Acts 14 : 1 (NCV)
In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual to the Jewish syna- gogue. They spoke so well that a great many Jews and Greeks believed.
Acts 14 : 2 (NCV)
But some of the Jews who did not believe excited the non-Jewish people and turned them against the believers.
Acts 14 : 3 (NCV)
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time and spoke bravely for the Lord. He showed that their message about his grace was true by giving them the power to work miracles and signs.
Acts 14 : 4 (NCV)
But the city was divided. Some of the people agreed with the Jews, and others believed the apostles.
Acts 14 : 5 (NCV)
Some who were not Jews, some Jews, and some of their rulers wanted to mistreat Paul and Barnabas and to stone them to death.
Acts 14 : 6 (NCV)
When Paul and Barnabas learned about this, they ran away to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the areas around those cities.
Acts 14 : 7 (NCV)
They announced the Good News there, too.
Acts 14 : 8 (NCV)
In Lystra there sat a man who had been born crippled; he had never walked.
Acts 14 : 9 (NCV)
As this man was listening to Paul speak, Paul looked straight at him and saw that he believed God could heal him.
Acts 14 : 10 (NCV)
So he cried out, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began walking around.
Acts 14 : 11 (NCV)
When the crowds saw what Paul did, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like humans and have come down to us!"
Acts 14 : 12 (NCV)
Then the people began to call Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker.
Acts 14 : 13 (NCV)
The priest in the temple of Zeus, which was near the city, brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. He and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 14 : 14 (NCV)
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard about it, they tore their clothes. They ran in among the people, shouting,
Acts 14 : 15 (NCV)
"Friends, why are you doing these things? We are only human beings like you. We are bringing you the Good News and are telling you to turn away from these worthless things and turn to the living God. He is the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 14 : 16 (NCV)
In the past, God let all the nations do what they wanted.
Acts 14 : 17 (NCV)
Yet he proved he is real by showing kindness, by giving you rain from heaven and crops at the right times, by giving you food and filling your hearts with joy."
Acts 14 : 18 (NCV)
Even with these words, they were barely able to keep the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
Acts 14 : 19 (NCV)
Then some Jewish people came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people to turn against Paul. So they threw stones at him and dragged him out of town, thinking they had killed him.
Acts 14 : 20 (NCV)
But the followers gathered around him, and he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas left and went to the city of Derbe.
Acts 14 : 21 (NCV)
Paul and Barnabas told the Good News in Derbe, and many became followers. Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 14 : 22 (NCV)
making the followers of Jesus stronger and helping them stay in the faith. They said, "We must suffer many things to enter God's kingdom."
Acts 14 : 23 (NCV)
They chose elders for each church, by praying and giving up eating for a certain time. These elders had trusted the Lord, so Paul and Barnabas put them in the Lord's care.
Acts 14 : 24 (NCV)
Then they went through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
Acts 14 : 25 (NCV)
When they had preached the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14 : 26 (NCV)
And from there they sailed away to Antioch where the believers had put them into God's care and had sent them out to do this work. Now they had finished.
Acts 14 : 27 (NCV)
When they arrived in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas gathered the church together. They told the church all about what God had done with them and how God had made it possible for those who were not Jewish to believe.
Acts 14 : 28 (NCV)
And they stayed there a long time with the followers.
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