Acts 13

1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon who was named Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, a relation of Herod the king, and Saul.

Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother), and Saul.

2 And while they were doing the Lord's work, and going without food, the Holy Spirit said, Let Barnabas and Saul be given to me for the special work for which they have been marked out by me.

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

3 Then, after prayer and going without food they put their hands on them, and sent them away.

So, after fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands, they let them go.

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they went by ship to Cyprus.

They therefore, being thus sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleuceia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

5 And at Salamis they were preaching the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews: and John was with them, helping them.

Having reached Salamis, they began to announce God's Message in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as their assistant.

6 And when they had gone through all the island to Paphos, they came across a certain wonder-worker and false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus;

When they had gone through the whole length of the island as far as Paphos, they there met with a Jewish magician and false prophet, Bar-Jesus by name,

7 Who was with the ruler, Sergius Paulus, an able man. This man sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to have knowledge of the word of God.

who was a friend of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence. He sent for Barnabas and Saul, and asked to be told God's Message.

8 But Elymas, the wonder-worker (for that is the sense of his name), put himself against them, with the purpose of turning the ruler from the faith.

But Elymas (or 'the Magician,' for such is the meaning of the name) opposed them, and tried to prevent the Proconsul from accepting the faith.

9 But Saul, whose other name is Paul, being full of the Holy Spirit, looking hard at him, said,

Then Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, fixing his eyes on Elymas,

10 O you, who are full of false tricks and evil ways, a son of the Evil One, hating all righteousness, will you for ever be turning people from the right ways of the Lord?

said, "You who are full of every kind of craftiness and unscrupulous cunning--you son of the Devil and foe to all that is right--will you never cease to misrepresent the straight paths of the Lord?

11 And now, see, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind and not able to see the sun for a time. And straight away a dark mist came down on him; and he went about looking for a guide.

The Lord's hand is now upon you, and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the light of day." Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness, and, as he walked about, he begged people to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the ruler, when he saw what was done, had faith, being full of wonder at the teaching of the Lord.

Then the Proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being struck with amazement at the teaching of the Lord.

13 Then Paul and those who were with him went by ship from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and there John went away from them and came back to Jerusalem.

From Paphos, Paul and his party put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14 But they, going through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia; and they went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath and were seated.

But they themselves, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia. Here, on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the Synagogue sent to them, saying, Brothers, if you have a word of comfort for the people, say on.

After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the Wardens of the synagogue sent word to them. "Brethren," they said, "if you have anything encouraging to say to the people, speak."

16 And Paul, getting up and making a sign with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and you who have the fear of God, give ear.

So Paul rose, and motioning with his hand for silence, said, "Israelites, and you others who fear God, pay attention to me.

17 The God of this people Israel made selection of our fathers, lifting the people up from their low condition when they were living in the land of Egypt, and with a strong arm took them out of it.

The God of this people of Israel chose our forefathers, and made the people great during their stay in Egypt, until with wondrous power He brought them out from that land.

18 And for about forty years he put up with their ways in the waste land.

For a period of about forty years, He fed them, like a nurse, in the Desert.

19 And having put to destruction seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them the land for their heritage for about four hundred and fifty years.

Then, after overthrowing seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided that country among them as their inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years;

20 And after these things he gave them judges, till the time of Samuel the prophet.

and afterwards He gave them judges down to the time of the Prophet Samuel.

21 Then at their request for a king, God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man of the family of Benjamin, who was their king for forty years.

Next they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who reigned forty years.

22 And having put him on one side, he made David their king, to whom he gave witness, saying, I have taken David, the son of Jesse, a man dear to my heart, who will do all my pleasure.

After removing him, He raised up David to be their king, to whom He also bore witness when He said, "'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man I love, who will obey all My commands.'

23 From this man's seed has God given to Israel a Saviour, even Jesus, as he gave his word;

"It is from among David's descendants that God, in fulfilment of His promise, has raised up a Saviour for Israel, even Jesus.

24 For whose coming John made ready the way by preaching to all the people of Israel the baptism which goes with a change of heart.

Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance.

25 And when John was completing his work, he said, What do I seem to you to be? I am not he; but one is coming after me, whose shoes I am not good enough to undo.

