13 1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a lifelong companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping our Lord Jesus and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Father's Word Reaches Cyprus
4 So, sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of our Father in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John as their helper. 6 When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of our Father. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of every kind of deceit and trickery — will you never stop twisting the straight paths of our Father? 11 And now, look, the hand of our Father is upon you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened, for he was astonished at the teaching of our Lord Jesus.
The Father's Story Proclaimed in Antioch
13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 while they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."
16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand he said: "Men of Israel, and you who fear our Father, listen. 17 Our Father, the Father of this people Israel, chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. After that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and our Father gave 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 David to be their king, of whom he testified: 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23 From this man's offspring our Father has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his ministry, he said, 'What do you think I am? I am not he. No, but look, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
26 "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear our Father, this message of salvation has been sent to us. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But our Father raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what our Father promised to our ancestors, 33 he has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: "'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'"
34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, never to decay again, he said: "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'" 35 Therefore he also says in another psalm: "'You will not let your Holy One see decay.'" 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of our Father in his own generation, fell asleep, was laid with his ancestors, and saw decay, 37 but he whom our Father raised up did not see decay. 38 So know this, brothers — through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is set free from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Be careful, then, that what is said in the Prophets does not happen to you: 41 "'Look, you scoffers, be astonished and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells it to you.'"
42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke with them and urged them to continue in the grace of our Father.
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of our Lord Jesus. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting what Paul said, reviling him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of our Father be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what our Father has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of our Lord Jesus, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of our Lord Jesus spread throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent devout women and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.