Acts 14

Moffatt^{(i) 1} At Iconium the same thing happened. They went into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great body both of Jews and Greeks believed. ² [Move to follow vs 3] But the refractory Jews stirred up and exasperated the feeling of the Gentiles against the brothers. ³ Here they spent a considerable time, speaking fearlessly about the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by allowing signs and wonders to be performed by them. ⁴ The populace of the town was divided; some sided with the Jews, some with the apostles. ⁵ But, when the Gentiles and Jews along with their rulers made a hostile movement to insult and stone them, ⁶ the apostles grasped the situation and escaped to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country; ⁷ there they continued to preach the gospel. ⁸ At Lystra there was a man sitting, who was powerless in his feet, a lame man unable to walk ever since he was born. ⁹ He heard Paul speaking, and Paul, gazing steadily at him and noticing that he had faith enough to make him better, ¹⁰ said in a loud voice, "Stand erect on your feet." Up he jumped and began to walk. ¹¹ Now when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" ¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the chief spokesman. ¹³ Indeed the priest of the temple of Zeus in front of the town brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to offer sacrifice along with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard this they rent their clothes and sprang out among the crowd, ¹⁵ shouting, "Men, what is this you are doing? We are but human, with natures like your own! The gospel we are preaching to you is to turn from such futile ways to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is. ¹⁶ In bygone ages he allowed all nations to go their own ways, ¹⁷ though as the bountiful Giver he did not leave himself without a witness, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, giving you food and joy to your heart's content." ¹⁸ Even by saying this, it was all they could do to keep the crowds from sacrificing to them. ¹⁹ But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ However, as the disciples gathered round him, he got up and went into the town. Next day he went off with Barnabas to Derbe, ²¹ and after preaching the gospel to that town and making a number of disciples, they turned back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold by the faith, and telling them that "we have to get into the Realm of God through many a trouble." ²³ They chose presbyters for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ Then they came through Pisidia to Pamphylia, ²⁵ and after speaking the word of the Lord in Perga they went down to Attaleia; ²⁶ thence they sailed for Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. ²⁷ On their arrival they gathered the church together and reported how God had been with them, what he had done, and how he had opened a door into faith for the Gentiles. ²⁸ They spent a considerable time with the disciples there.