New Heart English Bible 1It happened in Iconium that they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and so spoke that a great number of both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
2But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the non-Jewish people against the brothers.
3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4But the population of the city was divided. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
5When some of both the non-Jewish people and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
6they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.
7There they preached the Good News. 8At Lystra a certain man sat, without strength in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." He leaped up and walked. 11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in human form." 12They called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul "Mercury," because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the crowds. 14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the crowd, crying out, 15"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; 16who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17Yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness." 18Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the crowds from making a sacrifice to them. 19But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. 21When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God. 23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. 24They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27When they had arrived, and had gathered the church together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. 28And they stayed with the disciples a long time. |