Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went together into the synagogue of the Jews. There, they spoke in such a way that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.

However, not everyone was convinced. The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds hostile towards the brothers. Despite this opposition, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.

As a result, the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles. When both Gentiles and Jews, along with their rulers, made an assault on Paul and Barnabas, attempting to treat them shamefully and stone them, they were aware of it and fled to Lystra, Derbe, and other cities in Lycaonia.

There, they preached the gospel. In Lystra, there sat a man who had been crippled from birth and was unable to walk. This man heard Paul speak, and with steadfast eyes, he perceived that he had faith to be healed. With a loud voice, Paul said, "Stand upright on your feet," and the man leaped up and walked.

The people of Lystra saw what Paul had done and lifted up their voices in amazement. They began to say in the language of the region, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" They called Barnabas Jupiter, the chief god of the city, and Paul Mercurius, after the messenger god of the Greeks.

But a priest of Jupiter, who served their city, brought oxen and wreaths to the gates, intending to offer sacrifices with the people. When they heard about this, Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes in protest and rushed into the crowd, shouting, "Sirs, why are you doing these things? We too are men of like passions as you, and we preach to you that you should turn from your vain idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them."

They reminded the people that their Creator had not left himself without witness, giving evidence of his goodness by providing rain from heaven, fruitful seasons that fill our hearts with food and gladness, and other blessings. With these words, they barely restrained the people from offering sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.

Certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra, persuading the people to stone Paul. After stoning him, they dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. However, as his disciples stood around him, he rose up and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.

Upon arriving in Derbe, they preached the gospel to its people and taught many. Returning again to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they confirmed the souls of the disciples, exhorted them to continue in the faith, and warned that we must endure much tribulation to enter the kingdom of God.

They appointed elders in every church, prayed with fasting, and entrusted these leaders to the Lord on whom they had come to believe. After passing through Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas came to Pamphylia and preached the word in Perga before sailing down into Attalia.

From there, they traveled by sea to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for their work. Upon arriving, they gathered the church together and recounted all that God had done with them, how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, and what miracles he had performed through their ministry.

Paul and Barnabas stayed with the disciples in Antioch for a long time, sharing their experiences and celebrating God's goodness.