The Return to Antioch in Syria

²¹ They preached the gospel^(A) in that city and won a large number^(B) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium^(C) and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.^(D) “We must go through many hardships^(E) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached^(A) the word of the Lord.^(B)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns^(C) where we preached the word of the Lord^(D) and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,^(E) with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them^(F) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas^(G) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.^{(H) 41} He went through Syria^(I) and Cilicia,^(J) strengthening the churches.^(K)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,^(L) where a disciple named Timothy^(M) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer^(N) but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers^(O) at Lystra and Iconium^(P) spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.^{(Q) 4} As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders^(R) in Jerusalem^(S) for the people to obey.^{(T) 5} So the churches were strengthened^(U) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.^(V)