The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(B) spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus^(C) and Cyrene,^(D) went to Antioch^(E) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news^(F) about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them,^(G) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.^(H)

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas^(I) to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(J) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^{(K) 24} He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(L) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.^(M)

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(N) to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(O) were called Christians first^(P) at Antioch.

²⁷ During this time some prophets^(Q) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus,^(R) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.^(S) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)^{(T) 29} The disciples,^(U) as each one was able, decided to provide help^(V) for the brothers and sisters^(W) living in Judea. ³⁰ This they did, sending their gift to the elders^(X) by Barnabas^(Y) and Saul.^(Z)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we^(A) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,^(B) went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.^(C) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples^(D) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit^(E) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.^{(F) 6} After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre^(G) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters^(H) and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea^(I) and stayed at the house of Philip^(J) the evangelist,^(K) one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.^(L)

¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus^(M) came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,^(N) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind^(O) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”^(P)

¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die^(Q) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”^{(R) 14} When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up^(S) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”^(T)

¹⁵ After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.^{(U) 16} Some of the disciples from Caesarea^(V) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus^(W) and one of the early disciples.