Acts 13

1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, and Manaen, who’d been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “I’ve appointed Barnabas and Saul for a special task. Set them apart for me.” 3The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, and then they sent them off.

Events on Cyprus

4Barnabas and Saul, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

6They traveled across the whole island of Cyprus until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet. 7He worked for the governor, Sergius Paulus. But the governor was an intelligent man, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul because wanted to hear God’s word. 8The evil magician, who was also called Elymas (meaning “Sorcerer”), opposed them and tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer. 9Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10“You’re a child of the devil! You’re an enemy of everything that’s right! You deceive people by using all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the Lord’s hand is against you, and you will become blind for a while. You won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.”

Right away mist and darkness came over Elymas. He tried to feel his way around and had to ask someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed by the teaching about the Lord.

Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia

13From Paphos, Paul and those who were traveling with him sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark split up with them and returned to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to another city named Antioch, the one in the region of Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue there and sat down. 15After someone read aloud from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his group. They said, “Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”

16Paul stood up and started speaking and gesturing with his hands, and he said, “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country. 18He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert. 19Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave that land to his people to live in. 20All this took about 450 years.

“After that, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king and he gave them Saul, the son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years, but then 22God removed him and made David the king. Here’s what God said about him: ‘David, the son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

23“From this man’s family line, God has brought the Savior Jesus to Israel, just as he promised. 24Before Jesus came, John preached to all Israel that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. 25As John was finishing his work, he asked, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the one you’re looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I’m not worthy to untie his sandals.’

26“Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers didn’t recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the words of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath day, come true. 28The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. Still, they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and those who’d traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him for many days. Now they are his witnesses to our people.

32“We’re telling you the good news: God made promises to our people long ago, 33and he has now kept them for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm:

“ ‘You are my son;

today I have become your father.’

34God raised Jesus from the dead so he would never rot in the grave. As God has said,

“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings

that were promised to David.’

35In another place it also says,

“ ‘You will not let your holy one decay.’

36“David carried out God’s purpose in his own generation, but when he died, he was buried with his people and his body rotted away. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.

38“My friends, here’s what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law cannot make you right in God’s eyes. 40Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets spoke about happen to you. They said,

41“ ‘Look, you who make fun of the truth!

Wonder and die!

I am going to do something in your days

that you would never believe

even if someone told you.’ ”

42-43The people were told they could leave the service. As Paul and Barnabas were going out of the synagogue, they were asked to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day. Many Jews and Gentiles who had converted to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and they talked with them and encouraged them to keep living in God’s grace.

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

46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. “We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said. “But you haven’t accepted it, as if you think you don’t deserve eternal life. So we’re going to talk to the Gentiles from now on. 47This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said,

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles

to bring salvation to the whole earth.’ ”

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

49The word of the Lord spread through that whole area. 50But the Jewish leaders stirred up some important Gentile women who attended the synagogue. They also stirred up some men who were leaders in the city. They got all these people to oppose and attack Paul and Barnabas, and they threw the two men out of that area. But 51Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet to protest against the people who’d opposed them, and then they went on to Iconium. 52The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

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