Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)

1Now there were several prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch, as Barnabas, Simeon surnam'd Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them. 3accordingly, after having fasted and prayed they gave them imposition of hands, and dismiss'd them.

On Cyprus

4being thus appointed missionarys by the holy spirit, they went to Seleucia, where they embark'd for Cyprus. 5when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant. 6Having travers'd the isle as far as to Paphos, they found a Jew there nam'd Barjesus, who was a false prophet and magician: 7he was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of prudence: who sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God. 8but Elymas (a name which signifies Magus) opposed them, endeavouring to seduce the proconsul from the faith. 9then Saul, who was nam'd likewise Paul, full of the holy spirit, look'd fixedly upon him, 10and said, "thou heap of imposture and mischief, offspring of the devil, and enemy to all justice, wilt thou not cease to pervers men from the right ways of the Lord? 11his hand is falling upon thee, thou shalt be blind, and not see the sun for some time." immediately his eyes were covered with obscurity and darkness; so that he grop'd about for somebody to lead him by the hand. 12the proconsul seeing the fact, embraced the faith, being struck with admiration of the christian doctrine.

In Pisidian Antioch

13after which Paul and his company set out from Paphos to Perga in Pamphilia, where John quitted them in order to return to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went to Antioch in Pisidia, and going to the synagogue on the sabbath-day, they took their places, 15and after the lesson out of the law and the prophets was finish'd, the heads of the synagogue sent this message to them; Men and brethren, if you have any instruction to offer to the people, deliver it. 16thereupon Paul stood up, and having made sign with his hand for their attention, he said, men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17the God of Israel made choice of our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourn'd in Egypt, from whence he conducted them by the terror of his arm. 18for forty years he maintain'd them in the wilderness. 19after that he distributed to them by lot the territorys of seven nations, which he destroyed in Canaan. 20after these transactions, which lasted about four hundred and fifty years, he gave them judges to the time of the prophet Samuel: 21when having demanded a king, God gave them Saul the son of Cis, of the tribe of Benjamin: the government of both having lasted forty years, 22God removed Saul, and rais'd up David to be their king, to whom he gave this testimonial, " I have found David the son of Jesse: he is a man most acceptable to me, and he will execute all my orders." 23it is of his posterity that God, pursuant to his promise, has rais'd up Jesus to be the saviour of Israel. 24before his appearance, John had preach'd the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25and in the discharge of his mission, he said, "who do you think I am? I am not the Messias, but there comes another after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie."

26It is to you, my brethren, who are the children of Abraham, and to all who fear God among you, that this salutary news is sent. 27as for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their senators, by their not knowing who he was, and by condemning him, they have accomplished the declarations of the prophets, which are read every sabbath-day: 28although they could not convict him of any thing capital, yet they demanded of Pilate, that he should be put to death. 29after they had accomplished all that was written concerning him, he was taken down from the cross, and laid in a sepulchre: 30but God raised him from the dead: 31and for many days he was seen by those, who had accompany'd him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and they are now his witnesses to the people. 32to you therefore we declare, that the promise which God had made to the fathers, he has now perform'd to us, who are their children, by his having raised up Jesus again. 33agreeable to what is written in the first psalm, "thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." 34and to show that he rais'd him from the dead, never more to return to corruption, he said thus, "I will faithfully perform the promises, which I made to David." 35wherefore in another place he says, "thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption." 36for David, after he had serv'd in his time the designs of providence, died and was buryed with his fathers, and was subject to corruption. 37but he, whom God hath raised, was not subject to corruption. 38know then, my brethren, it is by him, that the remission of sins is offer'd to you: 39by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision. 40take care then, that what the prophets predicted may not happen to you,

41"consider you despisers, be surpriz'd and turn pale, for I shall perform a work in your days, which you will not believe, whoever shall declare it unto you."

A Light for the Gentiles

42When Paul and Barnabas were gone out of the Jewish synagogue, the Gentiles desired them to entertain them on the same subject, the following sabbath. 43when the assembly was separated, many Jews and religious proselytes followed after, to whom the apostles address'd themselves, and exhorted them to persevere in the divine dispensation.

44The next sabbath-day almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45when the Jews saw such a crowd, they were fill'd with resentment, and oppos'd what Paul had advanc'd, even to blasphemy. 46but Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, you indeed were the first, to whom the word of God was to be preach'd: but since you reject it, and judge your own selves unworthy of eternal life, be assur'd, we shall make the same offer to the Gentiles:

47for thus has the Lord commanded us, "I have appointed you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the remotest parts of the earth."

48when the Gentiles heard this, they received the word with joy, glorifying the Lord: and as many as were dispos'd to eternal life, believed. 49and the word of the Lord spread through the whole country. 50but the Jews having animated the women of quality of their religion, and the leading men of the city, raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and banish'd them from their territorys. 51so they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and went to Iconium. 52and the disciples were filled with joy, and with the holy spirit.