Veritable King James Version
1Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
5When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,
6they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region,
7and there they continued to preach the gospel.
8Now at Lystra there was a person sitting who could not use their feet. This person was crippled from birth and had never walked.
9They listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at them and seeing that they had faith to be healed,
10said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And they sprang up and began to walk.
11And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of humans!”
12They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
15“People, why are you doing this? We also are humans of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”
16“In past generations He allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
17Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
18Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe.
21When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26And from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.
27And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Translation notes
The NA28 Greek text uses “ἀδελφοί” in verse 2, translated as “brothers” but considered gender-neutral as “siblings” in the context of believers. “Great number” and “Gentiles” translate “πλῆθος πολὺ” and “ἔθνη” gender-neutrally, referring to mixed groups. Capitalized “Lord” and “His” follow instructions. “Signs and wonders” renders “σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα,” preserving the KJV’s miraculous tone, per the NA28. “Speaking boldly” translates “παρρησιαζόμενοι,” echoing the KJV’s evangelistic emphasis.
“People of the city” in verse 4 translates “πλῆθος τῆς πόλεως” gender-neutrally. “Gentiles and Jews” in verse 5 renders “ἔθνη τε καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι” inclusively. “They” refers to Paul and Barnabas, kept neutral where possible for “αὐτοί.” “Preach the gospel” translates “εὐαγγελιζόμενοι,” modernizing the KJV’s “preach the gospel,” per the NA28. No divine pronouns appear in this section.
“Person” in verse 8 translates “ἀνὴρ” gender-neutrally, as the Greek is unspecified before describing the individual. “They” continues this neutrality for consistency. “Faith to be healed” renders “πίστιν τοῦ σωθῆναι,” echoing the KJV’s “faith to be saved” but clarified as healing in context, per the NA28. “Stand upright” translates “ἀνάστηθι,” preserving the KJV’s directness in modern English.
“Crowds” in verse 11 translates “ὄχλοι” gender-neutrally. “Humans” in verse 11 renders “ἀνθρώπων,” gender-neutral to contrast with “gods” (lowercase, as it refers to pagan deities). “Zeus” and “Hermes” retain the NA28’s Greek names for the deities. “Chief speaker” translates “ὁ ἡγούμενος τοῦ λόγου,” explaining Paul’s role, per the NA28 and KJV. No divine pronouns appear in this section.
“People” in verse 15 translates “ἄνδρες” gender-neutrally, addressing the crowd. “Humans” renders “ἄνθρωποι” inclusively, emphasizing shared humanity. Capitalized “God” follows instructions. “Good news” translates “εὐαγγελιζόμενοι,” modernizing the KJV’s “preach the gospel.” “Vain things” renders “ματαίων,” referring to idols, per the NA28 and KJV. The creation reference echoes Old Testament theology (e.g., Psalm 146:6).
Capitalized “He” and “Himself” (for God) follow instructions. “Nations” and “crowds” translate “ἔθνη” and “ὄχλους” gender-neutrally, per the NA28. “Did good” renders “ἀγαθοποιῶν,” modernizing the KJV’s “doing good.” “Rains from heaven and fruitful seasons” translates “ὑετοὺς ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ καὶ καιροὺς καρποφόρους,” preserving the KJV’s providential imagery in modern English.
“Crowds” and “disciples” in verses 19–20 translate “ὄχλους” and “μαθητῶν” gender-neutrally, referring to mixed groups. “Supposing that he was dead” renders “νομίζοντες αὐτὸν τεθνηκέναι,” preserving the KJV’s dramatic tone, per the NA28. No divine pronouns appear in this section. The narrative aligns with the KJV’s account of Paul’s resilience.
“Disciples” in verses 21–22 translates “μαθητάς” gender-neutrally. Capitalized “God” follows instructions. “Preached the gospel” renders “εὐαγγελισάμενοι,” consistent with prior usage. “Strengthening the souls” translates “ἐπιστηρίζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς,” echoing the KJV’s pastoral emphasis. “Kingdom of God” renders “βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ,” per the NA28, maintaining the KJV’s theological weight.
“Elders” in verse 23 translates “πρεσβυτέρους” gender-neutrally, as the role is unspecified in the NA28. “Church” renders “ἐκκλησίαν” inclusively. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Appointed” translates “χειροτονήσαντες,” modernizing the KJV’s “ordained.” “Committed them to the Lord” renders “παρέθεντο τῷ Κυρίῳ,” preserving the KJV’s trust in divine care, per the NA28.
“Church” and “disciples” in verses 27–28 translate “ἐκκλησίαν” and “μαθηταί” gender-neutrally. Capitalized “God” and “He” follow instructions. “Commended to the grace of God” renders “παραδεδομένοι τῇ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ,” echoing Acts 13:3 and the KJV’s tone. “Door of faith” translates “θύραν πίστεως,” preserving the KJV’s metaphorical imagery, per the NA28.
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