Acts 14:3-17

³Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time, speaking to them boldly in the Lord, who confirmed their message of grace through the miraculous signs that they were enabled to perform.

⁴The inhabitants of the town were divided, with some supporting the Jews and some the apostles.

⁵But then the foreigners and the Jews, together with their leaders, decided to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.

⁶However, they found out about it and fled to the region of Lycaonia, to the towns of Lystra and Derbe,

⁷where they continued to share the good news.

⁸In the town of Lystra there was a disabled man who was lame in both feet. He had been crippled from birth and had never been able to walk.

⁹He sat there listening to Paul speaking. When Paul looked directly at him, and realized that the man was trusting in God to heal him,

¹⁰Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumped to his feet and started walking.

¹¹When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted out in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us looking like men!”

¹²They identified Barnabas as the Greek god Zeus, and Paul as the god Hermes because he was one who did most of the talking.

¹³The priest of the temple of Zeus that lay just outside the town, brought oxen and wreaths to the town gates. He planned to carry out a sacrifice in front of the crowds.

¹⁴But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul learned what was happening, they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowds, shouting out,

¹⁵“People, what are you doing? We are human beings with the same kind of nature as you. We came to bring you good news, so you could turn from these pointless things to a God who is truly alive. He is the one who made heaven, earth, and sea, and everything in them.

¹⁶In past times he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways.

¹⁷Even so he still provided evidence of himself by doing good, sending you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, providing all the food you need, and filling you with happiness.”