Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas left the meeting house the people said, `Tell us these things again next Sabbath day.'

⁴³ The meeting was finished. There were many Jews, also those who were not Jews but worshipped God. They followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabus kept talking to the people and told them to keep on living in the way that will bring God's blessing.

⁴⁴ The next Sabbath day almost all of the people in that city gathered to hear God's word.

⁴⁵ The leaders of the Jews saw that many people came. They were very jealous. They talked back to Paul and said he was not telling the truth. They also said wrong things about him.

⁴⁶ But Paul and Barnabas did not fear the Jewish leaders. They said, `We had to tell God's word to you first but you will not listen to it. By that you are saying you Jews are not good enough to live for ever. So we will go to the people who are not Jews.

⁴⁷ That is what the Lord told us to do. He said, "I have made you to be a light to the people who are not Jews. You will tell people everywhere in the world how to be saved." '

⁴⁸ Those who were not Jews heard this. They were glad and they thanked God for his message. All those who had been chosen to live for ever believed.

⁴⁹ The word of the Lord was told through all that part of the country.

⁵⁰ But the leaders of the Jews talked to the leading women who worshipped God and to the chief men of Antioch. They made plenty of trouble for Paul and Barnabas. They made them leave that part of the country.

⁵¹ So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and left them. They went on to Iconium.

⁵² And the followers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.