Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

⁴² And when they had come out of the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles begged them to preach these words to them the next Sabbath.

⁴³ Now, after the congregation had dispersed, many of the Jews (and proselytes who feared God) followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and encouraged them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ And the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God.

⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the people, they were full of envy. And contradicting and blaspheming, they spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, and said, “It was necessary that the Word of God should have been spoken first to you. But seeing you reject it - and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life - lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

⁴⁷ “For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light of the Gentiles, so that you should be for salvation to the end of the world.”

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as were appointed to eternal life, believed.

⁴⁹ Thus, the Word of the Lord was spread throughout the whole country.

⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their region.

⁵¹ But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to Iconium.

⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.