New Living Translation

New King James Version

Barnabas and Saul Are Commissioned

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”a), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipasb), and Saul.

1

Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain 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

One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”

2

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

3

So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

3

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

4

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.

4

Preaching in Cyprus

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

5

There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

5

And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

6

Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

6

Now when they had gone through [a]the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

7

He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God.

7

who 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

But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

8

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [b]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.

9

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

10

Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?

10

and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

11

Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

11

And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12

When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

12

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

13

Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia

Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

13

At Antioch in Pisidia

Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14

But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.c
On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services.

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.

15

After the usual readings from the books of Mosesd and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

15

And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of [c]exhortation for the people, say on.”

16

So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

16

Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

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“The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery.

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The God of this people [d]Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with [e]an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

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He put up with theme through forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

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Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.

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Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance.

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And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.

20

All this took about 450 years.
“After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet.

20

“After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

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Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.

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And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

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But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’f

22

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

23

“And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel!

23

From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a[f] Savior — Jesus —

24

Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized.

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

25

As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon — and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’

25

And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

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“Brothers — you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles — this message of salvation has been sent to us!

26

“Men and brethren, sons of the [g]family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the [h]word of this salvation has been sent.

27

The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath.

27

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

28

They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.

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And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

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“When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the crossg and placed him in a tomb.

29

Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

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But God raised him from the dead!

30

But God raised Him from the dead.

31

And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.

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He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.

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“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors,

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And we declare to you glad tidings — that promise which was made to the fathers.

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and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus:
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.h’

33

God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’

34

For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’i

34

And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to [i]corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure [j]mercies of David.’

35

Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’j

35

Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

36

This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.

36

“For David, after he had served [k]his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and [l]saw corruption;

37

No, it was a reference to someone else — someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

37

but He whom God raised up [m]saw no corruption.

38

k“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.

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Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;

39

Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight — something the law of Moses could never do.

39

and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40

Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

40

Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41

‘Look, you mockers,
be amazed and die!
For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn’t believe
even if someone told you about it.’l”

41

‘Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

42

As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week.

42

Blessing and Conflict at Antioch

[n]So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43

Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.

43

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

44

Paul Turns to the Gentiles

The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord.

44

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

45

But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

45

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

46

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.

46

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

47

For the Lord gave us this command when he said,
‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’m”

47

For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48

When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.

48

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

49

So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

49

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

50

Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.

50

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

51

So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.

51

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

52

And the believersn were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

52

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Acts 13

Acts 13