The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 14
Vs. 1
Paul and Barnabas have gone to another city Iconium. As they preached, many of the Jews and the Gentiles believed what they said about Jesus.
Vs.2
But some of the Jews who did not believe began to make trouble for Paul. They tried to get the Gentiles to be against Paul.
Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city for a long time preaching. Some of the people believed what they said and some of them were against what they said.
Vs.5
Then the people who were against Paul got Gentiles and Jews together and they began to throw stones at them. (Throwing stones—-these were large stones—they were trying to kill them.)
Vs. 6,7
So Paul and Barnabas left the town and when on to other towns.
Vs. 8-10
At the city of Lystra Paul saw a man who had been crippled all his life. He had never walked. Paul watched him and the man listened to the preaching. Paul saw that he had faith to believe he could be healed. Paul said to him, “Stand up on your feet.” The man stood up and walked.
Vs. 11
When the people saw that the man was healed they began to think that Paul had special power. They did not have the understanding that the power Paul had was given by God and that God was working through Paul to heal someone.
They thought that Paul by himself was like a god. They began to say this. They said “the gods have come down to us”. They called Barnabas the name of Jupiter, and Paul they called Mercury.
The priests of the temple of Jupiter brought necklaces of flowers and they brought oxen to kill for a sacrifice.
But when Paul and Barnabas saw what they were planning to do —–they said “No”
We are not gods. We are men like you. Our power is not our own. God works through us by His power. The power is God’s power.he
Vs. 12
The people started calling Barnabas Jupiter and Paul they called Mercury. (Some other translations of the Bible say they called Barnabas Zeus and Paul they called Hermes because he was the main speaker.)
Vs. 13
The priest of their temple of Jupiter (or Zeus) brought oxen to kill for a sacrifice to them and long ropes of flowers to give them.
Vs. 14 , 15
When Paul and Barnabas heard what they were getting ready to do the two men ripped their clothes and said, “No!” “Don’t do this! We are just men like you. You need to turn from worshipping these idols and worship the true God of heaven who made the heaven, earth and sea and everything in them.
Vs. 16
In years past, God has let people and nations go their own way of worship in these things.
Vs. 17
Still God had “a witness” He did good to people. He gave them rain, food grew for them, people had what they needed and they were satisfied and happy. God’s “witness” was the wonderful things that happened in this world. It was a sign that there was a God who made these things happen.
Vs. 18
Paul had a hard time trying to keep these people from making a sacrifice to him and worshipping him.
Vs. 19
Then some Jewish men came from two other cities and they began talking to the people. They were against Paul and what he said about Jesus. They got the people all upset. In the end, they got the people to turn against Paul. They picked up stones to throw at him trying to kill him. Paul was hit with the stones so much that the people thought he was dead. They took his body outside the city and left it there.
Vs.20
His friends other believers stood around his body. They must have been praying. Soon Paul got up and walked back into the city.
The next day he left that city and went on to another place.
Vs. 21-23
Paul and Barnabas go from city to city preaching. They go back to some of the cities where they preached before to see how they were doing. They encouraged them to keep believing and walking in faith. They helped to choose leaders for every church group.
They finally came back to the city of Antioch. They stayed there for a long time. They told the believers there about all that had happened as they had traveled.