| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man” ), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas ), and Saul. | 1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. |
| 2One 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.” | 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” |
| 3So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Paul’s First Missionary Journey | 3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. |
| 4So 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. | 4So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. |
| 5There, 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. | 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper. |
| 6Afterward 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. | 6They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, |
| 7He 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. | 7an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. |
| 8But 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. | 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. |
| 9Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. | 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas |
| 10Then 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? | 10and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? |
| 11Watch 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. | 11Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. |
| 12When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia | 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. |
| 13Paul 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. | 13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. |
| 14But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. | 14And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down. |
| 15After the usual readings from the books of Moses 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.” | 15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” |
| 16So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me. | 16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me! |
| 17“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. | 17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land. |
| 18He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. | 18He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness. |
| 19Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. | 19And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance. |
| 20All this took about 450 years. “After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. | 20All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. |
| 21Then 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. | 21Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. |
| 22But 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.’ | 22After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ |
| 23“And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! | 23From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised. |
| 24Before 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. | 24Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. |
| 25As 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.’ | 25As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ |
| 26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! | 26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. |
| 27The 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. | 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. |
| 28They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. | 28And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed. |
| 29“When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. | 29When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. |
| 30But God raised him from the dead! | 30But God raised Him from the dead, |
| 31And 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. | 31and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people. |
| 32“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, | 32And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers |
| 33and 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. ’ | 33He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’ |
| 34For 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.’ | 34In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ |
| 35Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’ | 35So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’ |
| 36This 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. | 36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay. |
| 37No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay. | 37But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. |
| 38 “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. | 38Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. |
| 39Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do. | 39Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. |
| 40Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, | 40Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to 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.’ ” | 41‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ” |
| 42As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week. | 42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath. |
| 43Many 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. Paul Turns to the Gentiles | 43After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. |
| 44The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. | 44On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. |
| 45But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. | 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying. |
| 46Then 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. | 46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. |
| 47For 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.’ ” | 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” |
| 48When 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. | 48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. |
| 49So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. | 49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region. |
| 50Then 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. | 50The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. |
| 51So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. | 51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. |
| 52And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. | 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. |
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