²² News about them reached^[a] the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel^[b] as far as Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,^{(A) 24} for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(B) and of faith. And large numbers of people were added^(C) to the Lord.

²⁵ Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples^(D) were first called Christians at Antioch.^(E)

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.

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