But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "'What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'

26 My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those among you who have the fear of God, to us the word of this salvation is sent.

"Brethren, descendants of the family of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us has this Message of salvation been sent.

27 For the men of Jerusalem and their rulers, having no knowledge of him, or of the sayings of the prophets which come to their ears every Sabbath day, gave effect to them by judging him.

For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers, by the judgement they pronounced on Jesus, have actually fulfilled the predictions of the Prophets which are read Sabbath after Sabbath, through ignorance of those predictions and of Him.

28 And though no cause of death was seen in him, they made a request to Pilate that he might be put to death.

Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death;

29 And when they had done all the things said in the Writings about him, they took him down from the tree, and put him in the place of the dead.

and when they had carried out everything which had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.

30 But God gave him back from the dead:

"But God raised Him from the dead.

31 And for a number of days he was seen by those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses before the people.

And, after a few days, He appeared to the people who had gone up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and are now witnesses concerning Him to the Jews.

32 And we are giving you the good news of the undertaking made to the fathers,

And we bring you the Good News about the promise made to our forefathers,

33 Which God has now put into effect for our children, by sending Jesus; as it says in the second Psalm, You are my Son; this day I have given you being.

that God has amply fulfilled it to our children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'Thou art My Son: to-day I have become Thy Father.'

34 And about his coming back from the dead, never again to go to destruction, he has said these words, I will give you the holy and certain mercies of David.

And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay, He speaks thus: 'I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.'

35 Because he says in another Psalm, You will not let your Holy One see destruction.

Because in another Psalm also He says, 'Thou wilt not give up Thy Holy One to undergo decay.'

36 Now David, having done God's work for his generation, went to sleep, and was put with his fathers, and his body came to destruction:

For David, after having been useful to his own generation in accordance with God's purpose, did fall asleep, was gathered to his forefathers, and did undergo decay.

37 But he, who was lifted up by God, did not see destruction.

But He whom God raised to life underwent no decay.

38 And so, let it be clear to you, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is offered to you:

"Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you;

39 And through him everyone who has faith is made free from all those things, from which the law of Moses was not able to make you free.

and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.

40 So take care that these words of the prophets do not come true for you;

Beware, then, lest what is spoken in the Prophets should come true of you:

41 See, you doubters, have wonder and come to your end; for I will do a thing in your days to which you will not give belief, even if it is made clear to you.

'Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"

42 And when they went out, they made a request that these words might be said to them again on the Sabbath after.

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people earnestly begged to have all this repeated to them on the following Sabbath.

43 Now when the meeting was ended, a number of the Jews and of the God-fearing Gentiles who had become Jews, went after Paul and Barnabas: who put before them how important it was to keep on in the grace of God.

And, when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.

44 And on the Sabbath after, almost all the town came together to give hearing to the word of God.

On the next Sabbath almost the whole population of the city came together to hear the Lord's Message.

45 But when the Jews saw such a great number of people, they were full of envy and said evil words against Paul's preaching.

Seeing the crowds, the Jews, filled with angry jealousy, opposed Paul's statements and abused him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas without fear said, It was necessary for the word of God to be given to you first; but because you will have nothing to do with it, and have no desire for eternal life, it will now be offered to the Gentiles. (aiōnios g166)

Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles. (aiōnios g166)

47 For so the Lord has given us orders, saying, I have given you for a light to the Gentiles so that you may be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

For such is the Lord's command to us. "'I have placed Thee,' He says of Christ, 'as a light to the Gentiles, in order that Thou mayest be a Saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth.'"

48 And the Gentiles, hearing this, were glad and gave glory to the word of God: and those marked out by God for eternal life had faith. (aiōnios g166)

The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed. (aiōnios g166)

49 And the word of the Lord went through all the country.

So the Lord's Message spread through the whole district.

50 But the Jews, working up the feelings of the God-fearing women of high position and of the chief men of the town, got an attack started against Paul and Barnabas, driving them out of those parts.

But the Jews influenced the gentlewomen of rank who worshipped with them, and also the leading men in the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the district.

51 But they, shaking off the dust of that place from their feet, came to Iconium.

But they shook off the dust from their feet as a protest against them and came to Iconium;

52 And the disciples were full of joy and of the Holy Spirit.

and as for the disciples, they were more and more filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.