Net English TranslationActs 14 =
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
14

1 The same thing happened in Iconium1 when Paul and Barnabas2 went into the Jewish synagogue3 and spoke in such a way that a large group4 of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe5 stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds6 against the brothers. 3 So they stayed there7 for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified8 to the message9 of his grace, granting miraculous signs10 and wonders to be performed through their hands. 4 But the population11 of the city was divided; some12 sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 When both the Gentiles and the Jews (together with their rulers) made13 an attempt to mistreat14 them and stone them,15 6 Paul and Barnabas16 learned about it17 and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra18 and Derbe19 and the surrounding region. 7 There20 they continued to proclaim21 the good news.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

8 In22 Lystra23 sat a man who could not use his feet,24 lame from birth,25 who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul26 stared27 intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed, 10 he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.”28 And the man29 leaped up and began walking.30 11 So when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted31 in the Lycaonian language,32 “The gods have come down to us in human form!”33 12 They began to call34 Barnabas Zeus35 and Paul Hermes,36 because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of the temple37 of Zeus,38 located just outside the city, brought bulls39 and garlands40 to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them.41 14 But when the apostles42 Barnabas and Paul heard about43 it, they tore44 their clothes and rushed out45 into the crowd, shouting,46 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures47 just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn48 from these worthless49 things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth,50 the sea, and everything that is in them. 16 In51 past52 generations he allowed all the nations53 to go their own ways, 17 yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good,54 by giving you rain from heaven55 and fruitful seasons, satisfying you56 with food and your hearts with joy.”57 18 Even by saying58 these things, they scarcely persuaded59 the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch60 and Iconium,61 and after winning62 the crowds over, they stoned63 Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. 20 But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back64 into the city. On65 the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.66

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

21 After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra,67 to Iconium,68 and to Antioch.69 22 They strengthened70 the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue71 in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom72 of God through many persecutions.”73 23 When they had appointed elders74 for them in the various churches,75 with prayer and fasting76 they entrusted them to the protection77 of the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through78 Pisidia and came into Pamphylia,79 25 and when they had spoken the word80 in Perga,81 they went down to Attalia.82 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch,83 where they had been commended84 to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.85 27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported86 all the things God87 had done with them, and that he had opened a door88 of faith for the Gentiles. 28 So they spent89 considerable90 time with the disciples.

