Barnabas Preach to the Christians on Their Return Trip to Antioch

20 B ut 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.

As the Christians gathered around Paul, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 W hen 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,

In that city they preached the Good News and taught many people. Then they returned to the cities of Lystra and Iconium and Antioch.

22 E stablishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

In each city they helped the Christians to be strong and true to the faith. They told them, “We must suffer many hard things to get into the holy nation of God.”

23 A nd 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.

In every church they chose leaders for them. They went without food during that time so they could pray better. Paul and Barnabas prayed for the leaders, giving them over to the Lord in Whom they believed.

24 T hen they went through Pisidia and arrived at Pamphylia.

When they had gone through the city of Pisidia, they came to the city of Pamphylia.

25 A nd when they had spoken the Word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;

Then they preached the Good News in the city of Perga. After this they went down to the city of Attalia.

26 A nd from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

From there they went by ship to Antioch where they had been given to the Lord for His work. The work of this trip was done.

27 A rriving 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.

When they got there, they called the church together. They told them everything God had done for them. They told how God had opened the door for the people who were not Jews to have faith.

28 A nd there they stayed no little time with the disciples.

They stayed there with the followers a long time.