New Living Translation | NET 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 there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) 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 serving 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 | 3Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they 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 out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed 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 in Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. (Now they also had John as their assistant.) |
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. | 6When they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish 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. | 7who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and 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 the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. |
9Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. | 9But Saul (also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at him |
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, "You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness--will you not stop making crooked the straight paths 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 you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!" Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people 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 | 12Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded 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. | 13Then Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. |
14But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. | 14Moving on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue 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 leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it." |
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. | 16So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said, "Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen: |
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 this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay as foreigners in the country of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. |
18He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. | 18For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. |
19Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. | 19After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land 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 four hundred fifty years. After this he 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 they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. |
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 him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: 'I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do.' |
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 brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just 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 Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for 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.’ | 25But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly, 'What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!' |
26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! | 26Brothers, descendants of Abraham's family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. |
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. | 27For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him. |
28They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. | 28Though they found no basis 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 accomplished everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed 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 appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people. |
32“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, | 32And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors, |
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. ’ | 33that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son; today I have fathered you.' |
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.’ | 34But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.' |
35Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’ | 35Therefore he also says in another psalm, 'You will not permit your Holy One to experience 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 David, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced 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 up did not experience 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 this one 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. | 39and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you. |
40Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, | 40Watch out, then, that what is spoken about 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.’ ” | 41Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells 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 going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things 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 | 43When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading 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 next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together 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 began to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him. |
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. | 46Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, "It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning 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 appointed you to be 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 began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed. |
49So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. | 49So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire 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. | 50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region. |
51So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. | 51So after they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, they 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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