Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch

⁴² As they^[a] were leaving, the people^[b] begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath. ⁴³ After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.^(A)

⁴⁴ The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord.^{[c] 45} But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him.^(B)

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: “It was necessary that God’s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles!^{(C) 47} For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the prominent women, who worshiped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.^{(E) 51} But they shook the dust off their feet^(F) against them^(G) and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.^(H)