使徒行傳 13

巴拿巴和掃羅奉差遣

1 在安提阿的教會中，有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴和稱為尼結的西面、古利奈人路求，與希律分封王一起長大的馬念，和掃羅。 2 他們在事奉主和禁食的時候，聖靈說：「要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅去做我召他們做的工作。」 3 於是他們禁食禱告後，給巴拿巴和掃羅按手，然後派遣他們走了。

在塞浦路斯傳道

4 他們既蒙聖靈差遣，就下到西流基，從那裏坐船往塞浦路斯去， 5 到了撒拉米，就在猶太人各會堂裏宣講上帝的道，也有約翰作他們的幫手。 6 他們走遍全島，直到帕弗，在那裏遇見一個術士—猶太人的假先知，名叫巴耶穌。 7 這人常和士求．保羅省長在一起。士求．保羅是個通達人，他請巴拿巴和掃羅來，要聽上帝的道。 8 只是術士以呂馬(他的名字翻出來就是行法術的意思)敵對使徒，設法使省長遠離這信仰。 9 掃羅，又名保羅，被聖靈充滿，定睛看他， 10 說：「你這充滿各樣詭詐奸惡，魔鬼的兒子，一切正義的仇敵，你還不停止扭曲主的正道嗎？ 11 現在你看，主的手臨到你身上，你會瞎眼，暫時看不見日光。」立刻迷濛和黑暗籠罩著他，他到處摸索，求人拉著手領他。 12 省長看見所發生的事就信了，因對主的教導感到驚奇。

在彼西底的安提阿傳道

13  保羅和他的同伴從帕弗開船，來到旁非利亞的別加，約翰卻離開他們，回耶路撒冷去了。 14 他們從別加往前行，來到彼西底的安提阿。在安息日，他們進了會堂就坐下。 15 在讀完了律法和先知的書，會堂主管們叫人過去，對他們說：「二位弟兄，你們若有甚麼勸勉眾人的話，請說。」

16  保羅就站起來，做個手勢，說：「諸位以色列人和一切敬畏上帝的人，請聽。 17 這以色列民的上帝揀選了我們的祖宗，當百姓寄居埃及的時候抬舉他們，用大能的手領他們從那地出來。 18 他在曠野容忍t他們，約有四十年。 19 他消滅了迦南地七族的人後，把那地分給他們為業， 20 約有四百五十年。此後t，他給他們設立士師，直到撒母耳先知的時候。 21 從那時起，他們要求立一個王，上帝就將便雅憫支派中基士的兒子掃羅給他們作王，共四十年。 22 他廢了掃羅之後，就興起大衛作他們的王，又為他作見證說：『我尋得耶西的兒子大衛，他是合我心意的人，他要遵行我一切的旨意。』 23 從這人的後裔中，上帝已經照著所應許的為以色列人興起一位救主，就是耶穌。 24 在他沒有出來以前，約翰已向以色列全民宣講悔改的洗禮。 25 約翰快走完他的人生路程時，說：『你們以為我是誰？我不是t；但是有一位在我以後來的，我就是解他腳上的鞋帶也不配。』

26 「諸位弟兄—亞伯拉罕的子孫和你們中間敬畏上帝的人哪，這救世的道是傳給我們的。 27 耶路撒冷的居民和他們的官長，因為不認識這基督，也不明白每安息日所讀的先知的書，把他定了死罪，正應驗了先知的預言。 28 雖然他們查不出他有該死的罪狀，還是要求彼拉多把他殺了。 29 他們既實現了經上指著他所記的一切話，就從木頭上把他取下來，放在墳墓裏。 30 上帝卻使他從死人中復活。 31 有許多日子，他向那些從加利利同他上耶路撒冷的人顯現，這些人如今在民間成為他的見證人。 32 我們報好信息給你們，就是那應許祖宗的話， 33 上帝已經向我們這些作他們兒女的t應驗，使耶穌復活了。正如《詩篇》第二篇上記著： 『你是我的兒子， 我今日生了你。』

34 論到上帝使他從死人中復活，不再歸於朽壞，他曾這樣說： 『我必將所應許大衛那聖潔、 可靠的恩典賜給你們。』

35 所以他也在另一篇說： 『你必不讓你的聖者見朽壞。』

36  大衛在世的時候，遵行了上帝的旨意就長眠了t，歸到他祖宗那裏，已見朽壞； 37 惟獨上帝使他復活的那一位，他並未見朽壞。 38 所以弟兄們，你們當知道：赦罪的道是由這人傳給你們的， 39 你們靠摩西的律法在不得稱義的一切事上，每一個信靠這位耶穌的都得稱義了。 40 所以，你們要小心，免得先知書上所說的臨到你們： 41 『要觀看，你們這些藐視的人， 要驚訝，要滅亡， 因為在你們的日子，我行一件事， 雖有人告訴你們，你們總是不信。』」

42 他們走出會堂的時候，眾人請他們在下一個安息日再講這些話給他們聽。 43 散會以後，有許多猶太人和敬虔的皈依猶太教的人跟從了保羅和巴拿巴。二人對他們講話，勸他們務要恆久倚靠上帝的恩典。

