¹⁵ When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning.^(A)

¹⁶ Then I recalled the declaration of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with (^[a]be placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ If then God gave to them the same Gift [equally] as He gave to us when we believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?

¹⁸ When they heard this, they were quieted and made no further objection. And they glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance ^[b]unto [real] life [after resurrection].

¹⁹ Meanwhile those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen had traveled as far away as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without delivering the message [concerning ^[c] the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] to anyone except Jews.

²⁰ But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on returning to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, proclaiming [to them] the good news (the Gospel) about the Lord Jesus.

²¹ And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him.

²² The rumors of this came to the ears of the church (assembly) in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

²³ When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.

²⁴ For he was a good man [^[d]good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his ^[e]belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord.

²⁵ [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and ^[f]were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

²⁷ And during these days prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of the divine will and purpose) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

²⁸ And one of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius.

²⁹ So the disciples resolved to send relief, each according to his individual ability [in proportion as he had prospered], to the brethren who lived in Judea.

³⁰ And so they did, sending [their contributions] to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

17 My spirit is broken, my days are spent (snuffed out); the grave is ready for me.

² Surely there are mockers and mockery around me, and my eye dwells on their obstinacy, insults, and resistance.

³ Give me a pledge with Yourself [acknowledge my innocence before my death]; who is there that will give security for me?

⁴ But their hearts [Lord] You have closed to understanding; therefore You will not let them triumph [by giving them a verdict against me].

⁵ He who denounces his friends [in order to make them] a prey and get a share, the eyes of his children shall fail [to find food].

⁶ But He has made me a byword among the people, and they spit before my face.

⁷ My eye has grown dim because of grief, and all my members are [wasted away] like a shadow.

⁸ Upright men shall be astonished and appalled at this, and the innocent shall stir himself up against the godless and polluted.

⁹ Yet shall the righteous (those upright and in right standing with God) hold to their ways, and he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.^(A)

¹⁰ But as for you, come on again, all of you, though I find not a wise man among you.

¹¹ My days are past, my purposes and plans are frustrated; even the thoughts (desires and possessions) of my heart [are broken off].

¹² These [thoughts] extend from the night into the day, [so that] the light is short because of darkness.

¹³ But if I look to Sheol (the unseen state) as my abode, if I spread my couch in the darkness,

¹⁴ If I say to the grave and corruption, You are my father, and to the worm [that feeds on decay], You are my mother and my sister [because I will soon be closest to you],

¹⁵ Where then is my hope? And if I have hope, who will see [its fulfillment]?

¹⁶ [My hope] shall go down to the bars of Sheol (the unseen state) when once there is rest in the dust.