Acts 14

(1) Paul & Barnabas Spread Message in Turkey

In the city of Iconium [modern-day Konya, Turkey] Paul and Barnabas spoke at the Jewish church in such a way that lots of people believed—both Jews and non-Jews. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the non-Jews, and pitted them against the family of believers. Paul and Barnabas spent a long time there, boldly sharing the message. As they did so, they relied on the Master, who affirmed their message about His grace by allowing them to do attesting miracles. But the city’s population was divided: some sided with the Jews while others sided with Jesus’s messengers. The Jews and non-Jews both attempted to stone Paul and Barnabas, but they found out their intentions and ran away to nearby regions including the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe where they continued sharing the good news. 

(8) Paul Heals Man; Crowd Mistakes Him for a god

At Lystra, there was a man sitting down because he was born with weak feet and had never been able to walk. While he listened to Paul speak, the two of them made eye contact, and Paul saw that this man had faith to be rescued/healed. So Paul shouted, 

“Stand up straight on your feet!”

And the man sprang up and started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul did, they grew louder, saying in the Lyconian language,

“The gods became like humans and came down to us!” 

Then the locals started calling Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” since he was the main speaker. Zeus had a temple just outside the city, so Zeus’s priest brought some oxen and sacrificial garlands to the gates, with the intention of offering a sacrifice with the crowds. When missionaries Barnabas and Paul realized what was goin on, they ripped their shirts and ran out into the crowds, shouting,

“Why are you guys doing this? We’re human beings, with the same affections as you! We’re here sharing the good news with you so you might turn away from these empty things toward God who’s alive and made the sky, earth, and sea along with everything in them. In past generations He let all the ethnic groups go their own way, yet He didn’t disappear without leaving a trace. He kindly gave you rain and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and happiness.”

But even after he said that, they still had difficulty restraining the crowds from sacrificing to them.

(19) Paul Stoned; Encourages Nearby Cities

But then some non-believing Jews came from Antioch {modern-day Antakya} and Iconium [modern-day Konya] and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, and thought he was dead. But when the Jesus-followers stood around him, he got back up and returned to the city.

The next day, he and Barnabas left for the city of Derbe. They shared the good news there and made many apprentices [disciples]. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the apprentices there and encouraging them to dwell in the faith, saying,

“We need to enter God’s empire through lots of hardship.”

They appointed elders in every church, prayed for them while fasting, then presented them to the Master they believed in. 

(24) Paul and Barnabas Return to Sending Church

Then they passed through Pisidia and went to Pamphylia. They shared the message in Perga then went to Attalia. From there, they sailed to Antioch, which is where the church had dedicated them to God’s favor so they could go on the mission they just returned from. When they got there, they gathered the church together and told them about everything God did with them. They also told them about how God had opened a door for non-Jews to believe. They ended up staying with Jesus’s apprentices there for quite some time.