Book of Common Prayer

¹⁹ Those who were scattered abroad through the affliction that arose about Stephen walked throughout till they came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰ But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

²² Reports of these things came to the ears of the congregation that was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should continually cleave unto the Lord. ²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek Saul. ²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for a whole year they were with the congregation there, and taught many people. And the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.

²⁷ In those days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of the Emperor Claudius. ²⁹ Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send aid to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. ³⁰ Which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

²¹ Then Jesus said again to them, I go my way; and you will seek me, and will die in your sins. Where I go, there you cannot come.

²² Then the Jews said, Will he kill himself? For he says, Where I go, there you cannot come.

²³ And he said to them, You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. ²⁴ I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.

²⁵ Then they said to him, Who are you?

And Jesus said to them, Even the very same thing that I say to you. ²⁶ I have many things to say, and to judge of you. Yea, and he who sent me is true. And I speak in the world those things that I have heard from him.

²⁷ However, they did not understand that he was speaking of his Father. ²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, When you have lifted up on high the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father has taught me, even so I speak. ²⁹ And he who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him.

³⁰ As he spoke these words, many believed on him. ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my words, then you are my very disciples and shall know the truth, ³² and the truth shall make you free.