The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

And it came to passe in Iconium, that they went both together into the Synagogue of the Iewes, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Iewes and of the Grecians beleeued.

And the vnbeleeuing Iewes stirred vp, and corrupted the mindes of the Gentiles against the brethren.

So therefore they abode there a long time, and spake boldly in the Lord, which gaue testimonie vnto the woord of his grace, and caused signes and woders to be done by their hands.

But the multitude of the city was deuided: and some were with the Iewes, and some with the Apostles.

And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and of the Iewes with their rulers, to doe them violence, and to stone them,

They were ware of it, and fled vnto Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and vnto the region round about,

And there preached the Gospel.

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

Nowe there sate a certaine man at Lystra, impotent in his feete, which was a creeple from his mothers wombe, who had neuer walked.

He heard Paul speake: who beholding him, and perceiuing that he had faith to be healed,

Said with a loude voyce, Stand vpright on thy feete. And he leaped vp, and walked.

Then when the people sawe what Paul had done, they lift vp their voyces, saying in ye speach of Lycaonia, Gods are come downe to vs in the likenesse of men.

And they called Barnabas, Iupiter: and Paul, Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.

Then Iupiters priest, which was before their citie, brought bulles with garlands vnto the gates, and would haue sacrificed with the people.

But when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard it, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,

And saying, O men, why doe yee these things? We are euen men subiect to the like passions that yee be, and preache vnto you, that yee shoulde turne from these vaine things vnto the liuing God, which made heauen and earth, and the sea, and all things that in them are:

Who in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies.

Neuerthelesse, hee left not him selfe without witnes, in that hee did good and gaue vs raine from heauen, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with foode, and gladnesse.

And speaking these things, scarce appeased they the multitude, that they had not sacrificed vnto them.

Then there came certaine Iewes from Antiochia and Iconium, which when they had persuaded the people, stoned Paul, and drewe him out of the citie, supposing he had bene dead.

Howbeit, as the disciples stoode rounde about him, hee arose vp, and came into the citie, and the next day hee departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Strengthening the Disciples

And after they had preached the glad tidings of the Gospel to that citie, and had taught many, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antiochia,

Confirming the disciples hearts, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, affirming that we must through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God.

And when they had ordeined them Elders by election in euery Church, and prayed, and fasted, they commended them to the Lord in whome they beleeued.

Thus they went throughout Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.

And when they had preached the woorde in Perga, they came downe to Attalia,

And thence sailed to Antiochia, from whence they had bene comended vnto the grace of God, to the woorke, which they had fulfilled.

And when they were come and had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all the things that God had done by them, and howe he had opened the doore of faith vnto the Gentiles.

So there they abode a long time with the disciples.

In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

But the disbelieving(a) Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.

Therefore 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.

But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles.

When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,

they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

There they preached the Good News.

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.

He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,

said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.

When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.

The 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 multitudes.

But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and sprang into the multitude, crying out,

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you

(b)

rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them.

But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

But 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.

Strengthening the Disciples

When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed.

They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

Footnotes

(a)14:2 or, disobedient

(b)14:17 TR reads “us” instead of “you”