使徒行传 13
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
巴拿巴和扫罗奉差遣
13 安提阿教会中，有几位先知和教师，就是巴拿巴、名叫尼结的西面、古利奈人路求、与分封王希律一同长大的马念，和扫罗。 2 他们事奉主，并且禁食的时候，圣灵说：“要为我把巴拿巴和扫罗分别出来，去作我呼召他们作的工。” 3 于是他们禁食祷告，为两人按手，就派他们去了。
第一次宣教旅程
4 他们既然奉圣灵差遣，就下到西流基，从那里坐船往塞浦路斯。 5 他们到了撒拉米，就在犹太人的各会堂里宣讲 神的道，还有约翰作他们的助手。 6 他们走遍全岛，到了帕弗，遇见一个犹太人，名叫巴．耶稣，是个术士，又是个假先知。 7 他常常和省长士求．保罗在一起；省长是个聪明人，他请了巴拿巴和扫罗来，要听听 神的道。 8 但术士以吕马（以吕马就是“术士”的意思）与使徒作对，要使省长转离真道。 9 扫罗，也就是保罗，却被圣灵充满，定睛看着他， 10 说：“你这充满各样诡诈和各样奸恶的人，魔鬼的儿子，公义的仇敌！你歪曲了主的正路，还不停止吗？ 11 你看，现在主的手临到你，你要瞎了眼睛，暂时看不见阳光。”他就立刻被雾和黑暗笼罩着，周围找人牵他的手，给他领路。 12 那时，省长看见了所发生的事，就信了，因为他惊奇主的教训。
在彼西底的安提阿
13 保罗和同伴从帕弗开船，来到旁非利亚的别加，约翰却离开他们，回耶路撒冷去了。 14 他们从别加往前走，到了彼西底的安提阿，在安息日进了会堂，就坐下来。 15 宣读了律法和先知书以后，会堂的理事们派人到他们那里来，说：“弟兄们，如果有甚么劝勉众人的话，请说吧！” 16 保罗就站起来，作了一个手势，说：
“以色列人和敬畏 神的人，请听！ 17 以色列民的 神，拣选了我们的祖先；当他们在埃及地寄居的时候， 神抬举这民，用大能（“大能”原文作“高”）的膀臂，把他们从那地领出来； 18 又在旷野容忍（“容忍”有些抄本作“养育”）他们，约有四十年之久； 19 灭了迦南地的七族之后，就把那地分给他们为业； 20 这一切历时约四百五十年。后来 神赐给他们士师，直到撒母耳先知为止。 21 那时，他们要求立一个王， 神就把便雅悯支派中一个人，基士的儿子扫罗，赐给他们作王，共四十年之久。 22 废去扫罗之后，又为他们兴起大卫作王，并且为他作证说：‘我找到耶西的儿子大卫，他是合我心意的人，必遵行我的一切旨意。’ 23 神照着应许，已经从这人的后裔中，给以色列带来了一位救主，就是耶稣。 24 在他来临之前，约翰早已向以色列全民宣讲悔改的洗礼。 25 约翰快要跑完他的路程的时候，说：‘你们以为我是谁？我不是基督。他是在我以后来的，我就是给他解脚上的鞋带也不配。’
26 “弟兄们，亚伯拉罕的子孙，和你们中间敬畏 神的人哪，这救恩之道是传给我们的。 27 住在耶路撒冷的人和他们的官长，因为不认识基督，也不明白每逢安息日所读的先知的话，就把他定了罪，正好应验了先知的话。 28 他们虽然找不出该死的罪状，还是要求彼拉多杀害他。 29 他们把所记载一切关于他的事作成了，就把他从木头上取下来，放在坟墓里。 30 但 神却使他从死人中复活了。 31 有许多日子，他向那些跟他一同从加利利上耶路撒冷的人显现，现在这些人在民众面前作了他的见证人， 32 我们报好信息给你们： 神给列祖的应许， 33 借着耶稣的复活，向我们这些作子孙的应验了。就如诗篇第二篇所记的：
‘你是我的儿子，
我今日生了你。’
34 至于 神使他从死人中复活，不再归于朽坏，他曾这样说：
‘我必把应许大卫的、神圣可靠的恩福赐给你们。’
35 所以他在另一篇说：
‘你必不容你的圣者见朽坏。’
36 “大卫在他自己的世代里，遵行了 神的计划，就睡了，归回他列祖那里，见了朽坏。 37 唯独 神所复活的那一位，没有见过朽坏。 38 所以弟兄们，你们当知道，赦罪之道是由这位耶稣传给你们的。在你们靠摩西律法不能称义的一切事上， 39 信靠他的人就得称义了。 40 你们要小心，免得先知书上所说的临到你们：
41 ‘傲慢的人哪！
