Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles

13 Now (A)in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: (B)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, (C)Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, (D)“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work (E)to which I have called them.” Then, (F)having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Preaching in Cyprus

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to (G)Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, (H)they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had (I)John as their assistant.

Now when they had gone through [a]the island to Paphos, they found (J)a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 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. But (K)Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [b]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, (L)filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, (M)you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, (N)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

At Antioch in Pisidia

13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and (O)John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and (P)went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And (Q)after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have (R)any word of [c]exhortation for the people, say on.”

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and (S)you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people [d]Israel (T)chose our fathers, and exalted the people (U)when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with [e]an uplifted arm He (V)brought them out of it. 18 Now (W)for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed (X)seven nations in the land of Canaan, (Y)He distributed their land to them by allotment.

20 “After that (Z)He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, (AA)until Samuel the prophet. 21 (AB)And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them (AC)Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And (AD)when He had removed him, (AE)He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, (AF)‘I have found David the son of Jesse, (AG)a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 (AH)From this man’s seed, according (AI)to the promise, God raised up for Israel (AJ)a[f] Savior—Jesus— 24 (AK)after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, (AL)‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, (AM)there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the [g]family of Abraham, and (AN)those among you who fear God, (AO)to you the [h]word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, (AP)because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 (AQ)And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 (AR)Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, (AS)they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 (AT)But God raised Him from the dead. 31 (AU)He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—(AV)that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

(AW)‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’

34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to [i]corruption, He has spoken thus:

(AX)‘I will give you the sure [j]mercies of David.’

35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

(AY)‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

36 “For David, after he had served [k]his own generation by the will of God, (AZ)fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and [l]saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up [m]saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that (BA)through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and (BB)by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41 ‘Behold,(BC) you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’

Blessing and Conflict at Antioch

42 [n]So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, (BD)persuaded them to continue in (BE)the grace of God.

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they (BF)opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, (BG)“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but (BH)since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, (BI)we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:

(BJ)‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’

48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. (BK)And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, (BL)raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 (BM)But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples (BN)were filled with joy and (BO)with the Holy Spirit.

At Iconium

14 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the (BP)Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and [o]poisoned their [p]minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, (BQ)who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and (BR)wonders to be done by their hands.

But the multitude of the city was (BS)divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the (BT)apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, (BU)to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and (BV)fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.

Idolatry at Lystra

(BW)And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. [q]Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, (BX)“Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, (BY)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called [r]Zeus, and Paul, [s]Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, (BZ)intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, (CA)they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, (CB)why are you doing these things? (CC)We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from (CD)these useless things (CE)to the living God, (CF)who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 (CG)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 (CH)Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, (CI)gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with (CJ)food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Stoning, Escape to Derbe

19 (CK)Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, (CL)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be (CM)dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Strengthening the Converts

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city (CN)and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, (CO)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, (CP)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had (CQ)appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, (CR)they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had (CS)opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Notas al pie

  1. Acts 13:6 NU the whole island
  2. Acts 13:8 opposed
  3. Acts 13:15 encouragement
  4. Acts 13:17 M omits Israel
  5. Acts 13:17 Mighty power
  6. Acts 13:23 M salvation, after
  7. Acts 13:26 stock
  8. Acts 13:26 message
  9. Acts 13:34 the state of decay
  10. Acts 13:34 blessings
  11. Acts 13:36 in his
  12. Acts 13:36 underwent decay
  13. Acts 13:37 underwent no decay
  14. Acts 13:42 Or And when they went out of the synagogue of the Jews; NU And when they went out, they begged
  15. Acts 14:2 embittered
  16. Acts 14:2 Lit. souls
  17. Acts 14:9 Lit. Who
  18. Acts 14:12 Jupiter
  19. Acts 14:12 Mercury

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.

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) Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.(C)

The Mission to Cyprus

So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.(D) When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.(E) 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) 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)

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:

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.[f][g] (AH)

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:

I have made you
a light for the Gentiles
to bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.[n](AS)

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)

Growth and Persecution in Iconium

14 In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.(AX) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(AY) So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.(AZ) But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles.(BA) When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.(BB) There they continued preaching the gospel.(BC)

Mistaken for Gods in Lystra

In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.(BD)

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” (BE) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,(BF) 15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things(BG) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.[o](BH) 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations(BI) to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness,(BJ) since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons(BK) and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.(BL) 20 After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.(BM)

Church Planting

21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,(BN) 22 strengthening the[p] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith(BO) and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships(BP) to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders(BQ) for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.(BR) 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them(BS) and that he had opened the door(BT) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.

