Growth and Persecution in Iconium

1In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.a 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.a 3So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.a 4But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles.a 5When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, 6they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.a 7There they continued preaching the gospel.a

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

8In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. 9He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet! ” And he jumped up and began to walk around.a

11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form! ”a 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

14The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,a 15“People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless thingsa to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.b c 16In past generations he allowed all the nationsa to go their own way, 17although he did not leave himself without a witness,a since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasonsb and filling you with food and yourA hearts with joy.” 18Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.a 20After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.a

Church Planting

21After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,a 22strengthening theA disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faitha and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardshipsb to enter the kingdom of God.” 23When they had appointed eldersa for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.a 27After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with thema and that he had opened the doorb of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.