Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

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.

2As 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."

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.”

3Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

3So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Paul’s First Missionary Journey

4So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

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.

5Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.

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.

6When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

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.

7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.

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.

8But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

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.

9But Saul--also called Paul--filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas

9Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.

10and said, "You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won't you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?

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?

11Now, look, the Lord's hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time." Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

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.

12Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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

13Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.

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.

14They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

14But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services.

15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak."

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.”

16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: "Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!

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.

17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.

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.

18And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness;

18He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

19and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

19Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance.

20This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

20All this took about 450 years. “After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet.

21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

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.

22After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him: 'I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.'

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.’

23"From this man's descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel the Savior, Jesus.

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

24Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

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.

25Now as John was completing his mission, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.'

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.’

26"Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham's race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.

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

27Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.

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.

28Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.

28They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.

29When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.

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.

30But God raised him from the dead,

30But God raised him from the dead!

31and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

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.

32And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.

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

33God has fulfilled this 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.

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. ’

34As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.

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.’

35Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.

35Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’

36For David, after serving God's purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed,

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.

37but the one God raised up did not decay.

37No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

38Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.

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

39Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

39Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.

40So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

40Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

41Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it 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.’ ”

42As they were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath.

42As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week.

43After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.

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

44The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.

44The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord.

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.

45But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

46Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.

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.

47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the end of the earth."

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.’ ”

48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

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.

49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

49So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

50But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.

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.

51But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium.

51So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.

52And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

52And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.