Notas al pie

  1. 13:2 Or were ministering to
  2. 13:17 Lit with an uplifted
  3. 13:18 Other mss read he cared for them
  4. 13:22 1Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20
  5. 13:23 Other mss read brought salvation
  6. 13:33 Or I have begotten you
  7. 13:33 Ps 2:7
  8. 13:34 Is 55:3
  9. 13:35 Ps 16:10
  10. 13:39 Or freed, also later in this verse
  11. 13:41 Hab 1:5
  12. 13:42 Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles
  13. 13:44 Other mss read of God
  14. 13:47 Is 49:6
  15. 14:15 Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6
  16. 14:22 Lit the souls of the

13 Now in the church at Antioch(A) there were prophets(B) and teachers:(C) Barnabas,(D) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,(E) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod(F) the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,(G) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work(H) to which I have called them.”(I) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them(J) and sent them off.(K)

On Cyprus

The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,(L) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.(M) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God(N) in the Jewish synagogues.(O) John(P) was with them as their helper.

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer(Q) and false prophet(R) named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul,(S) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer(T) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul(U) from the faith.(V) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,(W) looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil(X) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(Y) 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.(Z) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”(AA)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul(AB) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

13 From Paphos,(AC) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,(AD) where John(AE) left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.(AF) On the Sabbath(AG) they entered the synagogue(AH) and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law(AI) 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(AJ) 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;(AK) 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a](AL) in the wilderness;(AM) 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,(AN) giving their land to his people(AO) as their inheritance.(AP) 20 All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges(AQ) until the time of Samuel the prophet.(AR) 21 Then the people asked for a king,(AS) and he gave them Saul(AT) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,(AU) who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul,(AV) he made David their king.(AW) God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;(AX) he will do everything I want him to do.’(AY)

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

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

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

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

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](BW)

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:

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

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

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.(CB) 39 Through him everyone who believes(CC) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.(CD) 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](CE)

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,(CF) 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.(CG)

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying(CH) and heaped abuse(CI) on him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.(CJ) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.(CK) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you[f] a light for the Gentiles,(CL)
    that you[g] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[h](CM)

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;(CN) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord(CO) spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.(CP) 51 So they shook the dust off their feet(CQ) as a warning to them and went to Iconium.(CR) 52 And the disciples(CS) were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.(CT)

In Iconium

14 At Iconium(CU) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.(CV) There they spoke so effectively that a great number(CW) of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(CX) So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly(CY) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.(CZ) The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.(DA) There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,(DB) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.(DC) But they found out about it and fled(DD) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach(DE) the gospel.(DF)

In Lystra and Derbe

In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth(DG) and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed(DH) 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”(DI) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.(DJ)

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(DK) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(DL) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(DM) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(DN) like you. We are bringing you good news,(DO) telling you to turn from these worthless things(DP) to the living God,(DQ) who made the heavens and the earth(DR) and the sea and everything in them.(DS) 16 In the past, he let(DT) all nations go their own way.(DU) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(DV) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(DW) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(DX) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews(DY) came from Antioch and Iconium(DZ) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul(EA) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples(EB) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 They preached the gospel(EC) in that city and won a large number(ED) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium(EE) and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.(EF) “We must go through many hardships(EG) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[i](EH) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,(EI) committed them to the Lord,(EJ) in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,(EK) 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,(EL) where they had been committed to the grace of God(EM) for the work they had now completed.(EN) 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them(EO) and how he had opened a door(EP) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.(EQ)

Notas al pie

  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
  6. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  7. Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
  8. Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6
  9. Acts 14:23 Or Barnabas ordained elders; or Barnabas had elders elected

After Barnabas and Saul help deliver the relief fund to Jerusalem (11:29–30), the three men return to Antioch. With this trip by Saul (who will shortly be renamed Paul) back to Antioch, Luke’s emphasis for the rest of the book shifts away from Peter and the church in Jerusalem to focus on Paul and his mission to spread the good news to Jews and outsiders throughout the northern Mediterranean area.

13 The church in Antioch had grown strong, with many prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (a dark man from Central Africa), Lucius (from Cyrene in North Africa), Manaen (a member of Herod’s governing council), and Saul. Once they were engaged in a time of worship and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, “Commission Barnabas and Saul to a project I have called them to accomplish.” They fasted and prayed some more, laid their hands on the two selected men, and sent them off on their new mission. Having received special commissioning by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to nearby Seleucia on the coast. Then they caught a ship to the island of Cyprus.

At the city of Salamis on the east side of Cyprus, they proclaimed the message of God in Jewish synagogues, assisted by John Mark. 6-7 They went westward from town to town, finally reaching Paphos on the western shore. There the proconsul named Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear their message. At his side was an occult spiritualist and Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus or Elymas (which means “magician”). Elymas argued with Barnabas and Saul, trying to keep Sergius Paulus from coming to faith.