你们要看、要惊奇、要灭亡，
因为在你们的日子，我要作一件事，
就算有人告诉你们，你们总是不信。’”
42 保罗和巴拿巴出来的时候，众人请求他们下一个安息日再对他们讲这些话。 43 散会以后，许多犹太人和归信犹太教的虔诚人，跟从了保罗和巴拿巴。两人对他们谈话，勉励他们要恒久住在 神的恩典中。
44 下一个安息日，几乎全城的人都聚了来，要听主的道。 45 犹太人看见这么多人，就满心嫉妒，反驳保罗所讲的，并且毁谤他们。 46 保罗和巴拿巴却放胆说：“ 神的道，先讲给你们听，是应该的。但因为你们弃绝这道，断定自己不配得永生，所以我们现在就转向外族人去了。 47 因为主曾这样吩咐我们说：
‘我已立你作外族人的光，
使你把救恩带到地极去。’”
48 外族人听见了就欢喜，赞美主的道，凡指定得永生的都信了。 49 于是主的道传遍那地。 50 但犹太人唆使虔诚尊贵的妇女和城内的显要，煽动大家迫害保罗和巴拿巴，把他们驱逐出境。 51 两人当众跺掉脚上的尘土，往以哥念去了。 52 门徒满有喜乐，又被圣灵充满。
使徒行傳 13
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
巴拿巴和掃羅接受差遣
13 安提阿教會中有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴、綽號「黑人」的希緬、古利奈人路求、與分封王希律一同長大的馬念以及掃羅。 2 一天，他們正在敬拜主、禁食的時候，聖靈對他們說：「要為我把巴拿巴和掃羅分別出來，好讓他們做我呼召他們去做的事。」 3 於是，他們禁食禱告並把手按在巴拿巴和掃羅身上，然後差遣他們出去。
4 二人受聖靈差遣，下到西流基，從那裡乘船去塞浦路斯。 5 他們到了撒拉米，就在當地的猶太會堂傳講上帝的道。約翰·馬可作他們的助手。
6 他們走遍全島，遠至帕弗，在那裡遇見一個冒充先知的猶太術士巴·耶穌。 7 這人和當地的士求·保羅總督常有來往。士求·保羅是個聰明人，他邀請了巴拿巴和掃羅來，要聽上帝的道。 8 但希臘名字叫以呂馬的那個術士反對使徒，試圖攔阻總督信主。 9 又名保羅的掃羅被聖靈充滿，盯著他說： 10 「你這魔鬼的兒子，充滿了詭詐和邪惡，是一切正義之敵，到現在還想歪曲主的正道嗎？ 11 現在主要親手懲罰你，使你瞎眼，暫時不見天日！」
他頓覺眼前一片漆黑，只好四處摸索，求人領他走路。 12 總督看見所發生的事，對主的道感到驚奇，就信了。
保羅傳揚基督
13 保羅和同伴從帕弗乘船到旁非利亞的別加。約翰·馬可在那裡離開他們回耶路撒冷去了。 14 他們由別加繼續前行，來到彼西底區的安提阿。在安息日那天，他們進了會堂坐下來。 15 讀完律法書和先知書後，會堂主管派人告訴他們：「弟兄們，如果你們有什麼勸勉眾人的話，請講。」
16 保羅站起來向大家揮手示意，說：「各位以色列同胞和各位敬畏上帝的外族朋友們，請聽我說。 17 以色列的上帝揀選了我們的祖先，讓他們在埃及寄居期間人丁興旺成為大族，後來祂伸出臂膀帶領他們離開埃及。 18 他們在曠野漂泊的那四十年間，上帝一直照顧、容忍他們。 19 後來上帝又滅了迦南境內的七族，把土地分給他們作產業。 20 前後歷時約四百五十年。之後，上帝又為他們設立士師，直到撒母耳先知的時代。
21 「後來，他們求上帝為他們立一位王，上帝就選立便雅憫支派中基士的兒子掃羅為王，執政四十年。 22 之後，上帝廢掉掃羅，選立大衛作王，並為他作證說，『我找到了耶西的兒子大衛，他是合我心意的人，他必遵行我一切的旨意。』 23 上帝照自己的應許，從大衛的後裔中為以色列人立了一位救主，就是耶穌。 24 在耶穌還未公開露面以前，約翰已經勸告以色列人要悔改，接受洗禮。 25 約翰在工作快要完成的時候說，『你們以為我是誰？我不是基督。在我之後來的那位，我連給祂解鞋帶也不配。』
