1 N ow it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

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 stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned 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 T herefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done 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 multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part 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 A nd when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and 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 became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

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 they were preaching the gospel there. Idolatry at Lystra

They stayed there and kept on preaching the Good News.

8 A nd in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

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

9 T his man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing 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 aid with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped 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 N ow when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

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 A nd Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

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

13 T hen the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

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 this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

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

15 a nd saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

“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 w ho in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

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

17 N evertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

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 A nd with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Stoning, Escape to Derbe

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 T hen Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be 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 H owever, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Strengthening the Converts

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 A nd when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, 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 s trengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations 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 S o when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

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 A nd after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

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

25 N ow when they had preached 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 F rom there they sailed 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 N ow when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

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 S o they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

They stayed there with the followers a long time.