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 Commissioned

13 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre′ne, Man′a-en a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

The Apostles Preach in Cyprus

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleu′cia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Sal′amis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But El′ymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia

13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl′ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem; 14 but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid′ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he bore with[a] them in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years. 20 And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 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. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. 28 Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid 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 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm,

‘Thou art my Son,
today I have begotten thee.’

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in this way,

‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,

‘Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.’

36 For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest there come upon you what is said in the prophets:

41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish;
for I do a deed in your days,
a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.’”

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath. 43 And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Ico′nium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:18 Other ancient authorities read cared for (Deut 1.31)