Saul, who is also known as Paul, was suddenly full of the Holy Spirit. He stared directly into Elymas’s face.

Paul: 10 You’re a son of the devil. You’re an enemy of justice, you’re full of lies, and you steal opportunities from others. Why do you insist on confusing and twisting the clear, straight paths of the Lord? 11 Hear this, Elymas: the Lord’s hand is against you, and you will be as blind as a bat for a period of time, beginning right now!

At that instant, it was as if a mist came over Elymas and then total darkness. He stumbled around, groping for a hand so he could be led back home. 12 When Sergius Paulus saw this happen, he came to faith and was attracted to and amazed by the teaching about the Lord.

13 Paul and his entourage boarded a ship and set sail from Paphos. They traveled north to Perga in Pamphylia. John Mark, however, abandoned the mission and returned to Jerusalem.

14 Paul and Barnabas continued from Perga to Pisidian Antioch; and on the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the regular reading of the Hebrew Scriptures—including passages from the Law and the Prophets—the synagogue leaders sent a message to them: “Brothers, if you would like to give us some exhortation, please do so.” 16 Paul rose to his feet, offered a gesture of greeting, and began his message.

Paul: Israelites and other God-fearing people, please hear me. 17 The God of the Israelites chose our ancestors and helped them become a large population while they were living in Egypt many years ago. He displayed His great power by leading them out of that powerful nation. 18 For about 40 years, He endured their constant complaining in the wilderness. 19 He opened up some land for them in Canaan by destroying the seven nations living there, and that land became their inheritance for about 450 years. 20 They had tribal leaders[a] through the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them one—Saul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin—who reigned for 40 years. 22 After God moved Saul aside, He made David king in his place. God had this to say about David: “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after My own heart. He’s the kind of king who will rule in ways that please Me.”[b] 23 God has selected one of David’s descendants as the long-promised Liberator of Israel. I am speaking of Jesus.

24 Before Jesus arrived on the scene, His cousin John was hard at work, proclaiming to all the people of Israel a ceremonial washing through baptism[c] and pointing to a new direction in thought and life. 25 John’s ministry climaxed when he said, “Who do you assume me to be? I am not the One you’re looking for. No, but One is coming after me, One whose sandal thong I am unworthy to untie.”[d] 26 My brothers, fellow descendants of our common father Abraham, and others here who fear God, we are the ones to whom God has sent this message of salvation.

27 But you know the people of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus. They didn’t understand the words of the prophets that are read in the synagogues on Sabbath after Sabbath. As a result, they fulfilled the ancient prophecies by condemning Jesus. 28 Even though they could find no offense punishable by death, still they asked Pilate to execute Jesus. 29 When they carried out everything that had been foretold by the prophets, they took His body down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But that was not the end: God raised Him from the dead, 31 and over a period of many days, He appeared to those who had been His companions from the beginning of their journey in Galilee until its end in Jerusalem. They are now witnesses to everyone. 32 We are here to bring you the good news of God’s promise to our ancestors, 33 which He has now fulfilled for our children by raising Jesus. Consider the promises fulfilled in Jesus. The psalmist says, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”[e]

34 Elsewhere God promises that Jesus will rise and never return to death and corruption again: “I will make You the holy and faithful promises I made to David.”[f] 35 Similarly, another psalm says, “You will not abandon Me to experience death and the grave or leave Me to rot alone.”[g] 36 We all know David died and was reduced to dust after he served God’s purpose in his generation; 37 these words obviously apply not to David but to the One God raised from death before suffering decay. 38 So you must realize, my brothers, that through this resurrected man forgiveness of sins is assured to you. 39 Through Jesus, everyone who believes is set free from all sins—sins which the law of Moses could not release you from. 40 In light of all this, be careful that you do not fulfill these words of the prophet Habakkuk:

41     Look, you scoffers!
        Be shocked to death.
    For in your days I am doing a work,
        a work you will never believe, even if someone tells you plainly![h]

42 Paul and Barnabas prepared to leave the synagogue, but the people wanted to hear more and urged them to return the following Sabbath. 43 As the people dispersed after the meeting, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Privately Paul and Barnabas continued teaching them and urged them to remain steadfast in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath, it seemed the whole city had gathered to hear the message of the Lord. 45 But some of the Jewish leaders were jealous when they saw these huge crowds. They began to argue with and contradict Paul’s message, as well as slander him. 46 Paul and Barnabas together responded with great confidence.

