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. 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.” Then, when they had fasted, (K)prayed, and (L)laid their hands on them, (M)they sent them away.

So, being (N)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to (O)Cyprus. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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

  1. Acts 13:2 Lit performing ministry to
  2. Acts 13:9 Or having just been filled
  3. Acts 13:10 Lit O full of
  4. Acts 13:15 Lit Men, brothers
  5. Acts 13:17 Or exalted
  6. Acts 13:22 Lit wishes
  7. Acts 13:24 Lit the face of His entering
  8. Acts 13:26 Lit Men, brothers
  9. Acts 13:27 Lit voices
  10. Acts 13:29 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  11. Acts 13:35 Lit give
  12. Acts 13:35 Or Devout; or Pious
  13. Acts 13:35 Lit see corruption
  14. Acts 13:36 Or served his own generation by the purpose of God
  15. Acts 13:36 Lit gathered to his
  16. Acts 13:36 Lit saw corruption
  17. Acts 13:37 Lit see corruption
  18. Acts 13:38 Lit men, brothers
  19. Acts 13:38 Lit this One
  20. Acts 13:39 Lit in; or by
  21. Acts 13:39 Or justified
  22. Acts 13:39 Lit by
  23. Acts 13:39 Or justified
  24. Acts 13:39 Lit by
  25. Acts 13:41 Lit disappear
  26. Acts 13:42 Lit they
  27. Acts 13:42 Lit words
  28. Acts 13:43 I.e., Gentile converts to Judaism
  29. Acts 13:44 One early ms God
  30. Acts 13:45 Or slandering him
  31. Acts 13:47 Lit of
  32. Acts 13:47 Lit be for salvation
  33. Acts 13:48 Two early mss God
  34. Acts 13:50 Or worshiping
  35. Acts 13:50 Lit boundaries

Barnabas and Saul Travel to Cyprus

13 Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I called them.” Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on them, and let them go. After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they began to preach God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John to help them.

They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus. He was associated with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the occult practitioner (that is the meaning of his name) continued to oppose them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, also known as[a] Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked him straight in the eye 10 and said, “You’re full of every form of deception and trickery, you son of the Devil, you enemy of all that is right! You’ll never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord, will you? 11 The[b] Lord is against you now, and you’ll be blind and unable to see the sun for a while!” At that moment a dark mist came over him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astonished at the Lord’s teaching.

Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch in Pisidia

13 Then Paul and his men set sail from Paphos and arrived in Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them and went back to Jerusalem. 14 They left Perga and arrived in Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders asked them,[c] “Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement[d] for the people, you may speak.”

16 Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen! 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made them a great people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with a public display of power[e] he led them out of there. 18 After he had put up with[f] them for 40 years in the wilderness, 19 he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan. Then God gave their land to the Israelis[g] as an inheritance 20 for about 450 years.

“After that, he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 When they demanded a king, God gave them Kish’s son Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years. 22 Then God[h] removed Saul[i] and made David their king, about whom he testified, ‘I have found that David, the son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’[j] 23 It was from this man’s descendants that God, as he promised, brought to Israel a Savior, who is Jesus. 24 Before Jesus’ appearance, John had already preached a baptism of repentance to all the people in Israel. 25 When John was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the Messiah.[k] No, but he is coming after me, and I’m not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’

26 “My brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, it is to us[l] that the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their leaders, not knowing who Jesus[m] was, condemned him and so fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Although they found no reason to sentence him to death, 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 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 had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These are now his witnesses to the people. 32 We’re telling you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.’[n] 34 God[o] raised him from the dead, never to experience decay, as he said, ‘I’ll give you the holy promises made to David.’[p] 35 In another Psalm[q] he says, ‘You will not let your Holy One experience decay.’[r] 36 Now David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died[s] and was buried with his ancestors, and so he experienced decay. 37 However, the man whom God raised did not experience decay.

38 “Therefore, brothers, you must understand that through him the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and that everyone who believes in him is justified and freed from everything that kept you from being justified by the Law of Moses. 40 So be careful that what the prophets said doesn’t happen to you:

41 ‘Look, you mockers!
    Be amazed and die!
Since I am performing an action in your days,
    one that you would not believe
        even if someone told you!’”[t]

42 As Paul and Barnabas[u] were leaving, the people kept urging them to tell them the same things the next Sabbath. 43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who kept talking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole town gathered to hear the word of the Lord.[v] 45 But when the Jewish leaders[w] saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to object to the statements made by Paul and even to abuse him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly declared, “We had to speak God’s word to you first, but since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are now going to turn to the gentiles. 47 For that is what the Lord ordered us to do: ‘I have made you a light to the gentiles to be the means of salvation to the very ends of the earth.’”[x]

48 When the gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. Meanwhile, all who had been destined to eternal life believed, 49 and the word of the Lord began to spread throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders[y] stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials in the city, started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territory. 51 So Paul and Barnabas[z] shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 Meanwhile, the disciples continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:9 Lit. who was also
  2. Acts 13:11 Lit. The hand of the
  3. Acts 13:15 Lit. sent to them
  4. Acts 13:15 Or word of exhortation
  5. Acts 13:17 Lit. with an uplifted arm
  6. Acts 13:18 Other mss. read nourished
  7. Acts 13:19 Lit. to them
  8. Acts 13:22 Lit. But he
  9. Acts 13:22 Lit. him
  10. Acts 13:22 Cf. Ps 89:20; 1 Sam 13:14
  11. Acts 13:25 Lit. one
  12. Acts 13:26 Other mss. read to you
  13. Acts 13:27 Lit. he
  14. Acts 13:33 Cf. Ps 2:7
  15. Acts 13:34 Lit. He
  16. Acts 13:34 Cf. Isa 55:3 (LXX)
  17. Acts 13:35 The Gk. lacks Psalm
  18. Acts 13:35 Cf. Ps 16:10 (LXX)
  19. Acts 13:36 Lit. fell asleep
  20. Acts 13:41 Cf. Hab 1:5 (LXX)
  21. Acts 13:42 Lit. As they
  22. Acts 13:44 Other mss. read of God
  23. Acts 13:45 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  24. Acts 13:47 Cf. Isa 49:6
  25. Acts 13:50 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  26. Acts 13:51 Lit. So they