New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard 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.

1In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of 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.”

2As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to."

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, prayed, and laid 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.

4Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came 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.

5Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God's message in the Jewish synagogues. 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 gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, 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.

7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God's message.

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 (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried 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.

9Then Saul--also called Paul--filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer

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 son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won't you ever stop perverting 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 Lord's hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time." Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around 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

12Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and 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.

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

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

14They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. 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 of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can 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.

16Then Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel, and you 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, exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.

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

18And for about 40 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.

19then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land to them as an inheritance.

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

20This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until 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, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 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, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man loyal to Me, who will carry out all My will.'"

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

23From this man's descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus, to 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.

24Before He came to public attention, John had previously proclaimed 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.’

25Then as John was completing his life's work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and 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, sons of Abraham's race, and those 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 residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him.

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

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

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 fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put 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 He appeared for many days to those who came with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who 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 ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made 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. ’

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.

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.’

34Since He raised Him from the dead, never to return to decay, He has spoken in this way, I will grant you the faithful covenant blessings 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 passage, You will not allow Your Holy One to 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 David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed.

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

37But the One God raised up did not 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 man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,

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

39and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

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

40So beware that what is said in 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, 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."

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

42As they were leaving, the people begged that these matters be presented to them the following 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 had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and 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.

44The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message 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 began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting 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.

46Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: "It was necessary that God's message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy 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 message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

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

49So the message of the Lord spread through the whole 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 prominent women, who worshiped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.

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

51But they shook the dust off their feet 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 the Holy Spirit.

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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.