Acts 13-15

English Standard Version

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch ^(A)prophets and ^(B)teachers, ^(C)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,^[a] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of ^(D)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ^(E)the Holy Spirit said, ^(F)“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul ^(G)for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and ^(H)praying they laid their hands on them and ^(I)sent them off.

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

⁴ So, being sent out ^(J)by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God ^(K)in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had ^(L)John to ^(M)assist them. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain ^(N)magician, ^(O)a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with ^(P)the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the ^(Q)magician (for that is the meaning of his name) ^(R)opposed them, seeking to turn ^(S)the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul, ^(T)filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “You ^(U)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and ^(V)villainy, will you not stop ^(W)making crooked ^(X)the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, behold, ^(Y)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 ^(Z)people to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at ^(AA)the teaching of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

¹³ Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And ^(AB)John left them and returned ^(AC)to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And ^(AD)on the Sabbath day ^(AE)they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After ^(AF)the reading from ^(AG)the Law and the Prophets, ^(AH)the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any ^(AI)word of encouragement for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and ^(AJ)motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and ^(AK)you who fear God, listen. ^17 (AL)The God of this people Israel ^(AM)chose our fathers and ^(AN)made the people great ^(AO)during their stay in the land of Egypt, and ^(AP)with uplifted arm he led them out of it. ¹⁸ And for about ^(AQ)forty years ^(AR)he put up with^[b] them in the wilderness. ¹⁹ And ^(AS)after destroying ^(AT)seven nations in the land of Canaan, ^(AU)he gave them their land as an inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years. And after that ^(AV)he gave them judges until ^(AW)Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then ^(AX)they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul ^(AY)the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² And ^(AZ)when he had removed him, ^(BA)he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ^(BB)‘I have found in David the son of Jesse ^(BC)a man after my heart, ^(BD)who will do all my will.’ ^23 (BE)Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel ^(BF)a Savior, Jesus, ^(BG)as he promised. ²⁴ Before his coming, ^(BH)John had proclaimed ^(BI)a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was finishing his course, ^(BJ)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.’

²⁶ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you ^(BK)who fear God, to us has been sent ^(BL)the message of ^(BM)this salvation. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because ^(BN)they did not recognize him nor understand ^(BO)the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, ^(BP)fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ And ^(BQ)though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, ^(BR)they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ And when ^(BS)they had carried out all that was written of him, ^(BT)they took him down from ^(BU)the tree and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But ^(BV)God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days ^(BW)he appeared to those ^(BX)who had come up with him ^(BY)from Galilee to Jerusalem, ^(BZ)who are now ^(CA)his witnesses to the people. ³² And we bring you the good news ^(CB)that what God promised to the fathers, ^33 (CC)this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

³⁴ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, ^(CE)(CF)no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

³⁵ Therefore he says also in another psalm,

³⁶ For David, after he had ^(CI)served the purpose of God in his own generation, ^(CJ)fell asleep and ^(CK)was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, ³⁷ but he whom ^(CL)God raised up did not see corruption. ³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, ^(CM)that through this man ^(CN)forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him ^(CO)everyone who believes is freed^[c] from everything ^(CP)from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

⁴² As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and ^(CR)devout ^(CS)converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them ^(CT)to continue in ^(CU)the grace of God.

⁴⁴ The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ^45 (CV)But ^(CW)when the Jews^[d] saw the crowds, they were filled with ^(CX)jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, ^(CY)reviling him. ⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God ^(CZ)be spoken first to you. ^(DA)Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves ^(DB)unworthy of eternal life, behold, we ^(DC)are turning to the Gentiles. ^47 (DD)For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and ^(DH)glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. ^50 (DI)But the Jews incited the devout ^(DJ)women of high standing and the leading men of the city, ^(DK)stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and ^(DL)drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ But they ^(DM)shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled ^(DN)with joy and ^(DO)with the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

14 Now at Iconium ^(DP)they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ^2 (DQ)But the ^(DR)unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against ^(DS)the brothers.^{[e] 3} So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for ^(DT)the Lord, who bore witness to ^(DU)the word of his grace, ^(DV)granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ But the people of the city ^(DW)were divided; ^(DX)some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. ⁵ When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, ^(DY)to mistreat them and ^(DZ)to stone them, ⁶ they learned of it and ^(EA)fled to ^(EB)Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ⁷ and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

⁸ Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was ^(EC)crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and ^(ED)seeing that he had faith to be made well,^{[f] 10} said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he ^(EE)sprang up and began walking. ¹¹ And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ^(EF)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called ^(EG)Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ And the priest of ^(EH)Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and ^(EI)wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they ^(EJ)tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, ^(EK)why are you doing these things? We also are men, ^(EL)of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that ^(EM)you should turn from these ^(EN)vain things to ^(EO)a living God, ^(EP)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ¹⁶ In past generations he ^(EQ)allowed all the nations ^(ER)to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet ^(ES)he did not leave himself without witness, for he ^(ET)did good by ^(EU)giving you rains from heaven and ^(EV)fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with ^(EW)food and ^(EX)gladness.” ¹⁸ Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

^19 (EY)But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, ^(EZ)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰ But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had ^(FA)made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ^22 (FB)strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them ^(FC)to continue in ^(FD)the faith, and saying that ^(FE)through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³ And when they had ^(FF)appointed ^(FG)elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting ^(FH)they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶ and from there they sailed to Antioch, ^(FI)where they had been ^(FJ)commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, ^(FK)they declared all that God had done with them, and ^(FL)how he had ^(FM)opened ^(FN)a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they remained no little time with the disciples.

The Jerusalem Council

15 ^(FO)But some men came down from Judea and were teaching ^(FP)the brothers, “Unless you are ^(FQ)circumcised ^(FR)according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ^(FS)debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and ^(FT)some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to ^(FU)the apostles and the elders about this question. ³ So, ^(FV)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(FW)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ^(FX)brought great joy to all ^(FY)the brothers.^{[g] 4 (FZ)}When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ^(GA)the apostles and the elders, and ^(GB)they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(GC)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(GD)“It is necessary ^(GE)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

^6 (GF)The ^(GG)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(GH)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(GI)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(GJ)the word of ^(GK)the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, ^(GL)who knows the heart, ^(GM)bore witness to them, ^(GN)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(GO)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(GP)having cleansed their hearts ^(GQ)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(GR)are you putting God to the test ^(GS)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(GT)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(GU)believe that we will be ^(GV)saved through ^(GW)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(GX)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(GY)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(GZ)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (HA)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(HB)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(HG)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(HH)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(HI)to abstain from ^(HJ)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(HK)sexual immorality, and from ^(HL)what has been strangled, and from ^(HM)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(HN)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then it seemed good to ^(HO)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called ^(HP)Barsabbas, and ^(HQ)Silas, leading men among ^(HR)the brothers, ²³ with the following letter: ^(HS)“The brothers, both ^(HT)the apostles and the elders, to the brothers^[i] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, ^(HU)greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that ^(HV)some persons have gone out from us and ^(HW)troubled you^[j] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ²⁵ it has seemed good to us, having come ^(HX)to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our ^(HY)beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^26 (HZ)men who have ^(IA)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent ^(IB)Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it has seemed good ^(IC)to the Holy Spirit and ^(ID)to us ^(IE)to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: ^29 (IF)that you abstain from ^(IG)what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

³⁰ So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³² And Judas and Silas, who were themselves ^(IH)prophets, encouraged and ^(II)strengthened ^(IJ)the brothers with many words. ³³ And after they had spent some time, they were sent off ^(IK)in peace by ^(IL)the brothers to those who had sent them.^{[k] 35} But ^(IM)Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit ^(IN)the brothers ^(IO)in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them ^(IP)John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one ^(IQ)who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose ^(IR)a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. ^(IS)Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, ^(IT)having been commended by ^(IU)the brothers to ^(IV)the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^(IW)strengthening the churches.