Acts 14

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

1In the city called Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue. A synagogue is where Jewish people met to pray and learn. They spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks believed.

2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

2But some Jews would not believe. They stirred up the Gentiles, who were people who were not Jewish. They made them think bad things about the believers.

3Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

3So Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time. They spoke bravely about the Lord. God showed their message was true. He let them do signs and wonders, amazing things only God can do.

4But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

4The people of the city took sides. Some agreed with the Jews. Some agreed with the apostles, the men Jesus sent out to tell about him.

5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

5Then some Gentiles and Jews and their leaders made a plan. They wanted to hurt Paul and Barnabas and throw stones at them.

6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

6Paul and Barnabas found out about the plan. So they ran away to Lystra and Derbe. Those were cities in an area called Lycaonia. They went to the towns nearby too.

7And there they preached the gospel.

7In those places they kept telling people the good news about Jesus.

8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:

8In Lystra a man sat who could not use his feet. He had been that way since he was born. He had never walked.

9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

9This man listened while Paul spoke. Paul looked right at him. Paul could see the man believed God would heal him.

10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

10Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began to walk.

11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

11The crowds saw what Paul had done. They shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, "The gods have come down to us as men!"

12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

12They called Barnabas Jupiter, and they called Paul Mercurius. They called Paul that because he did most of the talking.

NoteJupiter and Mercurius are the Roman names for two gods. Most people knew them by their Greek names, Zeus and Hermes.

13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

13There was a temple for Jupiter just outside the city. Its priest brought bulls and flower wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowd wanted to kill the bulls as a gift to Paul and Barnabas.

14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

14Barnabas and Paul heard about this. They tore their own clothes to show how upset they were. Then they ran into the crowd, shouting.

NoteTearing your own clothes was a way people back then showed they were shocked or very upset.

15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

15"Men, why are you doing this? We are only people, just like you. We came to bring you good news. Stop trusting these useless things. Turn to the living God. He made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them."

16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

16"Long ago, God let every nation live in its own way."

17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

17"But God always showed people what he is like. He was good to them. He sent rain from the sky and good growing times. He gave them plenty of food and made them glad."

18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

18Even after they said all this, the people almost made the sacrifice anyway. Paul and Barnabas could barely stop them.

19And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They talked the crowd into turning against Paul. They threw stones at him and dragged him out of the city. They thought he was dead.

20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

20But the believers gathered around him. Paul got up and walked back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

21They told the good news in that city, and many people became followers of Jesus. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

22They helped the believers grow strong inside. They told them to keep trusting God. They said, "We must go through many hard things to enter God's kingdom."

23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

23In each group of believers they chose leaders called elders. They prayed and went without food. Then they placed the believers in the care of the Lord they trusted.

24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

24They traveled through the area called Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

25And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

25They told God's message in the city of Perga. Then they went down to Attalia.

26And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

26From there they sailed to Antioch. That was where the believers had asked God to be kind to them and help them with this work. Now the work was done.

27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

27When they got there, they called the church together. They told everything God had done through them. God had opened a door so people who were not Jewish could believe too.

28And there they abode long time with the disciples.

28They stayed there a long time with the believers.