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Growth and Persecution in Iconium

¹ In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.^{(C1) 2} But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.^{(C1) 3} So 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.^{(C1) 4} But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles.^{(C1) 5} When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, ⁶ they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.^{(C1) 7} There they continued preaching the gospel.^(C1)

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

⁸ In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. ⁹ He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.^(C1)

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” ^{(C1) 12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ The 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.

¹⁴ The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:^{(C1) 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 things^(C1) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.^{(F1)(C2) 16} In past generations he allowed all the nations^(C1) to go their own way, ¹⁷ although he did not leave himself without a witness,^(C1) since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons^(C2) and filling you with food and your^(F1) hearts with joy.” ¹⁸ Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Some 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.^{(C1) 20} After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.^(C1)

Church Planting

²¹ After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,^{(C1) 22} strengthening the^(F1) disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith^(C1) and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships^(C2) to enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ When they had appointed elders^(C1) for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

²⁴ They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.^{(C1) 27} After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them^(C1) and that he had opened the door^(C2) of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.