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, Mt 14:1; Ac 4:36; 11:19,22,27; 1Co 12:28 and Saul.

2As they were ministering to Or were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.” Ac 8:29; 9:15; Rm 1:1; Gl 1:15

3Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. Ac 6:6; 14:26

4Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

5Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. Ac 9:20; 12:12

6When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. Mt 7:15; Ac 8:9

7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. Ac 18:12; 19:38

8But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed Ex 7:11; 2Tm 3:8 them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Ac 6:7; 8:9

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

10and said, “You son of the Devil, Mt 13:38; Jn 8:44 full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths Hs 14:9; 2Pt 2:15 of the Lord?

11Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you. Ex 9:3; 1Sm 5:6-7; Ps 32:4; Heb 10:31 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.

12Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. Ac 13:49; 15:35-36

13Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and went back to Jerusalem. Ac 12:12; 13:6; 15:38

14They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. Ac 9:20; 14:19,21; 16:3; 17:2; 18:4

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.” Mk 5:22; Ac 15:21

16Then Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen! Ac 10:2; 12:17

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 Lit with an uplifted arm. Ex 1:6; 6:6; Dt 7:6-8; Ac 7:17

18And for about 40 years He put up with them Other mss read He cared for them in the wilderness; Dt 1:31; Ac 7:36

19then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1; 19:51; Ps 78:55; Ac 7:45 He gave their land to them as an inheritance.

20This all took about 450 years. After this, He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Jdg 2:16; 1Sm 3:20; Ac 3:24

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. 1Sm 8:5; 9:1; 10:1

22After removing him, 1Sm 15:23,26; 16:13 He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man loyal to Me, 1Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20 1Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20 who will carry out all My will.’

23“From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus, Other mss read brought salvation to Israel. Ps 132:1; Mt 1:1; Lk 2:11; Ac 13:32

24Before He came to public attention, Lit Before the face of His entrance John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Mt 3:1; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Ac 1:22; 19:4

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.’ Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:20,27; Ac 20:24

26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. Ac 4:12; 5:20

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 Lit fulfilled them by condemning Him. Lk 24:27; Ac 3:17

28Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have Him killed. Mt 27:22-23; Ac 3:14

29When they had fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb. Mt 27:59; Lk 23:53; Ac 5:30

30But God raised Him from the dead, Mt 28:6; Ac 2:24

31and He appeared for many days to those who came with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people. Mt 28:16; Lk 24:48; Ac 1:3

32And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors. Ac 5:42; 26:6; Rm 4:13; 9:4

33God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:

41Look, you scoffers,

42As they Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath.

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. Ac 11:23; 14:22

44The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord. Other mss read of God

45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. Ac 18:6; 1Th 2:16; 1Pt 4:4; Jd 10

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! Mt 21:43; Ac 3:26; 18:6; 22:21; 28:28

47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: