Acts 13

1 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.

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 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."

As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."

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

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

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

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

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

When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.

6 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,

When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,

7 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.

who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

8 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.

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

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

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

10 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?

and said, "Full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 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.

Now, look, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

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

Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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

Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

14 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.

But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.

15 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."

After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak."

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

Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

17 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.

The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.

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

For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

19 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;

When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

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

All this took about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things he gave them judges, until Samuel the prophet.

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

Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 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.'

When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

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

From this man's offspring, according to his promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,

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

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

25 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.'

As John was fulfilling his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But look, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

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

Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to us.

27 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.

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

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

Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.

29 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.

When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and placed him in a tomb.

30 "But God raised Him from the dead.

But God raised him from the dead,

31 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.

and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

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

We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,

33 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.'

that God has fulfilled for us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.'

34 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.'

"Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: 'I will give to you the faithful sacred things of David.'

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

Therefore he says also in another psalm, 'You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.'

36 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.

For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was placed with his fathers, and saw decay.

37 But He whom God raised to life underwent no decay.

But he whom God raised up saw no decay.

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

Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you forgiveness of sins,

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

and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.

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

So beware, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41 '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.'"

'Look, you scoffers, and be amazed, and perish; for I am working a work in your days, a work which you will not believe, if one tells it to you.'"

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

So when they went out they urged them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath.

43 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.

Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

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

The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of the Lord.

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

But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and reviled him.

46 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)

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, "It was necessary that God's word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, look, we turn to the non-Jewish people. (aiōnios g166)

47 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.'"

For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you as a light to the nations, that you may bring salvation to the farthest part of the earth.'"

48 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)

As the non-Jewish people heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord. As many as were appointed to everlasting life believed. (aiōnios g166)

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

The Lord's word was spread abroad throughout all the region.

50 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.

But the Jews stirred up the devout women of prominence and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.

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

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

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

The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.