Acts 13
International Standard Version
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. 2 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.” 3 Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on them, and let them go. 4 After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they began to preach God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John to help them.
6 They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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
- Acts 13:9 Lit. who was also
- Acts 13:11 Lit. The hand of the
- Acts 13:15 Lit. sent to them
- Acts 13:15 Or word of exhortation
- Acts 13:17 Lit. with an uplifted arm
- Acts 13:18 Other mss. read nourished
- Acts 13:19 Lit. to them
- Acts 13:22 Lit. But he
- Acts 13:22 Lit. him
- Acts 13:22 Cf. Ps 89:20; 1 Sam 13:14
- Acts 13:25 Lit. one
- Acts 13:26 Other mss. read to you
- Acts 13:27 Lit. he
- Acts 13:33 Cf. Ps 2:7
- Acts 13:34 Lit. He
- Acts 13:34 Cf. Isa 55:3 (LXX)
- Acts 13:35 The Gk. lacks Psalm
- Acts 13:35 Cf. Ps 16:10 (LXX)
- Acts 13:36 Lit. fell asleep
- Acts 13:41 Cf. Hab 1:5 (LXX)
- Acts 13:42 Lit. As they
- Acts 13:44 Other mss. read of God
- Acts 13:45 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
- Acts 13:47 Cf. Isa 49:6
- Acts 13:50 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
- Acts 13:51 Lit. So they
Acts 13
Legacy Standard Bible
Barnabas and Saul Sent from Antioch by the Holy Spirit
13 Now there were at (A)Antioch, in the (B)church that was there, (C)prophets and (D)teachers: (E)Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of (F)Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with (G)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, (H)the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me (I)Barnabas and Saul for (J)the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and (K)prayed and (L)laid their hands on them, (M)they sent them away.
On Cyprus
4 So, being (N)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to (O)Cyprus. 5 And 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 And 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, [a](X)filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you (Y)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked (Z)the straight ways of the [b]Lord? 11 Now, behold, (AA)the hand of the [c]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 astonished at (AC)the teaching of the Lord.
In Pisidian Antioch
13 Now after Paul and his companions set sail from (AD)Paphos, they 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 And after (AL)the reading of the Law and (AM)the Prophets (AN)the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 So 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 [d](AR)lifted up the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm (AS)He led them out from it. 18 And for (AT)a period of about forty years (AU)He put up with them in the wilderness. 19 (AV)And when He 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 And after He had (BD)removed him, He raised up David to be their king, about whom He also said, bearing witness, ‘(BE)I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My [e]will.’ 23 (BF)From the seed of this man, (BG)according to promise, God has brought to Israel (BH)a Savior, Jesus, 24 after (BI)John had preached before [f]His coming a (BJ)baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John (BK)was fulfilling his course, (BL)he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me of whom I am not worthy to untie the sandals of His feet.’
26 “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of (BM)this salvation was sent. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their (BN)rulers, (BO)recognizing neither Him nor the [g]utterances of (BP)the prophets which are (BQ)read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him. 28 And though they found no ground for death, they (BR)asked Pilate that He be [h]executed. 29 And when they had (BS)finished all that was written concerning Him, (BT)they took Him down from (BU)the tree 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)proclaim to you the good news of (CA)the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise [i]to our children in that He (CB)raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘(CC)You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’ 34 But that He (CD)raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way: ‘(CE)I will give you the holy and [j]faithful lovingkindnesses of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘(CF)You will not give Your [k]Holy One over to see corruption.’ 36 For (CG)David, after he had [l]served (CH)the purpose of God in his own generation, (CI)fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God (CJ)raised did not see corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that (CK)through [m]Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and that in Him, (CL)everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified from [n]through the Law of Moses. 40 Therefore watch out, so that the thing spoken of (CM)in the Prophets may not come upon you:
41 ‘(CN)Look, you scoffers, and marvel, and [o]perish;
For I am accomplishing a work in your days,
A work which you will never believe, though someone should recount it to you.’”
42 And as [p]Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people kept pleading that these words might be spoken to them the next (CO)Sabbath. 43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the (CP)God-fearing [q](CQ)proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in (CR)the grace of God.
Many Gentiles Believe
44 And the next (CS)Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of [r]the [s]Lord. 45 But when (CT)the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, [t]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 reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, (CV)we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the [u]Lord has commanded us,
‘(CW)I have placed You as a (CX)light for the Gentiles,
That You may [v]bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying (CY)the word of [w]the [x]Lord, and as many as (CZ)had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And (DA)the word of the [y]Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But (DB)the Jews incited the [z](DC)God-fearing 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 [aa]district. 51 But (DE)having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to (DF)Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually (DG)filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Footnotes
- Acts 13:9 Or having just been filled
- Acts 13:10 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 40:3
- Acts 13:11 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ex 9:3
- Acts 13:17 Or exalted
- Acts 13:22 Lit wishes
- Acts 13:24 Lit the face of His entering
- Acts 13:27 Lit voices
- Acts 13:28 Lit destroyed
- Acts 13:33 Late mss to us their children
- Acts 13:34 Lit trustworthy
- Acts 13:35 Or Devout, Pious
- Acts 13:36 Or served his own generation by the purpose of God
- Acts 13:38 Lit this One
- Acts 13:39 Lit by
- Acts 13:41 Lit disappear
- Acts 13:42 Lit they
- Acts 13:43 Gentile converts to Judaism
- Acts 13:44 One early ms God
- Acts 13:44 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 1:10
- Acts 13:45 Or slandering him
- Acts 13:47 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 42:6
- Acts 13:47 Lit be for salvation
- Acts 13:48 Two early mss God
- Acts 13:48 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 1:10
- Acts 13:49 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 1:10
- Acts 13:50 Or worshiping
- Acts 13:50 Lit boundaries
Acts 13
Common English Bible
Barnabas and Saul sent to minister
13 The church at Antioch included prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (nicknamed Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood friend of Herod the ruler), and Saul. 2 As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake.” 3 After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on these two and sent them off.