Paul and Barnabas: OK, then. It was only right that we should bring God’s message to you Jewish people first. But now, since you are rejecting our message and identifying yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the outsiders. 47 The Lord has commanded us to do this. Remember His words:

    I have appointed you a light to the nations beyond Israel,
        so you can bring redemption to every corner of the earth.[i]

48 These words created two strong reactions. The outsiders were thrilled and praised God’s message, and all those who had been appointed for eternal life became believers. 49 Through them the Lord’s message spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders united the aristocratic religious women and the city’s leading men in opposition to Paul and Barnabas, and soon they were persecuted and driven out of the region. 51 They simply shook the dust off their feet in protest and moved on to Iconium. 52 The disciples weren’t intimidated at all; rather, they were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

Paul never forsakes the Jews, the ones to whom the covenants were given. He shares with them first the good news about how God has fulfilled His promises through Jesus. Only when he faces opposition does he turn to the outsiders, because this hope is for them too.

14 The results in Iconium were similar. Paul and Barnabas began in the Jewish synagogue, bringing a great number of ethnic Jews and Greek converts to faith in Jesus. But the other Jews who wouldn’t believe agitated the outsiders and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium for a long time, speaking with great confidence for the Lord. He confirmed the message of His grace by granting them the power to do signs and wonders. But over time the people were divided, some siding with the unbelieving Jews and some siding with the apostles. Finally the Jews and outsiders who opposed them joined forces and enlisted the political leaders in their plan to beat and stone Paul and Barnabas. They learned of the plan and escaped to Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia, and the surrounding countryside, where they continued proclaiming the good news.

In Lystra they met a man who had been crippled since birth; his feet were completely useless. He listened to Paul speak, and Paul could see in this man’s face that he had faith to be healed.

Paul (shouting): 10 Stand up on your own two feet, man!

The man jumped up and walked! 11 When the crowds saw this, they started shouting in Lycaonian.

Crowd: The gods have come down to us! They’ve come in human form!

12 They decided that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes (since he was the main speaker). 13 Before they knew it, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was prominent in that city, came to the city gates with oxen and garlands of flowers so the Lycaonians could offer sacrifices in worship to Paul and Barnabas! 14 When they heard of this, Paul and Barnabas were beside themselves with frustration—they ripped their tunics as an expression of disapproval and rushed out into the crowd.

Paul and Barnabas (shouting): 15 Friends! No! No! Don’t do this! We’re just humans like all of you! We’re not here to be worshiped! We’re here to bring you good news—good news that you should turn from these worthless forms of worship and instead serve the living God, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that they contain. 16 Through all previous generations, God has allowed all the nations to follow their own customs and religions, 17 but even then God revealed Himself by doing good to you—giving you rain for your crops and fruitful harvests season after season, filling your stomachs with food and your hearts with joy.

18 In spite of these words, they were barely able to keep the crowds from making sacrifices to them.

When God uses men to bless the world, many mistakenly exalt those men to the place of God. This inevitably leads to pain and disappointment. Paul and Barnabas did the right thing by shouting as loudly as possible, “We are only men!” It is time for many leaders and celebrities to follow their example, root out the religious hero worship, claim our humanity, and start sharing our own struggles—sin, depression, despair—to remind people we are all alike. Then we can focus on the one true God instead of His messengers.

19 Then unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and incited the crowds against the Lord’s emissaries. The crowds turned on Paul, stoned him, dragged him out of the city, and left him there, thinking he was dead. 20 As the disciples gathered around him, he suddenly rose to his feet and returned to the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 21 After they proclaimed the good news there and taught many disciples, they returned to some of the cities they had recently visited—Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. 22 In each place, they brought strength to the disciples, encouraging them to remain true to the faith.

Paul and Barnabas: We must go through many persecutions as we enter the kingdom of God.

23 In each church, they would appoint leaders, pray and fast together, and entrust them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

24 They then passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 They preached their message in Perga and then went to the port of Attalia. 26 There they set sail for Antioch, where they were first entrusted to the grace of God for the mission they had now completed. 27 They called the church together when they arrived and reported all God had done with and through them, how God had welcomed outsiders through the doorway of faith. 28 They stayed with the disciples in Antioch for quite a while.

Notas al pie

  1. 13:20 In the Hebrew Scriptures, these leaders were called “judges.”
  2. 13:22 1 Samuel 13:14
  3. 13:24 Literally, immersion, an act to show repentance
  4. 13:25 Luke 3:16
  5. 13:33 Psalm 2:7
  6. 13:34 Isaiah 55:3
  7. 13:35 Psalm 16:10
  8. 13:41 Habakkuk 1:5
  9. 13:47 Isaiah 49:6