Barnabas and Saul sent out
NOW there were in the congregation that was in Antioch, certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas; and Simeon that was called Niger; and Lucius of Cyrene; and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch; and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: “Separate to me Barnabas and Saul, for the work which I have called them to.”
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them: sent them out.
Preaching in Cyprus
4 ¶ So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed into Seleucia; and from there, sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to assist.
6 And when they had passed through the island as far as Paphos; they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-jesus:
7 Who was with the proconsul: Sergio Paul; an intelligent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by translation) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
9 Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him,
10 And said: “O full of all deceit and all wrongdoing; son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness; will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?
11 And now behold: the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done: believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas in Pisidia
13 ¶ Now when Paul and his company set sail from Paphos; they came into Perga in Pamphylia, and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
14 And when they departed from Perga, they came into Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying: “Men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen.
17 The God of this people Israel, chose our fathers and lifted up the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a raised arm brought them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years He put up with them in the wilderness.
19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot.
20 And after that, He gave them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And 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 And when He had removed him, He raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall do all my will.”
23 Of this man’s seed, has God according to His promise raised up to Israel a Saviour: Jesus.
24 John first preached before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said: “Who do you think that I am? I am not He. But behold: there comes one after me, whose sandals of His feet I am not worthy to untie.””
26 ¶ “Men and brothers; children of the stock of Abraham; and whosoever among you fears God: to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For those that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers; because they knew Him not; nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath: have fulfilled them by condemning Him.
28 And though they could find no basis for death; yet they asked Pilate that he should be executed.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him; they took him down from the tree, and laid Him in a grave.”
30 ¶ “But God raised him from the dead:
31 And He was seen many days of those which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem; who are His witnesses to the people.
32 And we proclaim to you good news: that the promise made to the fathers:
33 God has fulfilled that same promise 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.”
34 And that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise: “I will give you the sure mercies of David.”
35 Therefore He saith also in another psalm: “You shall not allow your Holy One to see corruption.”
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the council of God: fell asleep; and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption.
37 But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”
38 ¶ “Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers: that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
39 And from all things which you could not be declared righteous by the law of Moses; in Him, all that believe are declared righteous.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets:
41 “Behold, you scoffers, wonder and be destroyed: for I work a work in your days; a work which you shall by no means believe, though someone declare it in detail to you.””
42 ¶ And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue; the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the synagogue was dismissed, 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 And the next sabbath day, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy; and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 ¶ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, and said: “It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: but because you pushed it away from you, and judge yourselves not worthy of everlasting life: lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying: “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles; that you should be for salvation as far as 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 determined into eternal life, believed.
49 ¶ And the word of the Lord was carried throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city: and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their boarders.
51 And they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came into Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit.