Chapter 13

1In the community of believers at Antioch, there were people who spoke messages from God and others who taught. They were Barnabas; Simeon, who was called Niger; Lucius from Cyrene; Manaen, who had grown up with the regional ruler Herod; and Saul.

2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, God’s Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I have called them.”

3So they fasted and prayed. Then they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to commission them and sent them away.

4Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

5When they reached Salamis, they announced God’s message in the Jewish synagogues, the local places for worship and teaching. John was with them as their assistant.

6They traveled across the whole island as far as Paphos. There they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

7He was with Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of the island, who was an intelligent man. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God’s message.

8But the sorcerer Elymas—his name means “sorcerer”—opposed them and tried to turn the governor away from faith.

9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit and looked directly at Elymas.

10Paul said, “You are full of every kind of deceit and fraud! You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right. Will you never stop twisting the Lord’s straight paths?

11“Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately, mist and darkness came over Elymas, and he walked around looking for someone to lead him by the hand.

12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed by the teaching about the Lord.

13Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14Paul and Barnabas continued from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath, the Jewish weekly day of rest and worship, they entered the synagogue and sat down.

15After readings from the Law and the Prophets, two sections of the Jewish Scriptures, the synagogue leaders sent them this message: “Friends, if you have anything encouraging to say to the people, please speak.”

16Paul stood, motioned with his hand, and said, “People of Israel, and everyone else here who honors God, listen!

17Paul continued, “The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors. He made the people prosper while they lived as foreigners in Egypt, and with great power he led them out.

18“For about forty years, he put up with their behavior in the wilderness.

19“He destroyed seven peoples in the land of Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance.

20“All this took about 450 years. Afterward, God gave them leaders known as judges, until the time of the prophet Samuel.

21“Then the people asked for a king, so God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for forty years.

22“After removing Saul, God made David their king. God said about him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man who desires what I desire. He will do everything I want.’

23“Just as he had promised, God brought Israel someone from David’s descendants who would save them—Jesus.

24“Before Jesus began his work, John announced to all the people of Israel a baptism showing that they had changed their hearts and lives.

25“As John was completing his work, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are waiting for. But someone is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy even to untie.’

26Paul continued, “Friends, descendants of Abraham and everyone among you who honors God, the message about this rescue has been sent to us.

27“The people living in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus. They also failed to understand the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. Yet by condemning Jesus, they fulfilled those very words.

28“Although they found no reason why he deserved death, they asked Pilate to have him killed.

29“After they had carried out everything written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.

30“But God raised him from the dead.

31“For many days, Jesus appeared to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They now tell the people what they saw.

32Paul continued, “We are bringing you the good news that God made a promise to our ancestors.

33“God has fulfilled that promise for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second psalm: ‘You are my Son; today I have brought you forth.’

34“God raised Jesus from the dead, never to return to decay. God expressed it this way: ‘I will give you the holy and dependable blessings promised to David.’

35“That is why he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not let the one devoted to you experience decay.’

36“David served God’s purpose during his own lifetime. Then he died, was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.

37“But the one God raised from the dead did not experience decay.

38Paul continued, “So understand this, friends: through Jesus, forgiveness for wrongdoing is being announced to you. Moses’ law could not set you right with God in every matter.

39“But through Jesus, everyone who believes is set right with God.

40“Be careful, then, that what the prophets said does not happen to you:

41“‘Look, you who mock! Be amazed—and perish! For I am doing something in your time, something you would never believe even if someone explained it fully to you.’”

42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these things again on the next Sabbath.

43After the synagogue meeting ended, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. The two men spoke with them and urged them to continue relying on God’s generous kindness.

44On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the Lord’s message.

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they became filled with jealousy. They argued against what Paul was saying and spoke abusively.

46Paul and Barnabas answered boldly, “God’s message had to be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and decide that you are not worthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the non-Jewish peoples.

47They continued, “The Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the nations, so that you may bring rescue to the farthest parts of the earth.’”

48When the non-Jews heard this, they rejoiced and honored the Lord’s message. All who had been appointed for eternal life believed.

49The Lord’s message spread throughout the whole region.

50But the Jews stirred up prominent women who worshiped God and the city’s leading men. They started a campaign of persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the region.

51Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet as a sign against them and went to Iconium.

52The new followers of Jesus were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.