Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

⁴² Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day. ⁴³ The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles who faithfully worshiped the God of the Jews did the same. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They tried to get them to keep living in God’s grace.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered. They gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. “We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said. “But you don’t accept it. You don’t think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said,

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. They honored the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed.

⁴⁹ The word of the Lord spread through the whole area. ⁵⁰ But the Jewish leaders stirred up the important women who worshiped God. They also stirred up the men who were leaders in the city. The Jewish leaders tried to get the women and men to attack Paul and Barnabas. They threw Paul and Barnabas out of that area. ⁵¹ Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. This was a warning to the people who had opposed them. Then Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium. ⁵² The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.