Acts 13
Modern English Version
Barnabas and Saul Commissioned
13 In the church that was in Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Apostles Preach in Cyprus
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as an assistant.
6 When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (which is his name by interpretation) opposed them, trying to divert the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him and said, 10 “You son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and of all fraud, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now, look! The hand of the Lord is against you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
Immediately mist and darkness fell on him, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Now when Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But they departed from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with great power He led them out of it. 18 For about forty years He endured their conduct in the desert. 19 When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance by lot.
20 “After about four hundred and fifty years, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they requested a king. And God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 When He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David[a] the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill My entire will.’[b]
23 “From this man’s descendants God has raised a Savior for Israel, Jesus, according to His promise. 24 Before His coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But look! He is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’[c]
26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those of you who fear God, the word of this salvation has been sent to us. 27 Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death, yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed. 29 When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and placed Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead, 31 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32 “We preach to you good news: The promise which was made to the fathers, 33 God has fulfilled to us, their children, raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.’[d]
34 That He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way:
‘I will give You the holy and sure blessings of David.’[e]
35 So He says in another Psalm:
‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’[f]
36 “For after David had served by the counsel of God in his own generation, he fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay. 37 But He whom God raised up saw no decay.
38 “Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. 40 Therefore beware, lest what is spoken of in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Look, you scoffers,
marvel and perish!
For I will perform a work in your days
which you will never believe,
even if someone declares it to you.’[g]”
42 When Paul and Barnabas went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, blaspheming and contradicting what Paul was saying.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first. But seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For thus has the Lord commanded us:
‘I have established you to be a light of the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[h]”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And all who were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord was spread throughout the entire region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them from their region. 51 So they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13
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,
(CD)“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
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,
“‘I will give you (CG)the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,
(CH)“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
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:
41 (CQ)“‘Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
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,
(DE)“‘I have made you (DF)a light for the Gentiles,
that you may (DG)bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
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.
Footnotes
- Acts 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark
- Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31)
- Acts 13:39 Or justified; twice in this verse
- Acts 13:45 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 50
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
