as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the
word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region. But the
Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of
the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and
cast them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their
feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled
with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

III

THROUGH THE TOWNS OF GALATIA.

_Paul is Stoned by the Mob. His Escape and Return_.

And it came to pass in Iconium, that they entered together into the
synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great multitude both of Jews
and of Greeks believed. But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up
the Gentiles, and made them hostile to the brethren. Long time therefore
they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who {386} bore witness
unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by
their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held
with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was made an
attempt, both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to
treat them shamefully, and to stone them, they became aware of it, and
fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round
about: and there they preached the gospel.

And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple
from his birth, who never had walked. This man heard Paul speaking: who,
fastening his eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made
whole, said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet." And he
leaped up and walked.

And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their
voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "The gods are come down to us
in the likeness of men." And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul,
Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Jupiter
whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the
gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the
apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and
sprang forth among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Sirs, why do
ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring
you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto the
living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that
in them is: {387}