Serving in Cyprus
4 After the Holy Spirit sent them on their way, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 In Salamis they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant. 6 They traveled throughout the island until they arrived at Paphos. There they found a certain man named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who was a false prophet and practiced sorcery. 7 He kept company with the governor of that province, an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul since he wanted to hear God’s word. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer[a] (for that’s what people understood his name meant) opposed them, trying to steer the governor away from the faith. 9 Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Saul, also known as Paul, glared at Bar-Jesus and 10 said, “You are a deceiver and trickster! You devil! You attack anything that is right! Will you never stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord into crooked paths? 11 Listen! The Lord’s power is set against you. You will be blind for a while, unable even to see the daylight.” At once, Bar-Jesus’ eyes were darkened, and he began to grope about for someone to lead him around by the hand. 12 When the governor saw what had taken place, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch
13 Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia. John deserted them there and returned to Jerusalem. 14 They went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath, they entered and found seats in the synagogue there. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders invited them, “Brothers, if one of you has a sermon for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul gestured with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites and Gentile God-worshippers, please listen to me. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors. God made them a great people while they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. With his great power, he led them out of that country. 18 For about forty years, God put up with them in the wilderness. 19 God conquered seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the Israelites their land as an inheritance. 20 This happened over a period of about four hundred fifty years.
“After this, he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 The Israelites requested a king, so God gave them Saul, Kish’s son, from the tribe of Benjamin, and he served as their king for forty years. 22 After God removed him, he raised up David to be their king. God testified concerning him, ‘I have found David, Jesse’s son, a man who shares my desires.[b] Whatever my will is, he will do.’ 23 From this man’s descendants, God brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, just as he promised. 24 Before Jesus’ appearance, John proclaimed to all the Israelites a baptism to show they were changing their hearts and lives. 25 As John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the one you think I am, but he is coming after me. I’m not worthy to loosen his sandals.’
26 “Brothers, children of Abraham’s family, and you Gentile God-worshippers, the message about this salvation has been sent to us. 27 The people in Jerusalem and their leaders didn’t recognize Jesus. By condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Even though they didn’t find a single legal basis for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they finished doing everything that had been written about him, they took him down from the cross[c] and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead! 31 He appeared over many days to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people.
32 “We proclaim to you the good news. What God promised to our ancestors, 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it was written in the second psalm, You are my son; today I have become your father.[d]
34 “God raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be subjected to death’s decay. Therefore, God said, I will give to you the holy and firm promises I made to David.[e] 35 In another place it is said, You will not let your holy one experience death’s decay.[f] 36 David served God’s purpose in his own generation, then he died and was buried with his ancestors. He experienced death’s decay, 37 but the one whom God has raised up didn’t experience death’s decay.
38 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, know this: Through Jesus we proclaim forgiveness of sins to you. From all those sins from which you couldn’t be put in right relationship with God through Moses’ Law, 39 through Jesus everyone who believes is put in right relationship with God. 40 Take care that the prophets’ words don’t apply to you:
41 Look, you scoffers,
marvel and die.
I’m going to do work in your day —
a work you won’t believe
even if someone told you.”[g]
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to speak about these things again on the next Sabbath. 43 When the people in the synagogue were dismissed, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism accompanied Paul and Barnabas, who urged them to remain faithful to the message of God’s grace.
44 On the next Sabbath, almost everyone in the city gathered to hear the Lord’s word. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were overcome with jealousy. They argued against what Paul was saying by slandering him. 46 Speaking courageously, Paul and Barnabas said, “We had to speak God’s word to you first. Since you reject it and show that you are unworthy to receive eternal life, we will turn to the Gentiles. 47 This is what the Lord commanded us:
I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
so that you could bring salvation to the end of the earth.”[h]
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the Lord’s word. Everyone who was appointed for eternal life believed, 49 and the Lord’s word was broadcast throughout the entire region. 50 However, the Jews provoked the prominent women among the Gentile God-worshippers, as well as the city’s leaders. They instigated others to harass Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their district. 51 Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet and went to Iconium. 52 Because of the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the disciples were overflowing with happiness.
Footnotes
- Acts 13:8 Or magician (Gk magos)
- Acts 13:22 Tg 1 Sam 13:14
- Acts 13:29 Or tree
- Acts 13:33 Ps 2:7
- Acts 13:34 Isa 55:3
- Acts 13:35 Ps 16:10
- Acts 13:41 Hab 1:5
- Acts 13:47 Isa 49:6
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