44 到下一個安息日，全城的人幾乎都聚集起來，要聽主的道t。 45 但猶太人看見這麼多的人，就滿心嫉妒，辯駁保羅所說的話，並且毀謗他。 46 於是保羅和巴拿巴放膽說：「上帝的道本應先傳給你們；只因你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，我們就轉向外邦人。 47 因為主曾這樣吩咐我們： 『我已經立你作萬邦之光， 使你施行我的救恩，直到地極。』」

48 外邦人聽見這話很歡喜，讚美主的道，凡被指定得永生的人都信了。 49 於是主的道傳遍了那一帶地方。 50 但猶太人挑唆虔敬尊貴的婦女和城內有名望的人，迫害保羅和巴拿巴，把他們趕出境外。 51 二人對著眾人跺掉腳上的塵土，然後往以哥念去了。 52 門徒滿心喜樂，又被聖靈充滿。

ACTS 13

Barnabas and Saul //Are Chosen and Sent

1 The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod'st close friend, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, t the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.”

3 Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.

Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus

4 After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus.

5 They arrived at Salamis and began to preach God's message in the synagogues. They also had Johnt as a helper.
6 Barnabas and Saul went all the way to the city of Paphos on the other end of the island, where they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He practiced witchcraft and was a false prophet. 7 He also worked for Sergius Paulus, who was very smart and was the governor of the island. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear God's message, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul.

8 But Bar-Jesus, whose other name was Elymas, was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.
9 Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You son of the devil! You are a liar, a crook, and an enemy of everything that is right. When will you stop speaking against the true ways of the Lord?

11 The Lord is going to punish you by making you completely blind for a while.”
Suddenly the man's eyes were covered by a dark mist, and he went around trying to get someone to lead him by the hand.

12 When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas //in Antioch of Pisidia

13 Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. But Johnt left them and went back to Jerusalem.

14 The rest of them went on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Then on the Sabbath they went to the synagogue and sat down.

15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, t the leaders sent someone over to tell Paul and Barnabas, “Friends, if you have anything to say that will help the people, please say it.”

16 Paul got up. He motioned with his hand and said:
People of Israel, and everyone else who worships God, listen! 17 t The God of Israel chose our ancestors, and he let our people prosper while they were living in Egypt. Then with his mighty power he led them out, 18 t and for about 40 years he took care oft them in the desert. 19 t He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave their land to our people.

20 t All this happened in about 450 years.
Then God gave our people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel, 21 t but the people demanded a king. So for 40 years God gave them King Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.

22 t Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.”
23 God promised that someone from David's family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus. 24 t But before Jesus came, John was telling everyone in Israel to turn back to God and be baptized.

25 t Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, “Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”
26 Now listen, you descendants of Abraham! Pay attention, all of you Gentiles who are here to worship God! Listen to this message about how to be saved, because it is for everyone.

27 The people of Jerusalem and their leaders didn't realize who Jesus was. And they didn't understand the words of the prophets they read each Sabbath. So they condemned Jesus just as the prophets had said.

28-29  t t They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.
After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the crosst and placed in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from death!

31 t Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him.
32 God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news

33 t that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus,
“You are my son because today
I have become your Father.”

34  t God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said,
“I will make to you
the same holy promises
that I made to David.”

35  t And in another psalm it says, “God will never let the body of his Holy One decay.”
36 When David was alive, he obeyed God. Then after he died, he was buried in the family grave, and his body decayed.

37 But God raised Jesus from death, and his body did not decay.
38 My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins. 39 But everyone who has faith in Jesus is set free.

40 Make sure what the prophets have said doesn't happen to you. They said,

41  t “Look, you people
who make fun of God!
Be amazed
and disappear.
I will do something today
that you won't believe,
even if someone
tells you about it!”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people begged them to say more about these same things on the next Sabbath.

43 After the service, many Jews and a lot of Gentiles who worshiped God went with them. Paul and Barnabas begged them all to remain faithful to God, who had treated them with undeserved grace.
44 The next Sabbath almost everyone in town came to hear the message about the Lord.t

45 When the Jewish people saw the crowds, they were very jealous. They insulted Paul and spoke against everything he said.

46 But Paul and Barnabas bravely said:
We had to tell God's message to you before we told it to anyone else. But you rejected the message! This proves that you don't deserve eternal life. Now we are going to the Gentiles.

47 t The Lord has given us this command,
“I have placed you here
as a light
for the Gentiles.
You are to take
the saving power of God
to people everywhere on earth.”

48 This message made the Gentiles glad, and they praised what they had heard about the Lord.t Everyone who had been chosen for eternal life then put their faith in the Lord.
49 The message about the Lord spread all over this region.

50 But the Jewish leaders went to some of the important men in the town and to some respected women who were religious. They turned them against Paul and Barnabas and started making trouble for them. They even chased them out of this part of the country.

51  t Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from that place off their feett and went on to the city of Iconium.
52 But the Lord's followers in Antioch were very happy and were filled with the Holy Spirit.