Beginning

Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

14 In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas^[a] went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ They stayed there a considerable time and continued to speak boldly for the Lord, who kept affirming his word of grace and granting signs and wonders to be done by them. ⁴ But the people of the city were divided. Some were with the Jews, while others were with the apostles.

⁵ Now when an attempt was made by both gentiles and Jews, along with their authorities, to mistreat and stone them, ⁶ Paul and Barnabas^[b] found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding territory. ⁷ There they kept talking about the good news.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

⁸ Now in Lystra there was a man sitting down who couldn’t use his feet. He had been crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul^[c] watched him closely, and when he saw that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ he said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Then the man^[d] jumped up and began to walk.

¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” ¹² They began to call Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of the temple of Zeus, which was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices.

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings with natures like yours. We are telling you the good news so you’ll turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.^{[e] 16} In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, ¹⁷ yet he has not abandoned his witness: he continues to do good, to give you rain from heaven, to give you^[f] fruitful seasons, and to fill you with food and your hearts with joy.” ¹⁸ Even by saying this, it was all Paul and Barnabas^[g] could do to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

¹⁹ But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day, he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

²¹ As they were proclaiming the good news in that city, they discipled a large number of people. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships,” they said, “to get into the kingdom of God.” ²³ Paul and Barnabas^[h] appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ They spoke the word^[i] in Perga and went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed. ²⁷ When they arrived, they called the church together and told them everything that God had done with them and how he had opened a door so that gentiles would believe. ²⁸ Then they spent a long time with the disciples.

Controversy about the Law

15 Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can’t be saved.” ² Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. ³ They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them. ⁵ But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The gentiles^[j] must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses.”

⁶ So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim. ⁷ After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days, God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows everyone’s heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts. ¹⁰ So why do you test God by putting on the disciples’ neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry? ¹¹ We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,^[k] that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles. ¹³ After Paul and Barnabas^[l] had finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me: ¹⁴ Simeon^[m] has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name. ¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁹ “Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled,^[p] and from blood.^{[q] 21} After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are^[r] read aloud in the synagogues.”

The Reply of the Church

²² Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. ²³ They wrote this letter for them to deliver:^[s]

“From:^[t] The apostles and the elders, your brothers

To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

Greetings. ²⁴ We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you.^{[u] 25} So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.^{[v] 27} We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: ²⁹ to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood,^[w] from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye.”

³⁰ So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. ³¹ When the people^[x] read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them. ³² Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers. ³³ After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting^[y] from the brothers to those who had sent them.^{[z] 35} Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others.

Paul and Barnabas Disagree

³⁶ A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. ³⁹ The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord.^{[aa] 41} He went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.