114:1sn Iconium. See the note in 13:51. 214:1tn Grk “they”; the referents (Paul and Barnabas) have been specified in the translation for clarity. 314:1sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9. 414:1tn Or “that a large crowd.” 514:2tn Or “who would not believe.” 614:2tn Or “embittered their minds” (Grk “their souls”). BDAG 502 s.v. κακόω 2 has “make angry, embitter τὰς ψυχάς τινων κατά τινος poison the minds of some persons against another Ac 14:2.” 714:3tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. 814:3sn The Lord testified to the message by granting the signs described in the following clause. 914:3tn Grk “word.” 1014:3tn Here the context indicates the miraculous nature of the signs mentioned. 1114:4tn BDAG 825 s.v. πλῆθος 2.b.γ has this translation for πλῆθος (plhqo"). 1214:4tn These clauses are a good example of the contrastive μὲν…δέ (men…de) construction: Some “on the one hand” sided with the Jews, but some “on the other hand” sided with the apostles. 1314:5tn Grk “So there came about an attempt” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. 1414:5tn On this verb see BDAG 1022 s.v. ὑβρίζω. 1514:5tn The direct object “them” is repeated after both verbs in the translation for stylistic reasons, although it occurs only after λιθοβολῆσαι (liqobolhsai) in the Greek text. 1614:6tn Grk “they”; the referents (Paul and Barnabas) have been specified in the translation for clarity. 1714:6tn Grk “learning about it, fled.” The participle συνιδόντες (sunidonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. It could also be taken temporally (“when they learned about it”) as long as opening clause of v. 5 is not translated as a temporal clause too, which results in a redundancy. 1814:6sn Lystra was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) south of Iconium, a Roman colony that was not on the main roads of Lycaonia. Because of its relative isolation, its local character was able to be preserved.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 1914:6sn Derbe was a city in Lycaonia about 35 mi (60 km) southeast of Lystra.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 2014:7tn Grk “region, and there.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, καί (kai) has not been translated and a new sentence begun in the translation. 2114:7tn The periphrastic construction εὐαγγελιζόμενοι ἦσαν (euangelizomenoi hsan) has been translated as a progressive imperfect. 2214:8tn Grk “And in.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here. 2314:8sn Lystra was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) south of Iconium.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 2414:8tn Grk “powerless in his feet,” meaning he was unable to use his feet to walk. 2514:8tn Grk “lame from his mother’s womb” (an idiom).sn The description lame from birth makes clear how serious the condition was, and how real it was. This event is very similar to Acts 3:1-10, except here the lame man’s faith is clear from the start. 2614:9tn Grk “speaking, who.” The relative pronoun has been replaced by the noun “Paul,” and a new sentence begun in the translation because an English relative clause would be very awkward here. 2714:9tn Or “looked.” 2814:10tn BDAG 722 s.v. ὀρθός 1.a has “stand upright on your feet.” 2914:10tn Grk “he”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 3014:10tn This verb is imperfect tense in contrast to the previous verb, which is aorist. It has been translated ingressively, since the start of a sequence is in view here. 3114:11tn Grk “they lifted up their voice” (an idiom). 3214:11tn Grk “in Lycaonian, saying.” The word “language” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated. 3314:11tn So BDAG 707 s.v. ὁμοιόω 1. However, L&N 64.4 takes the participle ὁμοιωθέντες (Jomoiwqente") as an adjectival participle modifying θεοί (qeoi): “the gods resembling men have come down to us.”sn The gods have come down to us in human form. Greek culture spoke of “divine men.” In this region there was a story of Zeus and Hermes visiting the area (Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.611-725). The locals failed to acknowledge them, so judgment followed. The present crowd was determined not to make the mistake a second time. 3414:12tn The imperfect verb ἐκάλουν (ekaloun) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect. 3514:12sn Zeus was the chief Greek deity, worshiped throughout the Greco-Roman world (known to the Romans as Jupiter). 3614:12sn Hermes was a Greek god who (according to Greek mythology) was the messenger of the gods and the god of oratory (equivalent to the Roman god Mercury). 3714:13tn The words “the temple of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. The translation “the priest of (the temple/shrine of) Zeus located before the city” is given for this phrase by BDAG 426 s.v. Ζεύς. 3814:13sn See the note on Zeus in the previous verse. 3914:13tn Or “oxen.” 4014:13tn Or “wreaths.”sn Garlands were commonly wreaths of wool with leaves and flowers woven in, worn on a person’s head or woven around a staff. They were an important part of many rituals used to worship pagan gods. Although it was an erroneous reaction, the priest’s reaction shows how all acknowledged their power and access to God. 4114:13tn The words “to them” are not in the Greek text, but are clearly implied by the response of Paul and Barnabas in the following verse. 4214:14sn The apostles Barnabas and Paul. This is one of only two places where Luke calls Paul an apostle, and the description here is shared with Barnabas. This is a nontechnical use here, referring to a commissioned messenger. 4314:14tn The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") is taken temporally. 4414:14tn Grk “tearing their clothes they rushed out.” The participle διαρρήξαντες (diarrhxante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. This action is a Jewish response to blasphemy (m. Sanhedrin 7.5; Jdt 14:16-17). 4514:14tn So BDAG 307 s.v. ἐκπηδάω 1, “rush (lit. ‘leap’) out…εἰς τὸν ὄχλον into the crowd Ac 14:14.” 4614:14tn Grk “shouting and saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes, in v. 15) has not been translated because it is redundant.sn What follows is one of two speeches in Acts to a purely pagan audience (Acts 17 in Athens is the other). So Paul focused on God as Creator, a common link. 4714:15tn Grk “with the same kinds of feelings,” L&N 25.32. BDAG 706 s.v. ὁμοιοπαθής translates the phrase “with the same nature τινί as someone.” In the immediate context, the contrast is between human and divine nature, and the point is that Paul and Barnabas are mere mortals, not gods. 4814:15tn Grk “in order that you should turn,” with ἐπιστρέφειν (epistrefein) as an infinitive of purpose, but this is somewhat awkward contemporary English. To translate the infinitive construction “proclaim the good news, that you should turn,” which is much smoother English, could give the impression that the infinitive clause is actually the content of the good news, which it is not. The somewhat less formal “to get you to turn” would work, but might convey to some readers manipulativeness on the part of the apostles. Thus “proclaim the good news, so that you should turn,” is used, to convey that the purpose of the proclamation of good news is the response by the hearers. The emphasis here is like 1 Thess 1:9-10. 