1In 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.2While they were worshipping 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.’3The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.
Events on Cyprus
4Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.5They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.6They travelled 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.7He 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.8But the evil magician opposed them. He was also known as Elymas, which means Magician. He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer.9Saul 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?11Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to go blind. For a while you won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.’ 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.12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.
Paul preaches in Pisidian Antioch
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.15The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, ‘Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.’16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, ‘Fellow Israelites, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!17The 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.18He put up with their behaviour for about 40 years in the desert.19And he destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share.20All this took about 450 years. ‘After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.21Then 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.22God 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. “David will do everything I want him to do.”23‘From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus. This is what he had promised.24Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptised. He preached this to all Israel.25John was coming to the end of his work. “Who do you suppose I am?” he said. “I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”26‘Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us.27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognise Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets’ words come true. These are read every Sabbath day.28The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to let him be killed.29They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb.30But God raised him from the dead.31For many days he was seen by those who had travelled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about Jesus.32‘We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long ago33he 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.” (Ps 2:7)34God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. As God has said, ‘ “Holy and sure blessings were promised to David. I will give them to you.” (Isa 55:3)35In another place it also says, ‘ “You will not let your holy one rot away.” (Ps 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.37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.38‘My friends, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done.39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law could not make you right in God’s eyes.40Be 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.” ’ (Hab 1:5)42Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day.43The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles who faithfully worshipped 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.44On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered. They gathered to hear the word of the Lord.45When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.46Then 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 the Gentiles.47This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said, ‘ “I have made you a light for the Gentiles. You will bring salvation to the whole earth.” ’ (Isa 49:6)48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. They honoured the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed.49The word of the Lord spread through the whole area.50But the Jewish leaders stirred up the important women who worshipped God. They also stirred up the men who were leaders in the city. The Jewish leaders tried to get the women and men to attack Paul and Barnabas. They threw Paul and Barnabas out of that area.51Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. This was a warning to the people who had opposed them. Then Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium.52The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13
English Standard Version
Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
1Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,[1] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Lu 3:1; Ac 11:22; Ac 11:27; Ac 15:32; Ac 19:6; Ac 21:9; Ro 12:6; 1Co 12:28)2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Ac 8:29; Ac 9:15; Ac 20:28; Ro 1:1; Ga 1:15)3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Ac 6:6; Ac 14:26)
Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus
4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (Ac 13:2; Ac 16:6)5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. (Mr 6:2; Ac 9:20; Ac 12:12; Ac 13:14; Ac 13:46; Ac 14:1; Ac 17:1; Ac 17:10; Ac 17:17; Ac 18:4; Ac 18:19; Ac 19:8; Ac 19:22)6When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. (Mt 7:15; Ac 8:9; Ac 8:11)7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. (Ac 13:8; Ac 13:12; Ac 18:12; Ac 19:38)8But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. (Ex 7:11; Ac 13:6; Ac 13:7; Ac 13:12; 2Ti 3:8)9But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (Ac 4:8)10and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? (Ho 14:9; Mic 3:9; Mt 13:38; Ac 18:14; Ac 18:25; 2Pe 2:15)11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. (Ex 9:3; 1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 5:11; Ps 32:4; Ac 9:8; Ac 11:21; Ac 22:11; Heb 10:31; 1Pe 5:6)12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Ac 13:49; Ac 15:35)
Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia
13Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, (Ac 12:12; Ac 13:5)14but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. (Ac 13:5; Ac 13:42; Ac 13:44; Ac 16:13; Ac 17:2; Ac 18:4)15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” (Mr 5:22; Lu 16:16; Ac 15:21; Heb 13:22)16So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. (Ac 10:2; Ac 10:22; Ac 12:17; Ac 13:26)17The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. (Ex 1:1; Ex 1:7; Ex 1:12; Ex 6:6; Ex 13:14; Ex 13:16; Nu 24:7; De 7:6; Ps 105:23; Mt 15:31; Ac 7:17)18And for about forty years he put up with[2] them in the wilderness. (De 9:5; Ac 7:36)19And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. (De 7:1; Jos 14:1; Jos 19:51; Ps 78:55; Ps 136:21; Ac 7:45)20All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. (Jud 2:16; Jud 3:9; Ac 3:24)21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. (1Sa 8:5; 1Sa 9:1; 1Sa 10:1)22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ (1Sa 13:14; 1Sa 15:23; 1Sa 15:26; 1Sa 15:28; 1Sa 16:1; 1Sa 16:13; 2Sa 2:4; 2Sa 5:3; Ps 89:20; Ho 13:11; Ac 7:46; Ac 13:36)23Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. (Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lu 2:11; Ac 13:32)24Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Mt 3:1; Mt 3:11; Mr 1:4; Lu 3:3; Ac 1:22; Ac 2:38; Ac 19:4)25And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ (Mt 3:11; Mr 1:7; Lu 3:16; Joh 1:20; Joh 1:27)26“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. (Ac 4:12; Ac 5:20; Ac 10:36; Ac 13:16; Eph 1:13)27For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. (Lu 24:20; Lu 24:26; Lu 24:44; Ac 3:17; Ac 13:15; Ac 15:21; 2Co 3:14)28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. (Mr 14:55; Lu 23:22; Lu 23:23; Ac 2:23; Ac 3:14)29And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. (Mt 27:59; Mr 15:46; Lu 18:31; Lu 23:53; Lu 24:44; Joh 19:28; Joh 19:30; Joh 19:36; Joh 19:38; Joh 19:41; Ac 5:30)30But God raised him from the dead, (Ac 2:24)31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. (Mr 15:41; Lu 24:48; Ac 1:3; Ac 1:8; Ac 1:11; Ac 2:7)32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, (Ac 26:6; Ro 4:13; Ro 9:4; Ro 15:8; Ga 3:16)33this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ (Ps 2:7; Lu 1:69; Ac 13:23; Heb 1:5; Heb 5:5)34And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ (Isa 55:3; Ac 13:35; Ro 6:9; Heb 9:25)35Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ (Ps 16:10; Ac 2:27)36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, (Jud 2:10; 2Sa 7:12; 1Ki 2:10; Ac 2:29; Ac 13:22; Ac 20:27)37but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. (Ac 13:30)38Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (Lu 24:47; Ac 5:31; 1Jo 2:12)39and by him everyone who believes is freed[3] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (Ac 10:43; Ro 2:13; Ro 3:20; Ro 3:28; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; Ga 3:11; Eph 2:9; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:5; Heb 7:19)40Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:41“‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’” (Isa 29:14; Hab 1:5)42As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.43And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. (Mt 23:15; Ac 2:11; Ac 6:5; Ac 11:23; Ac 13:50; Ac 16:14; Ac 17:4; Ac 17:17; Jud 1:4; Jud 1:21)44The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.45But when the Jews[4] saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. (Ac 5:17; Ac 18:6; Ac 19:9; Ac 26:11; 1Th 2:16; 1Ti 1:20)46And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. (Mt 21:43; Mt 22:8; Ac 3:26; Ac 9:15; Ac 13:5; Ac 13:14; Ac 18:6; Ac 22:21; Ac 26:17; Ac 26:20; Ac 28:28)47For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Isa 42:6; Isa 45:22; Isa 49:6; Lu 2:32; Ac 1:8; Ac 11:18; Ac 13:26)48And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. (2Th 1:12)49And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.50But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. (Ac 14:2; Ac 14:19; Ac 17:5; Ac 17:12; Ac 17:13; Ac 18:12; Ac 20:3; Ac 20:19; Ac 21:27; 1Th 2:15; 2Ti 3:11)51But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. (Mt 10:14; Mr 6:11; Lu 9:5; Ac 18:6)52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Mt 5:12; Joh 16:22; Ac 2:4; 1Th 1:6)