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Paul and Barnabas Leave Cyprus

13 Paul and ·those with him [his companions] sailed from Paphos [v. 6] and came to Perga, in Pamphylia [C a Roman province in southern Turkey; Perga was a major city]. There John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem [15:38]. 14 They continued their trip from Perga and went to Antioch, a city in Pisidia [C a Roman province in southcentral Turkey; this Antioch should not be confused with Antioch in Syria (11:19–20)]. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were read [C part of the traditional synagogue service], the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to Paul and Barnabas: “Brothers, if you have any ·message that will encourage the people [L word of encouragement/exhortation; C they are invited to give the homily, or sermon], please speak.”

16 Paul stood up, ·raised [or motioned with] his hand, and said, “·You Israelites [Men, Israelites] and you who ·worship [L fear] God [C Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel; 10:2], please listen! 17 The God of the Israelites chose our ·ancestors [L fathers; C Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Gen. 12—36]. He made the people great during the time they lived [as foreigners/aliens] in Egypt, and he brought them out of that country with ·great power [L a raised/uplifted arm]. 18 And he ·was patient with [put up with] them[a] for forty years in the ·desert [wilderness; Ex. 16—Deut. 34]. 19 God destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the land to his people [L as an inheritance]. 20 All this happened in about four hundred fifty years [C a round number of the time Israel was in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness, and conquering the land].

“After this, God gave them judges [Judg. 1—21] until the time of Samuel the prophet [1 Sam. 1:1—25:1; 28]. 21 Then the people asked for a king, so God gave them Saul son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and was king for forty years [1 Sam. 8—2 Sam. 1]. 22 After God ·took him away [removed/deposed him], God ·made David [L raised up David as] their king [2 Sam. 2—7]. God ·said [witnessed; testified] about him: ‘I have found in David son of Jesse ·the kind of man I want [a man whose heart is like mine; T a man after my own heart; 1 Sam. 13:14; Ps. 89:20]. He will ·do [or accomplish] all ·I want him to do [L my will].’ 23 So God has brought Jesus, one of David’s ·descendants [L seed], to Israel to be its Savior, as he promised [2 Sam. 7:12–16; Is. 11:1–16]. 24 Before Jesus came, John [C the Baptist] preached to all the people of Israel about a baptism of ·changed hearts and lives [L repentance; Matt. 3; Mark 1:2–8; Luke 3]. 25 When he was finishing his ·work [race; course; mission], he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not ·the Christ [the Messiah; L he; C the anointed king from David’s line]. He is coming later, and I am not worthy to untie his sandals [C a gesture of subservience fit for a slave].’

26 “·Brothers, [L Men, brothers] ·sons [or descendants] of the family of Abraham, and others who ·worship [fear; 13:16] God, listen! The ·news [word; message] about this salvation has been sent to us. 27 Those who live in Jerusalem and their leaders ·did not realize that Jesus was the Savior [L were ignorant of this; or did not recognize him]. They did not understand the ·words that the prophets wrote [L voices of the prophets], which are read every Sabbath day. But they ·made them come true [L fulfilled them] when they ·said Jesus was guilty [L condemned him]. 28 They could not find any real ·reason [cause; basis] for Jesus to be put to death, but they asked Pilate to have him ·killed [executed]. 29 When they had done to him all that ·the Scriptures had said [L was written about him], they took him down from the ·cross [L tree; 5:30; 10:39; Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13] and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him up from the dead! 31 After this, for many days, ·those who had gone with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him [or he appeared to those…Jerusalem]. They are now his witnesses to the people. 32 We tell you the ·Good News [Gospel] about the promise God made to our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers; Gen. 12:1–3; 2 Sam. 7:12–16]. 33 ·God has made this promise come true [He has fulfilled this promise] for us, their ·children [descendants], by raising Jesus from the dead. We read about this also in the second psalm:

‘You are my Son.
    Today I have ·become your Father [fathered you; T begotten you; Ps. 2:7].’

34 God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will never go back to ·the grave and become dust [L corruption; decay]. So God said:

‘I will give you the holy and ·sure blessings [L faithful things]
    that I promised to David [Is. 55:3].’

35 But in another place God says:

‘You will not let your Holy One ·experience [L see] ·decay [corruption; Ps. 16:10].’

36 [L For; Now] David ·did God’s will [served God’s purpose] during his ·lifetime [L generation]. Then he ·died [L slept; C a euphemism for death] and was ·buried [L placed] beside his ·ancestors [L fathers], and his body ·experienced [L saw] ·decay [corruption] in the grave. 37 But the One God raised from the dead did not ·experience [L see] ·decay [corruption]. 38 [L Therefore] ·Brothers [L Men, brothers], ·understand what we are telling you [know this]: ·You can have forgiveness of your sins [L Forgiveness of sins is announced to you] through ·Jesus [L this man]. 39 The law of Moses could not ·free you from your sins [justify you; make you righteous]. But through Jesus everyone who believes is ·free from all sins [justified; made/declared righteous]. 40 [L So; Therefore] ·Be careful [Watch out]! Don’t let what the prophets said happen to you:

41 ‘·Listen [L Look; T Behold], you ·people who doubt [scoffers; mockers]!
    ·You can wonder [Be amazed], and then ·die [L perish; vanish].
I ·will do something [L am working a work] in your ·lifetime [L days]
    that you won’t believe even when you are told about it [Hab. 1:5]!’”

42 While ·Paul and Barnabas [L they] were leaving the synagogue, the people ·asked [urged; encouraged] them to tell them more about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the meeting was over, many of the Jews and devout ·converts to Judaism [L proselytes] followed Paul and Barnabas from that place. Paul and Barnabas were persuading them to continue trusting in God’s grace.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:18 And … them Some Greek copies read “And he cared for them.”

In Pisidian Antioch

13 From Paphos,(A) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,(B) where John(C) left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.(D) On the Sabbath(E) they entered the synagogue(F) and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law(G) and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand(H) and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;(I) 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a](J) in the wilderness;(K) 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,(L) giving their land to his people(M) as their inheritance.(N) 20 All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges(O) until the time of Samuel the prophet.(P) 21 Then the people asked for a king,(Q) and he gave them Saul(R) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,(S) who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul,(T) he made David their king.(U) God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;(V) he will do everything I want him to do.’(W)

23 “From this man’s descendants(X) God has brought to Israel the Savior(Y) Jesus,(Z) as he promised.(AA) 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.(AB) 25 As John was completing his work,(AC) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.(AD) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’(AE)

26 “Fellow children of Abraham(AF) and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation(AG) has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,(AH) yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets(AI) that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.(AJ) 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him,(AK) they took him down from the cross(AL) and laid him in a tomb.(AM) 30 But God raised him from the dead,(AN) 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.(AO) They are now his witnesses(AP) to our people.

32 “We tell you the good news:(AQ) What God promised our ancestors(AR) 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.(AS) As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.’[b](AT)

34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’[c](AU)

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’[d](AV)

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;(AW) he was buried with his ancestors(AX) and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead(AY) did not see decay.

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.(AZ) 39 Through him everyone who believes(BA) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.(BB) 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
    wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
    that you would never believe,
    even if someone told you.’[e](BC)

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,(BD) the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.(BE)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he cared for them
  2. Acts 13:33 Psalm 2:7
  3. Acts 13:34 Isaiah 55:3
  4. Acts 13:35 Psalm 16:10 (see Septuagint)
  5. Acts 13:41 Hab. 1:5