4914:15tn Or “useless,” “futile.” The reference is to idols and idolatry, worshiping the creation over the Creator (Rom 1:18-32). See also 1 Kgs 16:2, 13, 26; 2 Kgs 17:15; Jer 2:5; 8:19; 3 Macc 6:11. 5014:15tn Grk “and the earth, and the sea,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before “the earth” and “the sea” since contemporary English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more. 5114:16tn Grk “them, who in.” The relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the pronoun “he” (“In past generations he”) and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek and the awkwardness of two relative clauses (“who made the heaven” and “who in past generations”) following one another. 5214:16tn On this term see BDAG 780 s.v. παροίχομαι. The word is a NT hapax legomenon. 5314:16tn Or “all the Gentiles” (in Greek the word for “nation” and “Gentile” is the same). The plural here alludes to the variety of false religions in the pagan world. 5414:17tn The participle ἀγαθουργῶν (agaqourgwn) is regarded as indicating means here, parallel to the following participles διδούς (didou") and ἐμπιπλῶν (empiplwn). This is the easiest way to understand the Greek structure. Semantically, the first participle is a general statement, followed by two participles giving specific examples of doing good. 5514:17tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). 5614:17tn Grk “satisfying [filling] your hearts with food and joy.” This is an idiomatic expression; it strikes the English reader as strange to speak of “filling one’s heart with food.” Thus the additional direct object “you” has been supplied, separating the two expressions somewhat: “satisfying you with food and your hearts with joy.” 5714:17sn God’s general sovereignty and gracious care in the creation are the way Paul introduces the theme of the goodness of God. He was trying to establish monotheism here. It is an OT theme (Gen 8:22; Ps 4:7; 145:15-16; 147:8-9; Isa 25:6; Jer 5:24) which also appears in the NT (Luke 12:22-34). 5814:18tn The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is regarded as indicating means. 5914:18tn BDAG 524 s.v. καταπαύω 2.b gives both “restrain” and “dissuade someone fr. someth.,” but “they scarcely dissuaded the crowds from offering sacrifice,” while accurate, is less common in contemporary English than saying “they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice.” Paganism is portrayed as a powerful reality that is hard to reverse. 6014:19sn Antioch was a city in Pisidia about 90 mi (145 km) west northwest of Lystra.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2; JP4-E2. 6114:19sn Iconium was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) north of Lystra. Note how Jews from other cities were chasing Paul (2 Cor 11:4-6; Gal 2:4-5; Acts 9:16). 6214:19tn The participle πείσαντες (peisante") is taken temporally (BDAG 791 s.v. πείθω 1.c). 6314:19tn Grk “stoning Paul they dragged him.” The participle λιθάσαντες (liqasante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 6414:20tn Grk “and entered”; the word “back” is not in the Greek text but is implied. 6514:20tn Grk “And on.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here. 6614:20sn Derbe was a city in Lycaonia about 35 mi (60 km) southeast of Lystra. This was the easternmost point of the journey.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 6714:21sn Lystra was a city in Lycaonia about 35 mi (60 km) northwest of Derbe.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2. 6814:21sn Iconium was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) north of Lystra. 6914:21sn Antioch was a city in Pisidia about 90 mi (145 km) west northwest of Lystra.map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2; JP4-E2. 7014:22tn Grk “to Antioch, strengthening.” Due to the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, a new sentence was started here. This participle (ἐπιστηρίζοντες, episthrizonte") and the following one (παρακαλοῦντες, parakalounte") have been translated as finite verbs connected by the coordinating conjunction “and.” 7114:22sn And encouraged them to continue. The exhortations are like those noted in Acts 11:23; 13:43. An example of such a speech is found in Acts 20:18-35. Christianity is now characterized as “the faith.” 7214:22sn This reference to the kingdom of God clearly refers to its future arrival. 7314:22tn Or “sufferings.” 7414:23sn Appointed elders. See Acts 20:17. 7514:23tn The preposition κατά (kata) is used here in a distributive sense; see BDAG 512 s.v. κατά B.1.d. 7614:23tn Literally with a finite verb (προσευξάμενοι, proseuxamenoi) rather than a noun, “praying with fasting,” but the combination “prayer and fasting” is so familiar in English that it is preferable to use it here. 7714:23tn BDAG 772 s.v. παρατίθημι 3.b has “entrust someone to the care or protection of someone” for this phrase. The reference to persecution or suffering in the context (v. 22) suggests “protection” is a better translation here. This looks at God’s ultimate care for the church. 7814:24tn Grk “Then passing through Pisidia they came.” The participle διελθόντες (dielqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 7914:24sn Pamphylia was a province along the southern coast of Asia Minor. 8014:25tn Or “message.” 8114:25sn Perga was a city in Pamphylia near the southern coast of Asia Minor. 8214:25sn Attalia was a seaport in the province of Pamphylia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, about 12 mi (20 km) southwest of Perga. 8314:26sn Antioch was the city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia) from which Paul’s first missionary journey began (see Acts 13:1-4). That first missionary journey ends here, after covering some 1,400 mi (2,240 km).map For location see JP1-F2; JP2-F2; JP3-F2; JP4-F2. 8414:26tn Or “committed.” BDAG 762 s.v. παραδίδωμι 2 gives “commended to the grace of God for the work 14:26” as the meaning for this phrase, although “give over” and “commit” are listed as alternative meanings for this category. 8514:26tn BDAG 829 s.v. πληρόω 5 has “to bring to completion an activity in which one has been involved from its beginning, complete, finish” as meanings for this category. The ministry to which they were commissioned ends with a note of success. 8614:27tn Or “announced.” 8714:27sn Note that God is the subject of the activity. The outcome of this mission is seen as a confirmation of the mission to the Gentiles. 8814:27sn On the image of opening, or of the door, see 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12; Col 4:3. 8914:28tn BDAG 238 s.v. διατρίβω gives the meaning as “spend” when followed by an accusative τὸν χρόνον (ton cronon) which is the case here. 9014:28tn Grk “no little (time)” (an idiom).
=