The Church at Antioch Commissions Barnabas and Saul
13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch:1 Barnabas, Simeon called Niger,2 Lucius the Cyrenian,3 Manaen (a close friend of Herod4 the tetrarch5 from childhood6) and Saul. 13:2 While they were serving7 the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart8 for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 13:3 Then, after they had fasted9 and10 prayed and placed their hands11 on them, they sent them off.
Paul and Barnabas Preach in Cyprus
13:4 So Barnabas and Saul,12 sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia,13 and from there they sailed to Cyprus.14 13:5 When15 they arrived16 in Salamis,17 they began to proclaim18 the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.19 (Now they also had John20 as their assistant.)21 13:6 When they had crossed over22 the whole island as far as Paphos,23 they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus,24 13:7 who was with the proconsul25 Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul26 summoned27 Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear28 the word of God. 13:8 But the magician Elymas29 (for that is the way his name is translated)30 opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul31 away from the faith. 13:9 But Saul (also known as Paul),32 filled with the Holy Spirit,33 stared straight34 at him 13:10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing,35 you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness—will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?36 13:11 Now37 look, the hand of the Lord is against38 you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!” Immediately mistiness39 and darkness came over40 him, and he went around seeking people41 to lead him by the hand. 13:12 Then when the proconsul42 saw what had happened, he believed,43 because he was greatly astounded44 at the teaching about45 the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch
13:13 Then Paul and his companions put out to sea46 from Paphos47 and came to Perga48 in Pamphylia,49 but John50 left them and returned to Jerusalem.51 13:14 Moving on from52 Perga,53 they arrived at Pisidian Antioch,54 and on the Sabbath day they went into55 the synagogue56 and sat down. 13:15 After the reading from the law and the prophets,57 the leaders of the synagogue58 sent them a message,59 saying, “Brothers,60 if you have any message61 of exhortation62 for the people, speak it.”63 13:16 So Paul stood up,64 gestured65 with his hand and said,
“Israelite men, and you Gentiles who fear God,66 listen: 13:17 The God of this people Israel67 chose our ancestors68 and made the people great69 during their stay as foreigners70 in the country71 of Egypt, and with uplifted arm72 he led them out of it. 13:18 For73 a period of about forty years he put up with74 them in the wilderness.75 13:19 After76 he had destroyed77 seven nations78 in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance.79 13:20 All this took80 about four hundred fifty years. After this81 he gave them judges until the time of82 Samuel the prophet. 13:21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled83 forty years. 13:22 After removing him, God84 raised up85 David their king. He testified about him:86 ‘I have found David87 the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart,88 who will accomplish everything I want him to do.’89 13:23 From the descendants90 of this man91 God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised.92 13:24 Before93 his coming John94 had proclaimed a baptism for repentance95 to all the people of Israel. 13:25 But while John was completing his mission,96 he said repeatedly,97 ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’98 13:26 Brothers,99 descendants100 of Abraham’s family,101 and those Gentiles among you who fear God,102 the message103 of this salvation has been sent to us. 13:27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize104 him,105 and they fulfilled the sayings106 of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning107 him.108 13:28 Though109 they found110 no basis111 for a death sentence,112 they asked Pilate to have him executed. 13:29 When they had accomplished113 everything that was written114 about him, they took him down115 from the cross116 and placed him117 in a tomb. 13:30 But God raised118 him from the dead, 13:31 and119 for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied120 him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These121 are now his witnesses to the people. 13:32 And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors,122 13:33 that this promise123 God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising124 Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son;125 today I have fathered you.’126 13:34 But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus127 from the dead, never128 again to be129 in a state of decay, God130 has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you131 the holy and trustworthy promises132 made to David.’133 13:35 Therefore he also says in another psalm,134 ‘You will not permit your Holy One135 to experience136 decay.’137 13:36 For David, after he had served138 God’s purpose in his own generation, died,139 was buried with his ancestors,140 and experienced141 decay, 13:37 but the one142 whom God raised up did not experience143 decay. 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one144 forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 13:39 and by this one145 everyone who believes is justified146 from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify147 you.148 13:40 Watch out,149 then, that what is spoken about by150 the prophets does not happen to you:
13:41 ‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!151
For I am doing a work in your days,
a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’”152
13:42 As Paul and Barnabas153 were going out,154 the people155 were urging156 them to speak about these things157 on the next Sabbath. 13:43 When the meeting of the synagogue158 had broken up,159 many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes160 followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading161 them162 to continue163 in the grace of God.
13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord.164 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy,165 and they began to contradict166 what Paul was saying167 by reviling him.168 13:46 Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously,169 “It was necessary to speak the word of God170 to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy171 of eternal life, we172 are turning to the Gentiles.173 13:47 For this174 is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed175 you to be a light176 for the Gentiles, to bring salvation177 to the ends of the earth.’”178 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice179 and praise180 the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life181 believed. 13:49 So the word of the Lord was spreading182 through the entire region. 13:50 But the Jews incited183 the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out184 of their region. 13:51 So after they shook185 the dust off their feet186 in protest against them, they went to Iconium.187 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy188 and with the Holy Spirit.