26 「弟兄們，各位亞伯拉罕的子孫和敬畏上帝的外族人啊，這救恩之道原是傳給我們的。 27 可是耶路撒冷的人和他們的官長不知道耶穌是基督，雖然每個安息日都誦讀先知的信息，卻把基督判死罪。這正應驗了先知們的話。 28 他們雖然找不到判祂死罪的理由，卻強求彼拉多將祂處死。 29 祂受死的記載全部應驗之後，有人把祂從十字架上取下來，安放在石墓裡。 30 但上帝卻使祂從死裡復活。 31 之後有許多天，那些從加利利跟隨祂上耶路撒冷的人都看見過祂，他們如今在百姓中都是祂的見證人。 32 我們要報給你們一個好消息，上帝給我們祖先的應許， 33 祂藉著使耶穌復活已為我們做子孫的成就了。正如詩篇第二篇所說，
『你是我的兒子，
我今日成為你父親。』
34 聖經曾這樣記載上帝使祂從死裡復活、永不朽壞的事，
『我必將應許大衛的聖潔、
可靠的恩福賜給你們。』
35 又在詩篇上說，
『你必不讓你的聖者身體朽壞。』
36 「大衛在世時遵行上帝的旨意，最後死了，葬在他祖先那裡，肉身也朽壞了。 37 然而，上帝使之復活的那位卻沒有朽壞。 38 所以，弟兄們，你們應該知道，赦罪的信息是藉著耶穌傳給你們的。 39 你們靠遵行摩西律法不能被稱為義人，只有信靠耶穌才能被稱為義人。 40 你們要當心，免得先知說的話應驗在你們身上，
41 『藐視真理的人啊，看吧！
你們要在驚懼中滅亡，
因為我要在你們的時代行一件事，
即使有人告訴你們，
你們也不會信。』」
42 保羅和巴拿巴離開會堂時，會堂裡的人請求他們下一個安息日再來講道。 43 許多猶太人和誠心改信猶太教的外族人都跟隨保羅和巴拿巴，二人就與他們談論，勸勉他們要堅定不移地信靠上帝的恩典。
44 到了下一個安息日，幾乎全城的人都聚集起來，要聽上帝的道。 45 猶太人看見那麼多人聚集，充滿嫉妒，便反駁保羅所講的，誹謗他。 46 保羅和巴拿巴毫不畏懼地說：「上帝的道本該先傳給你們，你們既然拒絕接受，認為自己不配得永生，我們現在就把這道傳給外族人。 47 因為主這樣吩咐我們，
『我已使你成為外族人的光，
好把救恩帶到地極。』」
48 外族人聽後，非常歡喜，頌讚主的道。凡被選定得永生的人都信了主。 49 主的道傳遍了那個地方。
50 但猶太人煽動虔誠的貴婦和城中顯要迫害保羅和巴拿巴，將二人趕出城去。 51 保羅和巴拿巴便當眾跺掉腳上的塵土[a]，去了以哥念。 52 門徒滿心喜樂，被聖靈充滿。
Acts 13
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 13
1 [a]Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
First Mission Begins in Cyprus. 4 [b]So they, sent forth by the holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had John[c] also as their assistant. 6 When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet.[d] 7 He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, also known as Paul,[e] filled with the holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, full of every sort of deceit and fraud. Will you not stop twisting the straight paths of [the] Lord? 11 Even now the hand of the Lord is upon you. You will be blind, and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately a dark mist fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord.
Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia. 13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.(A) 14 They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered [into] the synagogue and took their seats. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
Paul’s Address in the Synagogue. 16 [f]So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing,[g] listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.(B) With uplifted arm he led them out of it 18 and for about forty years he put up with[h] them in the desert.(C) 19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance(D) 20 at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.[i] After these things he provided judges up to Samuel [the] prophet.(E) 21 Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.(F) 22 Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’(G) 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.(H) 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel;(I) 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’(J)
26 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent. 27 The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath. 28 For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death,(K) 29 and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.(L) 30 But God raised him from the dead,(M) 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.(N) These are [now] his witnesses before the people.[j] 32 We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, [their] children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’(O) 34 And that he raised him from the dead never to return to corruption he declared in this way, ‘I shall give you the benefits assured to David.’(P) 35 That is why he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not suffer your holy one to see corruption.’(Q) 36 Now David, after he had served the will of God in his lifetime, fell asleep, was gathered to his ancestors, and did see corruption.(R) 37 But the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 You must know, my brothers, that through him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, [and] in regard to everything from which you could not be justified[k] under the law of Moses, 39 in him every believer is justified.(S) 40 Be careful, then, that what was said in the prophets not come about:
41 ‘Look on, you scoffers,
be amazed and disappear.
For I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe
even if someone tells you.’”(T)
42 As they were leaving, they invited them to speak on these subjects the following sabbath. 43 After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
Address to the Gentiles. 44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 (U)Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.[l] 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’”(V)
48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 (W)So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.[m] 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.
Footnotes
- 13:1–3 The impulse for the first missionary effort in Asia Minor is ascribed to the prophets of the Antiochene community, under the inspiration of the holy Spirit. Just as the Jerusalem community had earlier been the center of missionary activity, so too Antioch becomes the center from which the missionaries Barnabas and Saul are sent out.
- 13:4–14:27 The key event in Luke’s account of the first missionary journey is the experience of Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14–52). The Christian kerygma proclaimed by Paul in the synagogue was favorably received. Some Jews and “God-fearers” (see note on Acts 8:26–40) became interested and invited the missionaries to speak again on the following sabbath (Acts 13:42). By that time, however, the appearance of a large number of Gentiles from the city had so disconcerted the Jews that they became hostile toward the apostles (Acts 13:44–50). This hostility of theirs appears in all three accounts of Paul’s missionary journeys in Acts, the Jews of Iconium (Acts 14:1–2) and Beroea (Acts 17:11) being notable exceptions.
- 13:5 John: that is, John Mark (see Acts 12:12, 25).
- 13:6 A magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet: that is, he posed as a prophet. Again Luke takes the opportunity to dissociate Christianity from the magical acts of the time (Acts 13:7–11); see also Acts 8:18–24.
- 13:9 Saul, also known as Paul: there is no reason to believe that his name was changed from Saul to Paul upon his conversion. The use of a double name, one Semitic (Saul), the other Greco-Roman (Paul), is well attested (cf. Acts 1:23, Joseph Justus; Acts 12:12, 25, John Mark).
- 13:16–41 This is the first of several speeches of Paul to Jews proclaiming that the Christian church is the logical development of Pharisaic Judaism (see also Acts 24:10–21; 26:2–23).
- 13:16 Who are God-fearing: see note on Acts 8:26–40.
- 13:18 Put up with: some manuscripts read “sustained.”
- 13:20 At the end of about four hundred and fifty years: the manuscript tradition makes it uncertain whether the mention of four hundred and fifty years refers to the sojourn in Egypt before the Exodus, the wilderness period and the time of the conquest (see Ex 12:40–41), as the translation here suggests, or to the time between the conquest and the time of Samuel, the period of the judges, if the text is read, “After these things, for about four hundred and fifty years, he provided judges.”
- 13:31 The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus.
- 13:38–39 Justified: the verb is the same as that used in Paul’s letters to speak of the experience of justification and, as in Paul, is here connected with the term “to have faith” (“every believer”). But this seems the only passage about Paul in Acts where justification is mentioned. In Lucan fashion it is paralleled with “forgiveness of sins” (a theme at Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43) based on Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 13:37) rather than his cross, and is put negatively (Acts 13:38). Therefore, some would translate, “in regard to everything from which you could not be acquitted…every believer is acquitted.”
- 13:46 The refusal to believe frustrates God’s plan for his chosen people; however, no adverse judgment is made here concerning their ultimate destiny. Again, Luke, in the words of Paul, speaks of the priority of Israel in the plan for salvation (see Acts 10:36).
- 13:51 See note on Lk 9:5.
