Atos 14

¹ AndWe should be no less constant in the preaching of the Gospel than the perversity of the wicked is obstinate in persecuting it.it came to pass inIconium was a city of Lycaonia.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.

² But theWho did not obey the doctrine.unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

³ We should not leave our places and give in to threatenings, or to open rage, but only when there is no other remedy, and that not for our own peace and quiet, but only so that the Gospel may be spread further abroad.Long 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.

⁴ But the multitude of the city was deuided: and some were with the Iewes, and some with the Apostles.

⁵ And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and of the Iewes with their rulers, to doe them violence, and to stone them,

⁶ They were ware of [it], andIt is sometimes proper to flee dangers, at the appropriate times.fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

⁷ And there preached the Gospel.

⁸ It is an old subtlety of the devil, either to cause the faithful servants of God to be immediately banished, or to be worshipped as idols: and he does this by taking occasion of miracles which they have done.And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

⁹ He heard Paul speake: who beholding him, and perceiuing that he had faith to be healed,

¹⁰ Said with a loude voyce, Stand vpright on thy feete; he leaped vp, and walked.

¹¹ Then when the people sawe what Paul had done, they lift vp their voyces, saying in ye speach of Lycaonia, Gods are come downe to vs in the likenesse of men.

¹² And they called Barnabas, Iupiter: and Paul, Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.

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

¹⁴ But when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard it, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,

¹⁵ That is also called idolatry which gives to creatures, be they ever so holy and excellent, that which is proper to the only One God, that is, invocation, or calling upon.And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men ofMen, as you are, and partakers of the very same nature of man as you are.like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from theseHe calls idols «vanities», after the manner of the Hebrews.vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

¹⁶ Custom, be it ever so old, does not excuse the idolaters.Who in times pastAllowed them to live as they wished, prescribing and appointing them no type of religion.suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

¹⁷ Neuerthelesse, hee left not him selfe without witnes, in that hee did good and gaue vs raine from heauen, & fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with foode, and gladnesse.

¹⁸ And speaking these things, scarce appeased they the multitude, that they had not sacrificed vnto them.

¹⁹ The devil, when he is brought to his last chance, at length rages openly, but in vain, even at that time when he seems to have the upper hand.And 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.

²⁰ Howbeit, as the disciples stoode rounde about him, hee arose vp, and came into the citie, and the next day hee departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

²¹ We must go forward in our calling through a thousand deaths.And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch,

²² It is the office of the ministers, not only to teach, but also to confirm those that are taught, and prepare them for the cross.Confirming 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.

²³ The apostles committed the churches which they had planted to proper and special pastors, who they appointed not rashly, but with prayers and fastings preceding their choice: neither did they thrust them upon churches through bribery, or lordly superiority, but chose and placed them by the voice of the congregation.And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

²⁴ Paul and Barnabas, having completed their journey, and having returned to Antioch, give an account of their journey to the congregation or church.And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

²⁵ And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down intoAttalia was a sea city of Pamphylia, near to Lycia.Attalia:

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

²⁷ And when they were come & had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all the things that God had done by them, and howe he had opened the doore of faith vnto the Gentiles.

²⁸ So there they abode a long time with the disciples.