Acts 13
13
Barnabas and Saul are Chosen and Sent
1In the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod#13.1 herod: Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee (see Lk 3.1). the governor), and Saul. 2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them.”
3They fasted and prayed, placed their hands on them, and sent them off.
In Cyprus
4Having been sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia and sailed from there to the island of Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues. They had John Mark with them to help in the work.
6They went all the way across the island to Paphos, where they met a certain magician named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who claimed to be a prophet. 7He was a friend of the governor of the island, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor called Barnabas and Saul before him because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But they were opposed by the magician Elymas (that is his name in Greek), who tried to turn the governor away from the faith. 9Then Saul — also known as Paul — was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician 10and said, “You son of the Devil! You are the enemy of everything that is good. You are full of all kinds of evil tricks, and you always keep trying to turn the Lord's truths into lies! 11The Lord's hand will come down on you now; you will be blind and will not see the light of day for a time.”
At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes, and he walked about trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed; for he was greatly amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
In Antioch in Pisidia
13Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga, a city in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem. 14They went on from Perga and arrived in Antioch in Pisidia, and on the Sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message: “Brothers and sisters, we want you to speak to the people if you have a message of encouragement for them.” 16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak:
“Fellow-Israelites and all Gentiles here who worship God: hear me! 17#Ex 1.7; 12.51The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made the people a great nation during the time they lived as foreigners in Egypt. God brought them out of Egypt by his great power, 18#Num 14.34; Deut 1.31and for forty years he endured#13.18 he endured; some manuscripts have he took care of. them in the desert. 19#Deut 7.1; Josh 14.1He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and made his people the owners of the land. 20#Judg 2.16; 1 Sam 3.20All this took about 450 years.
“After this#13.20 All this took about 450 years. “After this; or Some 450 years later. he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21#1 Sam 8.5; 10.21And when they asked for a king, God gave them Saul son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, to be their king for forty years. 22#1 Sam 13.14; 16.12; Ps 89.20After removing him, God made David their king. This is what God said about him: ‘I have found that David son of Jesse is the kind of man I like, a man who will do all I want him to do.’ 23It was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the Saviour of the people of Israel, as he had promised. 24#Mk 1.4; Lk 3.3Before Jesus began his work, John preached to all the people of Israel that they should turn from their sins and be baptized. 25#Mt 3.11; Mk 1.7; Lk 3.16; Jn 1.20, 27And as John was about to finish his mission, he said to the people, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one you are waiting for. But listen! He is coming after me, and I am not good enough to take his sandals off his feet.’
26“My fellow-Israelites, descendants of Abraham, and all Gentiles here who worship God: it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent! 27For the people who live in Jerusalem and their leaders did not know that he is the Saviour, nor did they understand the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Yet they made the prophets' words come true by condemning Jesus. 28#Mt 27.22–23; Mk 15.13–14; Lk 23.21–23; Jn 19.15And even though they could find no reason to pass the death sentence on him, they asked Pilate to have him put to death. 29#Mt 27.57–61; Mk 15.42–47; Lk 23.50–56; Jn 19.38–42And after they had done everything that the Scriptures say about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from death, 31#Acts 1.3and for many days he appeared to those who had travelled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now witnesses for him to the people of Israel. 32-33#Ps 2.7And we are here to bring the Good News to you: what God promised our ancestors he would do, he has now done for us, who are their descendants, by raising Jesus to life. As it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.’
34 #
Is 55.3 (LXX) And this is what God said about raising him from death, never to rot away in the grave:
‘I will give you the sacred and sure blessings
that I promised to David.’
35 #
Ps 16.10
As indeed he says in another passage:
‘You will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.’
36For David served God's purposes in his own time, and then he died, was buried with his ancestors, and his body rotted in the grave. 37But this did not happen to the one whom God raised from death. 38-39We want you to know, my fellow-Israelites, that it is through Jesus that the message about forgiveness of sins is preached to you; and that everyone who believes in him is set free from all the sins from which the Law of Moses could not set you free. 40Take care, then, so that what the prophets said may not happen to you:#13.40 Some manuscripts do not have to you.
41 #
Hab 1.5 (LXX) ‘Look, you scoffers! Be astonished and die!
For what I am doing today
is something that you will not believe,
even when someone explains it to you!’ ”
42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to come back the next Sabbath and tell them more about these things. 43After the people had left the meeting, Paul and Barnabas were followed by many Jews and by many Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism. The apostles spoke to them and encouraged them to keep on living in the grace of God.