Acts 13
GOD’S WORD Translation
13 Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (a close friend of Herod since childhood), and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me. I want them to do the work for which I called them.” 3 After fasting and praying, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and released them ⌞from their work in Antioch⌟.
4 After Barnabas and Saul were sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to the city of Seleucia and from there sailed to the island of Cyprus. 5 Arriving in the city of Salamis, they began to spread God’s word in the synagogues. John Mark had gone along to help them. 6 They went through the whole island as far as the city of Paphos.
In Paphos they met a Jewish man named Barjesus. He was an astrologer who claimed to be a prophet. 7 He was associated with an intelligent man, Sergius Paulus, who was the governor of the island. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God’s word. 8 Elymas, whose name means astrologer, opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn’t believe.
9 But Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He stared at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of dirty tricks and schemes, you son of the devil! You hate everything that has God’s approval. Quit trying to distort the truth about the way the Lord wants people to live. 11 The Lord is against you now. For a while you will be blind, unable to see the light of day.”
Suddenly, Elymas couldn’t see a thing. He tried to find people to lead him. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. The Lord’s teachings amazed him.
Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch Near Pisidia
13 Paul and his men took a ship from Paphos and arrived in Perga, a city in Pamphylia. John Mark deserted them there and went back to Jerusalem. 14 Paul and Barnabas left Perga and arrived in Antioch, a city near Pisidia. On the day of rest—a holy day, they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15 After reading from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent ⌞a message⌟ to Paul and Barnabas. The message said, “Brothers, if you have any words of encouragement for the people, feel free to speak.”
16 Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me. 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made them a strong nation while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. He used his powerful arm to bring them out of Egypt, 18 and he put up with them for about forty years in the desert. 19 Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as an inheritance. 20 He did all this in about four hundred and fifty years.
“After that he gave his people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.
21 “Then the people demanded a king, so God gave them Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years 22 God removed Saul and made David their king. God spoke favorably about David. He said, ‘I have found that David, son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “God had the Savior, Jesus, come to Israel from David’s descendants, as he had promised. 24 Before Jesus began his ministry, John ⌞the Baptizer⌟ told everyone in Israel about the baptism of repentance.[a] 25 When John was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the person you’re looking for. He will come later. I’m not even good enough to untie his sandals.’
26 “Brothers—descendants of Abraham and converts to Judaism—the message that God saves people was sent to us. 27 The people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers didn’t know who Jesus was. They didn’t understand the prophets’ messages, which are read every day of rest—a holy day. So they condemned Jesus and fulfilled what the prophets had said. 28 Although they couldn’t find any good reason to kill him, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had finished doing everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God brought him back to life, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These people are now witnesses and are testifying to the Jewish people about him. 32 We are telling you the Good News: What God promised our ancestors has happened. 33 God has fulfilled the promise for us, their descendants, by bringing Jesus back to life. This is what Scripture says in the second psalm:
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.’
34 “God stated that he brought Jesus back to life and that Jesus’ body never decayed. He said, ‘I will give you the enduring love promised to David.’ 35 Another psalm says, ‘You will not allow your holy one to decay.’ 36 After doing God’s will by serving the people of his time, David died. He was laid to rest with his ancestors, but his body decayed. 37 However, the man God brought back to life had a body that didn’t decay.
38 “So, brothers, I’m telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God’s approval through Moses’ Teachings. 39 However, everyone who believes in Jesus receives God’s approval.
40 “Be careful, or what the prophets said may happen to you.
41 ‘Look, you mockers!
Be amazed and die!
I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe even if it were reported to you!’ ”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak on the same subject the next day of rest—a holy day. 43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them and were persuading them to continue trusting God’s good will.[b]
44 On the next day of rest—a holy day, almost the whole city gathered to hear the Lord’s word. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They used insulting language to contradict whatever Paul said.
46 Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, “We had to speak God’s word to you first. Since you reject the word and consider yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we are now going to turn to people of other nations. 47 The Lord gave us the following order:
‘I have made you a light for the nations
so that you would save people all over the world.’ ”
48 The people who were not Jews were pleased with what they heard and praised the Lord’s word. Everyone who had been prepared for everlasting life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region. 50 But Jews stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials of the city. These people started to persecute Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their territory.
51 In protest against these people, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and went to the city of Iconium. 52 Meanwhile, the disciples ⌞in Antioch⌟ continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
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