Acts 13

Barnabas and Saul Are Sent Off

1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too.2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me," he said. "I have appointed them to do special work."3 The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.

Events on Cyprus

4 Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.5 They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God's word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6 They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet.7 He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God's word.
8 But Elymas, the evil magician, opposed them. The name Elymas means "magician." He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer.9 Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him,10 "You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won't you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord?11 Now the Lord's hand is against you. You are going to go blind. You won't be able to see the light of the sun for a while."
Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand.12 When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.

Paul Preaches in Pisidian Antioch

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and returned to Jerusalem.14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.15 The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the synagogue rulers sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, "Brothers, do you have a message of hope for the people? If you do, please speak."
16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, "Men of Israel, and you non-Jews who worship God, listen to me!17 The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country.18 He put up with them for about 40 years in the desert.19 He destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share.20 All of this took about 450 years.
"After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.21 Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years.22 God removed him and made David their king. Here is God's witness about him. 'David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,' he said. 'He will do everything I want him to do.'
23 "From this man's family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised.24 Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel.25 John was coming to the end of his work. 'Who do you think I am?' he said. 'I am not the one you are looking for. No, he is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.'
26 "Listen, brothers, you children of Abraham! Listen, you non-Jews who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us.27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets' words come true. These are read every Sabbath day.28 The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to have him killed.29 They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb.30 But God raised him from the dead.31 For many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are his witnesses to our people.
32 "We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long ago

33 he has done for us, their children. He has raised up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm. It says,
" 'You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.' (Psalm 2:7)34 God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. This is what is written in Scripture. It says,
" 'Holy and sure blessings were promised to David.
I will give them to you.' (Isaiah 55:3)

35 In another place it says,
" 'You will not let your Holy One rot away.' (Psalm 16:10)
36 "David carried out God's purpose while he lived. Then he died. He was buried with his people. His body rotted away.37 But the One whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.
38 "My brothers, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done.39 Through him everyone who believes is made right with God. Moses' law could not make you right in God's eyes.

40 Be careful! Don't let what the prophets spoke about happen to you. They said,

41 " 'Look, you who make fun of the truth!
Wonder and die!
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You wouldn't believe it even if someone told you.' " (Habakkuk 1:5)
42 Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day.43 The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many non-Jews who faithfully worshiped the God of the Jews did the same. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They tried to get them to keep living in God's grace.
44 On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They said evil things against what Paul was saying.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. "We had to speak God's word to you first," they said. "But you don't accept it. You don't think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to those who aren't Jews.

47 This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said,
" 'I have made you a light for those who aren't Jews.
You will bring salvation to the whole earth.' " (Isaiah 49:6)
48 When the non-Jews heard this, they were glad. They honored the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole area.50 But the Jews stirred up the important women who worshiped God. They also stirred up the men who were leaders in the city. They tried to get them to attack Paul and Barnabas. They threw them out of that area.51 Paul and Barnabas didn't like this. So they shook the dust from their feet. They went on to Iconium.52 The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13

1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.2 And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.5 And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.6 And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,10 and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.14 But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.16 And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it.18 And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:20 and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.21 And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;24 when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.26 Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.27 For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.29 And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.30 But God raised him from the dead:31 and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people.32 And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,33 that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.35 Because he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption.36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:37 but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.38 Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:39 and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

42 And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath.43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.44 And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.46 And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.

48 And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.49 And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.50 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.51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.52 And the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.