44The next Sabbath nearly everyone in the town came to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; they disputed what Paul was saying and insulted him. 46But Paul and Barnabas spoke out even more boldly: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we will leave you and go to the Gentiles. 47#Is 42.6; 49.6For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us:
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
so that all the world may be saved.’ ”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Lord's message; and those who had been chosen for eternal life became believers.
49The word of the Lord spread everywhere in that region. 50But the Jews stirred up the leading men of the city and the Gentile women of high social standing who worshipped God. They started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their region. 51#Mt 10.14; Mk 6.11; Lk 9.5; 10.11The apostles shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went on to Iconium. 52The believers in Antioch were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Acts 13
13
Barnabas and Saul Commissioned
1#Ac 11:22–27; 4:36In the church that was in Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2#Ac 9:15; 2Ti 1:11As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3#Ac 6:6; 14:26Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Apostles Preach in Cyprus
4#Ac 4:36; 13:2So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5#Ac 13:14; 9:20When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as an assistant.
6#Mt 7:15When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7#Ac 13:12; 19:38who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8#Ac 13:6–7; 2Ti 3:8But Elymas the sorcerer (which is his name by interpretation) opposed them, trying to divert the proconsul from the faith. 9#Ac 4:8; 2:4Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him and said, 10#Hos 14:9; Mt 13:38“You son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and of all fraud, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11#Ex 9:3; Ps 32:4Now, look! The hand of the Lord is against you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
Immediately mist and darkness fell on him, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12#Ac 13:7When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
13#Ac 2:10; 12:12Now when Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14#Ac 16:13; 13:5But they departed from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15#Ac 15:21; Mk 5:22After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.”
16#Ac 12:17; 10:2Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17#Dt 7:6–8; Ps 105:23–24The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with great power He led them out of it. 18#Ac 7:36; Dt 9:7For about forty years He endured their conduct in the desert. 19#Ps 78:55; Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance by lot.
20#Jdg 2:16; 1Sa 3:20“After about four hundred and fifty years, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21#1Sa 10:1Then they requested a king. And God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22#1Sa 16:1; 15:23; 15:26When He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David#Ps 89:20. the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill My entire will.’#1Sa 13:14.
23#Mt 1:1; Ps 132:11“From this man’s descendants God has raised a Savior for Israel, Jesus, according to His promise. 24#Ac 1:22Before His coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25#Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But look! He is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’#Jn 1:20, 27.
26#Ac 4:12; 13:46“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those of you who fear God, the word of this salvation has been sent to us. 27#Ac 3:17; Lk 24:20Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath. 28#Mt 27:22–25Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death, yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed. 29#Lk 23:53; Mt 27:57–60; Mk 15:45–46When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and placed Him in a tomb. 30#Ac 2:24; Mt 28:6But God raised Him from the dead, 31#Lk 24:48; Ac 1:3and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.
32#Ac 26:6; Ro 4:13“We preach to you good news: The promise which was made to the fathers, 33#Ps 2:7; Heb 5:5God has fulfilled to us, their children, raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.’#Ps 2:7.
34#Isa 55:3; Ro 6:9That He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way:
‘I will give You the holy and sure blessings of David.’#Isa 55:3.
35#Ps 16:10So He says in another Psalm:
‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’#Ps 16:10.
36#1Ki 2:10; Ac 2:29“For after David had served by the counsel of God in his own generation, he fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay. 37#Ac 13:30; 2:24But He whom God raised up saw no decay.
38#Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38“Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39#Ro 8:3; Gal 2:16and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. 40Therefore beware, lest what is spoken of in the prophets come upon you:
41#Hab 1:5 ‘Look, you scoffers,
marvel and perish!
For I will perform a work in your days
which you will never believe,
even if someone declares it to you.’#Hab 1:5.”
42When Paul and Barnabas went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles asked that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43#Ac 11:23; 6:5When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45#Ac 18:6; 5:17But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, blaspheming and contradicting what Paul was saying.
46#Ac 3:26; 28:28Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first. But seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47#Isa 49:6; Lk 2:32For thus has the Lord commanded us:
‘I have established you to be a light of the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’#Isa 42:6; 49:6.”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And all who were ordained to eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord was spread throughout the entire region. 50#Ac 14:2; 14:19But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them from their region. 51#Mt 10:14; Ac 18:6So they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52#Ac 2:4; Mt 5:12And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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