Acts 13
Christian Standard Bible
Preparing for the Mission Field
13 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch,(A) and Saul.
2 As they were worshiping[a] the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”(B) 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.(C)
The Mission to Cyprus
4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.(D) 6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.(E) 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.(F) 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed(G) them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.(H)
9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil(I) and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths(J) of the Lord? 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you.(K) You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.(L)
Paul’s Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.(M) 14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.(N) 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”(O)
16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!(P) 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty[b] arm.(Q) 18 And for about forty years he put up with them[c] in the wilderness;(R) 19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan,(S) he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.(T) 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.(U) 22 After removing him,(V) he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart,[d](W) who will carry out all my will.’
23 “From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel(X) the Savior, Jesus.[e] 24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.(Y) 25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’(Z)
26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.(AA) 27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.(AB) 28 Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.(AC) 29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.(AD) 30 But God raised him from the dead,(AE) 31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.(AF) 32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.(AG) 33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:
34 As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.[h](AI) 35 Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.[i](AJ) 36 For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep,(AK) was buried with his fathers, and decayed,(AL) 37 but the one God raised up did not decay. 38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.(AM) 39 Everyone who believes is justified[j] through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.(AN) 40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
41 Look, you scoffers,
marvel and vanish away,
because I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe,
even if someone were to explain it to you.”[k](AO)
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch
42 As they were leaving, the people[l] urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath. 43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.(AP)
44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.[m] 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.(AQ)
46 Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.(AR) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.(AT) 51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet(AU) against them(AV) and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.(AW)
Footnotes
- 13:2 Or were ministering to
- 13:17 Lit with an uplifted
- 13:18 Other mss read he cared for them
- 13:22 1Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20
- 13:23 Other mss read brought salvation
- 13:33 Or I have begotten you
- 13:33 Ps 2:7
- 13:34 Is 55:3
- 13:35 Ps 16:10
- 13:39 Or freed, also later in this verse
- 13:41 Hab 1:5
- 13:42 Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles
- 13:44 Other mss read of God
- 13:47 Is 49:6
Acts 13
New American Standard Bible
First Missionary Journey
13 Now there were (A)prophets and (B)teachers at (C)Antioch, in the (D)church that was there: (E)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of (F)Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with (G)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were [a]serving the Lord and fasting, (H)the Holy Spirit said, “Set (I)Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for (J)the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted, (K)prayed, and (L)laid their hands on them, (M)they sent them away.
4 So, being (N)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to (O)Cyprus. 5 When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in (P)the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had (Q)John as their helper. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a (R)magician, a Jewish (S)false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the (T)proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the (U)magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the (V)proconsul away from (W)the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, [b](X)filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, 10 and said, “[c]You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you (Y)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked (Z)the straight ways of the Lord? 11 Now, behold, (AA)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the (AB)proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at (AC)the teaching of the Lord.
13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from (AD)Paphos and came to (AE)Perga in (AF)Pamphylia; but (AG)John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But going on from Perga, they arrived at (AH)Pisidian (AI)Antioch, and on (AJ)the Sabbath day they went into (AK)the synagogue and sat down. 15 After (AL)the reading of the Law and (AM)the Prophets, (AN)the synagogue officials sent word to them, saying, “[d]Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 Paul stood up, and (AO)motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and (AP)you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel (AQ)chose our fathers and [e](AR)made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm (AS)He led them out from it. 18 For (AT)a period of about forty years (AU)He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 (AV)When He had destroyed (AW)seven nations in the land of Canaan, He (AX)distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took (AY)about 450 years. 20 After these things He (AZ)gave them judges until (BA)Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they (BB)asked for a king, and God gave them (BC)Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 After He had (BD)removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘(BE)I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My [f]will.’ 23 (BF)From the descendants of this man, (BG)according to promise, God has brought to Israel (BH)a Savior, Jesus, 24 after (BI)John had proclaimed, before [g]His coming, a (BJ)baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And while John (BK)was completing his course, (BL)he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
26 “[h]Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of (BM)this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their (BN)rulers, (BO)recognizing neither Him nor the [i]declarations of (BP)the prophets which are (BQ)read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28 And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they (BR)asked Pilate that He be executed. 29 When they had (BS)carried out everything that was written concerning Him, (BT)they took Him down from the [j](BU)cross and (BV)laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God (BW)raised Him from the dead; 31 and for many days (BX)He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now (BY)His witnesses to the people. 32 And we (BZ)preach to you the good news of (CA)the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by (CB)raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘(CC)You are My Son; today I have fathered You.’ 34 As for the fact that He (CD)raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘(CE)I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: ‘(CF)You will not [k]allow Your [l]Holy One to [m]undergo decay.’ 36 For (CG)David, after he had [n]served God’s (CH)purpose in his own generation, (CI)fell asleep, and was [o]buried among his fathers and [p]underwent decay; 37 but He whom God (CJ)raised did not [q]undergo decay. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, [r]brothers, that (CK)through [s]Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and [t]through Him (CL)everyone who believes is [u]freed [v]from all things, from which you could not be [w]freed [x]through the Law of Moses. 40 Therefore, see that the thing spoken of (CM)in the Prophets does not come upon you:
41 ‘(CN)Look, you scoffers, and be astonished, and [y]perish;
For I am accomplishing a work in your days,
A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’”
42 As [z]Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these [aa]things spoken to them the next (CO)Sabbath. 43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the (CP)God-fearing [ab](CQ)proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in (CR)the grace of God.
Paul Turns to the Gentiles
44 The next (CS)Sabbath nearly all the city assembled to hear the word of [ac]the Lord. 45 But when (CT)the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were [ad]blaspheming. 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you (CU)first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, (CV)we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘(CW)I have appointed You as a (CX)light [ae]to the Gentiles,
That You may [af]bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying (CY)the word of [ag]the Lord; and all who (CZ)had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And (DA)the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But (DB)the Jews incited the [ah](DC)devout women (DD)of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their [ai]region. 51 But (DE)they shook off the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to (DF)Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually (DG)filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Footnotes
- Acts 13:2 Lit performing ministry to
- Acts 13:9 Or having just been filled
- Acts 13:10 Lit O full of
- Acts 13:15 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 13:17 Or exalted
- Acts 13:22 Lit wishes
- Acts 13:24 Lit the face of His entering
- Acts 13:26 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 13:27 Lit voices
- Acts 13:29 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
- Acts 13:35 Lit give
- Acts 13:35 Or Devout; or Pious
- Acts 13:35 Lit see corruption
- Acts 13:36 Or served his own generation by the purpose of God
- Acts 13:36 Lit gathered to his
- Acts 13:36 Lit saw corruption
- Acts 13:37 Lit see corruption
- Acts 13:38 Lit men, brothers
- Acts 13:38 Lit this One
- Acts 13:39 Lit in; or by
- Acts 13:39 Or justified
- Acts 13:39 Lit by
- Acts 13:39 Or justified
- Acts 13:39 Lit by
- Acts 13:41 Lit disappear
- Acts 13:42 Lit they
- Acts 13:42 Lit words
- Acts 13:43 I.e., Gentile converts to Judaism
- Acts 13:44 One early ms God
- Acts 13:45 Or slandering him
- Acts 13:47 Lit of
- Acts 13:47 Lit be for salvation
- Acts 13:48 Two early mss God
- Acts 13:50 Or worshiping
- Acts 13:50 Lit boundaries
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