Acts 14:16-28 ▼

16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways,

17 yet he has not abandoned his witness: he continues to do good, to give you rain from heaven, to give you fruitful seasons, and to fill you with food and your hearts with joy.|

18 Even by saying this, it was all Paul and Barnabas could do to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

19 But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead.

20 But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day, he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 As they were proclaiming the good news in that city, they discipled a large number of people. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. |We must endure many hardships,| they said, |to get into the kingdom of God.|

23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

25 They spoke the word in Perga and went down to Attalia.

26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed.

27 When they arrived, they called the church together and told them everything that God had done with them and how he had opened a door so that gentiles would believe.

28 Then they spent a long time with the disciples.