Acts 13

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Among the members of the church at Antioch there were several prophets and teachers – Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of ‘Black’, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.”

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Accordingly, after fasting and prayer, they placed their hands on them and dismissed them.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

On reaching Salamis, they began to tell the message of God in the Jewish synagogues; and they had John with them as an assistant.

6 And when they had gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

After passing through the whole island, they reached Paphos, where they found an astrologer who pretended to be a prophet – a Jew by birth, whose name was Barjoshua.

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

He was at the court of the Governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who sent for Barnabas and Saul and asked to be told God’s message.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

But Elymas, the astrologer (for that is the meaning of the word), opposed them, eager to divert the Governor’s attention from the faith.

9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul, ) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

However, Saul (who is the same as Paul), full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said,

10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

“You incarnation of deceit and all fraud! You son of the devil! You opponent of all that is good! Will you never cease to divert the straight paths of the Lord? Listen!

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

The hand of the Lord is on you even now, and you will be blind for a time and unable to see the sun.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went feeling about for someone to guide him.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

When the Governor saw what had happened, he became a believer in Christ, being greatly impressed by the teaching about the Lord.

13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

After this, Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

The others went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. There they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, You men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

After the reading of the Law and the prophets, the synagogue leader sent them this message – “Friends, if you have any helpful words to address to the people, now is the time to speak.”

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience.

So Paul rose and, motioning with his hand, said: “People of Israel and all here who worship God, hear what I have to say.

17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelled as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, and during their stay in Egypt increased the prosperity of the people, and then with uplifted arm brought them out from that land.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

For about forty years he bore with them in the desert;

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

then, after destroying seven heathen nations in Canaan, he allotted their land to this people –

20 And after that he gave to them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

For about four hundred and fifty years. In later times he gave them Judges, of whom the prophet Samuel was the last.

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave to them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

And, when they demanded a king, God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

After removing him, he raised David to the throne, and bore this testimony to him – ‘In David, the son of Jesse, I have found a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.’

23 Of this man’s seed has God according to his promise raised to Israel a Savior, Jesus:

It was from this man’s descendants that God, in accordance with his promise, gave Israel a Savior – Jesus;

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

John having first proclaimed, before the appearance of Jesus, a baptism on repentance for all the people of Israel.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think you that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there comes one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

As John was drawing towards the end of his career, he said ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not the Christ. But there is “one coming” after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’

26 Men and brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Brothers and sisters, descendants of Abraham, and all those among you who worship God, it was to us that the message of this salvation was sent.

27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

The people of Jerusalem and their leaders, failing to recognize Jesus, and not understanding the utterances of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

They found no ground at all for putting him to death, and yet demanded his execution from Pilate;

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher.

and, after carrying out everything written about him, they took Jesus down from the cross, and laid him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

But God raised him from the dead;

31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

and he appeared for many days to those who had gone up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and who are now witnesses for him to the people.

32 And we declare to you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made to the fathers,

We also have good news to tell you, about the promise made to our ancestors –

33 God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.

That our children have had this promise completely fulfilled to them by God, by his raising Jesus. That is just what is said in the second Psalm – ‘You are my Son; this day I have become your Father.’

34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

As to his raising Jesus from the dead, never again to return to corruption, this is what is said – ‘I will give to you the sacred promises made to David;’

35 Why he says also in another psalm, You shall not suffer your Holy One to see corruption.

And, therefore, in another Psalm it is said – ‘You will not give up the Holy One to undergo corruption.’

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid to his fathers, and saw corruption:

David, after obediently doing God’s will in his own time, fell asleep and was laid by the side of his ancestors, and did undergo corruption;

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

but Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, did not undergo corruption.

38 Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:

I would, therefore, like you to know, friends, that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

and that, in union with him, everyone who believes in him is absolved from every sin from which under the Law of Moses you could not be absolved.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Beware, therefore, that what is said in the prophets does not come true of you –

41 Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you.

‘Look, you despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I am doing a deed in your days – a deed which, though told you in full, you will never believe’.”

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles sought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people begged for a repetition of this teaching on the next Sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

After the congregation had dispersed, many of the Jews, and of the converts who joined in their worship, followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue to rely on the loving kindness of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

On the following Sabbath, almost all the city gathered to hear God’s message.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

But the sight of the crowds of people filled the minds of the Jews with jealousy, and they kept contradicting Paul’s statements in violent language.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the Gentiles. (aiōnios g166)

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, and said: “It was necessary that the message of God should be told to you first; but, since you reject it and reckon yourselves not worthy of the eternal life – we turn to the Gentiles! (aiōnios g166)

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

For this is the Lord’s command to us – ‘I have destined you for a light to the Gentiles, a means of salvation to the ends of the earth’.”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (aiōnios g166)

On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God’s message; and all those who had been enrolled for eternal life became believers in Christ; (aiōnios g166)

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

and the Lord’s message was carried throughout that district.

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

But the Jews incited the women of high social standing who worshiped with them, and the leading men of the town, and started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.

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

They, however, shook the dust off their feet in protest,

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

and went to Iconium, leaving the disciples full of joy and of the Holy Spirit.