Bible Passages Bridge: New Testament in a Year

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Acts 14 - Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

July 14
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King James and other versions... [http://bibleabc.net/bible/kjv/act14-1.htm]
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Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
14 1Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Iconium. They entered the Jewish synagogue.*
(This is what they did in every city.) They spoke to the people there. Paul and
Barnabas spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks (non-Jews) believed what they said.
2But some of the Jews did not believe. These Jews excited the non-Jewish people
and made them think bad things about the brothers (believers). 3So Paul and Barnabas
stayed in Iconium a long time, and they spoke bravely for the Lord. Paul and Barnabas
told the people about God's grace (kindness). The Lord proved that what they said
was true by helping the apostles* (Paul and Barnabas) do miracles and wonders.*
4But some of the people in the city agreed with the Jews. Other people in the city
believed Paul and Barnabas. So the city was divided. 5Some non-Jewish people, some
Jews, and their Jewish leaders tried to hurt Paul and Barnabas. These people wanted
to kill them with rocks. 6When Paul and Barnabas learned about this, they left that
city. They went to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the areas around
those cities. 7They told the Good News* there too.

Paul in Lystra and Derbe
8In Lystra there was a man who had something wrong with his feet. He had been born
crippled; he had never walked. 9This man was sitting and listening to Paul speak.
Paul looked at him. Paul saw that the man believed that God could heal him. 10So
Paul shouted, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began walking around.
11When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language.
They said, "The gods have become like men! They have come down to us!" 12The people
began to call Barnabas "Zeus."* They called Paul "Hermes,"* because he was the main
speaker. 13The temple of Zeus was near the city. The priest of this temple brought
some bulls and flowers to the city gates. The priest and the people wanted to give
an offering to [worship] Paul and Barnabas. 14But when the apostles,* Barnabas and
Paul, understood what the people were doing, they tore their own clothes.* Then
they ran in among the people and shouted to them: 15"Men, why are you doing these
things? We are not gods! We have the same feelings as you have! We came to tell
you the Good News.* We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things.
Turn to the true living God. He is the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea,
and everything that is in them. 16In the past, God let all the nations do what they
wanted. 17But God did things that prove he is real: He does good things for you.
He gives you rain from the sky. He gives you good harvests at the right times.
He gives you plenty of food, and he fills your hearts with joy." 18Paul and Barnabas
told the people these things. But still Paul and Barnabas almost could not stop
the people from offering sacrifices to [worship] them. 19Then some Jews came from
Antioch and Iconium. They persuaded the people to be against Paul. And so the people
threw rocks at Paul and dragged him out of the town. The people thought that they
had killed Paul. 20The followers [of Jesus] gathered around Paul and he got up and
went back into the town. The next day, he and Barnabas left and went to the city
of Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria
21Paul and Barnabas told the Good News* in the city of Derbe too. Many people became
followers [of Jesus]. Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium,
and Antioch. 22In those cities Paul and Barnabas made the followers [of Jesus] stronger.
They helped them to stay in the faith. Paul and Barnabas said, "We must suffer many
things on our way into God's kingdom." 23Paul and Barnabas chose elders* for each
church (group of believers). They fasted* and prayed for these elders. These elders
were men who had trusted the Lord [Jesus.] So Paul and Barnabas put them in the
Lord's care. 24Paul and Barnabas went through the country of Pisidia. Then they
came to the country of Pamphylia. 25They told people the message* [of God] in the
city of Perga, and then they went down to the city of Attalia. 26And from there
Paul and Barnabas sailed away to Antioch [in Syria]. This is the city where the
believers had put them into God's care and sent them to do this work. Now they had
finished the work. 27When Paul and Barnabas arrived, they gathered the church (group
of believers) together. Paul and Barnabas told them about all the things God had
done with them. They said, "God opened a door so that the people of other nations
(non-Jews) could also believe!" 28Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time with
the followers [of Christ*].

Footnotes: synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study
of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. apostles The men Jesus chose to be
His special helpers. miracles and wonders Amazing works or great things done by
the power of God. Good News, message The news that God has made a way for people
to have their sins forgiven and live with Him forever. Zeus The most important of
the many Greek gods. Hermes Another Greek god. The Greeks believed he was a messenger
for the other gods. tore ... clothes This showed they were very angry. elders A
group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called "overseers" and "pastors" ("shepherds"),
they have the work of caring for God's people (Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11; Tit. 1:7,9).
fasted To fast is to live without food for a time of prayer or mourning. message,
Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven
and live with Him forever. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of
God.
"Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation
Center, Inc. and used by permission."
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

New Testament in a Year - July 14

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