1Na igreja de Antioquia havia profetas e mestres: Barnabé, Simeão, chamado Níger, Lúcio de Cirene, Manaém, que fora criado com Herodes, o tetrarca[1], e Saulo.2Enquanto adoravam o Senhor e jejuavam, disse o Espírito Santo: “Separem-me Barnabé e Saulo para a obra a que os tenho chamado”.3Assim, depois de jejuar e orar, impuseram-lhes as mãos e os enviaram.
Em Chipre
4Enviados pelo Espírito Santo, desceram a Selêucia e dali navegaram para Chipre.5Chegando em Salamina, proclamaram a palavra de Deus nas sinagogas judaicas. João estava com eles como auxiliar.6Viajaram por toda a ilha, até que chegaram a Pafos. Ali encontraram um judeu, chamado Barjesus, que praticava magia e era falso profeta.7Ele era assessor do procônsul Sérgio Paulo. O procônsul, sendo homem culto, mandou chamar Barnabé e Saulo, porque queria ouvir a palavra de Deus.8Mas Elimas, o mágico (esse é o significado do seu nome), opôs-se a eles e tentava desviar da fé o procônsul.9Então Saulo, também chamado Paulo, cheio do Espírito Santo, olhou firmemente para Elimas e disse:10“Filho do Diabo e inimigo de tudo o que é justo! Você está cheio de toda espécie de engano e maldade. Quando é que vai parar de perverter os retos caminhos do Senhor?11Saiba agora que a mão do Senhor está contra você, e você ficará cego e incapaz de ver a luz do sol durante algum tempo”. Imediatamente vieram sobre ele névoa e escuridão, e ele, tateando, procurava quem o guiasse pela mão.12O procônsul, vendo o que havia acontecido, creu, profundamente impressionado com o ensino do Senhor.
Em Antioquia da Pisídia
13De Pafos, Paulo e seus companheiros navegaram para Perge, na Panfília. João os deixou ali e voltou para Jerusalém.14De Perge prosseguiram até Antioquia da Pisídia. No sábado, entraram na sinagoga e se assentaram.15Depois da leitura da Lei e dos Profetas, os chefes da sinagoga lhes mandaram dizer: “Irmãos, se vocês têm uma mensagem de encorajamento para o povo, falem”.16Pondo-se em pé, Paulo fez sinal com a mão e disse: “Israelitas e gentios tementes[2] a Deus, ouçam-me!17O Deus do povo de Israel escolheu nossos antepassados e exaltou o povo durante a sua permanência no Egito; com grande poder os fez sair daquele país18e os aturou[3] no deserto durante cerca de quarenta anos.19Ele destruiu sete nações em Canaã e deu a terra delas como herança ao seu povo.20Tudo isso levou cerca de quatrocentos e cinquenta anos. “Depois disso, ele lhes deu juízes até o tempo do profeta Samuel.21Então o povo pediu um rei, e Deus lhes deu Saul, filho de Quis, da tribo de Benjamim, que reinou quarenta anos.22Depois de rejeitar Saul, levantou-lhes Davi como rei, sobre quem testemunhou: ‘Encontrei Davi, filho de Jessé, homem segundo o meu coração; ele fará tudo o que for da minha vontade’.23“Da descendência desse homem Deus trouxe a Israel o Salvador Jesus, como prometera.24Antes da vinda de Jesus, João pregou um batismo de arrependimento para todo o povo de Israel.25Quando estava completando sua carreira, João disse: ‘Quem vocês pensam que eu sou? Não sou quem vocês pensam. Mas eis que vem depois de mim aquele cujas sandálias não sou digno nem de desamarrar’.26“Irmãos, filhos de Abraão, e gentios tementes a Deus, a nós foi enviada esta mensagem de salvação.27O povo de Jerusalém e seus governantes não reconheceram Jesus, mas, ao condená-lo, cumpriram as palavras dos profetas, que são lidas todos os sábados.28Mesmo não achando motivo legal para uma sentença de morte, pediram a Pilatos que o mandasse executar.29Tendo cumprido tudo o que estava escrito a respeito dele, tiraram-no do madeiro e o colocaram num sepulcro.30Mas Deus o ressuscitou dos mortos,31e, por muitos dias, foi visto por aqueles que tinham ido com ele da Galileia para Jerusalém. Estes agora são testemunhas de Jesus para o povo.32“Nós lhes anunciamos as boas-novas: o que Deus prometeu a nossos antepassados33ele cumpriu para nós, seus filhos, ressuscitando Jesus, como está escrito em Salmos 2: “ ‘Tu és meu filho; eu hoje te gerei’.34O fato de que Deus o ressuscitou dos mortos, para que nunca entrasse em decomposição, é declarado nestas palavras: “ ‘Eu dou a vocês as santas e fiéis bênçãos prometidas a Davi’.35Assim ele diz noutra passagem: “ ‘Não permitirás que o teu Santo sofra decomposição’.36“Tendo, pois, Davi servido ao propósito de Deus em sua geração, adormeceu, foi sepultado com os seus antepassados e seu corpo se decompôs.37Mas aquele a quem Deus ressuscitou não sofreu decomposição.38“Portanto, meus irmãos, quero que saibam que mediante Jesus é proclamado o perdão dos pecados a vocês.39Por meio dele, todo aquele que crê é justificado de todas as coisas das quais não podiam ser justificados pela Lei de Moisés.40Cuidem para que não aconteça o que disseram os profetas:41“ ‘Olhem, escarnecedores, admirem-se e pereçam; pois nos dias de vocês farei algo em que vocês jamais creriam se a vocês fosse contado!’ ”42Quando Paulo e Barnabé estavam saindo da sinagoga, o povo os convidou a falar mais a respeito dessas coisas no sábado seguinte.43Despedida a congregação, muitos dos judeus e estrangeiros piedosos convertidos ao judaísmo seguiram Paulo e Barnabé. Estes conversavam com eles, recomendando-lhes que continuassem na graça de Deus.44No sábado seguinte, quase toda a cidade se reuniu para ouvir a palavra do Senhor.45Quando os judeus viram a multidão, ficaram cheios de inveja e, blasfemando, contradiziam o que Paulo estava dizendo.46Então Paulo e Barnabé lhes responderam corajosamente: “Era necessário anunciar primeiro a vocês a palavra de Deus; uma vez que a rejeitam e não se julgam dignos da vida eterna, agora nos voltamos para os gentios.47Pois assim o Senhor nos ordenou: “ ‘Eu fiz de você luz para os gentios, para que você leve a salvação até aos confins da terra’ ”.48Ouvindo isso, os gentios alegraram-se e bendisseram a palavra do Senhor; e creram todos os que haviam sido designados para a vida eterna.49A palavra do Senhor se espalhava por toda a região.50Mas os judeus incitaram as mulheres religiosas de elevada posição e os principais da cidade. E, provocando perseguição contra Paulo e Barnabé, os expulsaram do seu território.51Estes sacudiram o pó dos seus pés em protesto contra eles e foram para Icônio.52Os discípulos continuavam cheios de alegria e do Espírito Santo.
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. (Lc 3:1; At 11:22; At 11:27; At 15:32; At 19:6; At 21:9; Rm 12:6; 1 Co 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.” (At 8:29; At 9:15; At 20:28; Rm 1:1; Gl 1:15)3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (At 6:6; At 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. (At 13:2; At 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. (Mc 6:2; At 9:20; At 12:12; At 13:14; At 13:46; At 14:1; At 17:1; At 17:10; At 17:17; At 18:4; At 18:19; At 19:8; At 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; At 8:9; At 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. (At 13:8; At 13:12; At 18:12; At 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; At 13:6; At 13:7; At 13:12; 2 Tm 3:8)9But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (At 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? (Os 14:9; Mq 3:9; Mt 13:38; At 18:14; At 18:25; 2 Pe 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; 1 Sm 5:6; 1 Sm 5:11; Sl 32:4; At 9:8; At 11:21; At 22:11; Hb 10:31; 1 Pe 5:6)12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (At 13:49; At 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, (At 12:12; At 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. (At 13:5; At 13:42; At 13:44; At 16:13; At 17:2; At 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.” (Mc 5:22; Lc 16:16; At 15:21; Hb 13:22)16So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. (At 10:2; At 10:22; At 12:17; At 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; Nm 24:7; Dt 7:6; Sl 105:23; Mt 15:31; At 7:17)18And for about forty years he put up with[2] them in the wilderness. (Dt 9:5; At 7:36)19And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. (Dt 7:1; Js 14:1; Js 19:51; Sl 78:55; Sl 136:21; At 7:45)20All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. (Jz 2:16; Jz 3:9; At 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. (1 Sm 8:5; 1 Sm 9:1; 1 Sm 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.’ (1 Sm 13:14; 1 Sm 15:23; 1 Sm 15:26; 1 Sm 15:28; 1 Sm 16:1; 1 Sm 16:13; 2 Sm 2:4; 2 Sm 5:3; Sl 89:20; Os 13:11; At 7:46; At 13:36)23Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. (Sl 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lc 2:11; At 13:32)24Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Mt 3:1; Mt 3:11; Mc 1:4; Lc 3:3; At 1:22; At 2:38; At 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; Mc 1:7; Lc 3:16; Jo 1:20; Jo 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. (At 4:12; At 5:20; At 10:36; At 13:16; Ef 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. (Lc 24:20; Lc 24:26; Lc 24:44; At 3:17; At 13:15; At 15:21; 2 Co 3:14)28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. (Mc 14:55; Lc 23:22; Lc 23:23; At 2:23; At 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; Mc 15:46; Lc 18:31; Lc 23:53; Lc 24:44; Jo 19:28; Jo 19:30; Jo 19:36; Jo 19:38; Jo 19:41; At 5:30)30But God raised him from the dead, (At 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. (Mc 15:41; Lc 24:48; At 1:3; At 1:8; At 1:11; At 2:7)32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, (At 26:6; Rm 4:13; Rm 9:4; Rm 15:8; Gl 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.’ (Sl 2:7; Lc 1:69; At 13:23; Hb 1:5; Hb 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.’ (Is 55:3; At 13:35; Rm 6:9; Hb 9:25)35Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ (Sl 16:10; At 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, (Jz 2:10; 2 Sm 7:12; 1 Rs 2:10; At 2:29; At 13:22; At 20:27)37but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. (At 13:30)38Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (Lc 24:47; At 5:31; 1 Jo 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. (At 10:43; Rm 2:13; Rm 3:20; Rm 3:28; Rm 8:3; Gl 2:16; Gl 3:11; Ef 2:9; 2 Tm 1:9; Tt 3:5; Hb 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.’” (Is 29:14; Hc 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; At 2:11; At 6:5; At 11:23; At 13:50; At 16:14; At 17:4; At 17:17; Jd 1:4; Jd 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. (At 5:17; At 18:6; At 19:9; At 26:11; 1 Ts 2:16; 1 Tm 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; At 3:26; At 9:15; At 13:5; At 13:14; At 18:6; At 22:21; At 26:17; At 26:20; At 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.’” (Is 42:6; Is 45:22; Is 49:6; Lc 2:32; At 1:8; At 11:18; At 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. (2 Ts 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. (At 14:2; At 14:19; At 17:5; At 17:12; At 17:13; At 18:12; At 20:3; At 20:19; At 21:27; 1 Ts 2:15; 2 Tm 3:11)51But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. (Mt 10:14; Mc 6:11; Lc 9:5; At 18:6)52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Mt 5:12; Jo 16:22; At 2:4; 1 Ts 1:6)