And set out to them an example of the people of the town, when the apostles came to it. 13 When We sent them two messengers, they rejected them both, so We strengthened them with a third. They said, "Truly, we have been sent to you [by God] as messengers." 14 They said: ye are but human beings like ourselves; the Compassionate hath not sent down aught; ye are only lying. 15 They said, 'Our Lord knows we are Envoys unto you; 16 but we are not bound to do more than clearly deliver the message [entrusted to us]." 17 (The people of the city) said: We augur ill of you. If ye desist not, we shall surely stone you, and grievous torture will befall you at our hands. 18 [The apostles] replied: "Your destiny, good or evil, is [bound up] with yourselves! [Does it seem evil to you] if you are told to take [the truth] to heart? Nay, but you are people who have wasted their own selves!" 19 Then a man came running from the other side of the city. "O my people," he said, "follow the messengers. 20 Follow such as ask no wage of you, that are right-guided. 21 For what cause should I not serve Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye will be brought back? 22 What, shall I take, other than Him, gods whose intercession, if the Merciful desires to afflict me, cannot help me at all, and they will never save me? 23 Surely in that case I should be in manifest error. 24 I believe in your Lord, so hear me' 25 (Eventually they killed him and he was told): “Enter Paradise.” The man exclaimed: “Would that my people knew 26 "That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!" 27 ۞ After him We did not send down against his people a host from heaven, nor do We send down such hosts: 28 There was but a single Blast and suddenly they became silent and still. 29 Ah, the anguish for the bondmen! Never came there unto them a messenger but they did mock him! 30 Behold they not how many We have destroyed before them of the generations! verily unto them they shall not return. 31 All of them shall (one day) be gathered before Us. 32