Acts 13

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And while they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they also had John (Mark) to help as their attendant.

6 And when they had gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer {for so is his name by interpretation} opposed them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith (of Jesus).

9 Then Saul {who was also called Paul} filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

10 And said, O full of all deceit and all unscrupulousness, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you never cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord (Jesus).

 

13 Now when Paul and his company sailed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John (Mark), departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14 But after they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent (a message) to them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak it.

 

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and (those of) you that revere God, listen (to me).

 

17 The God of these people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelled as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with (His) high arm He brought them out of it.

 

18 And for about the span of forty years, He endured their (disobedient) ways in the wilderness.

19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, He gave them the land as an inheritance.

20 And after that, He gave to them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21 And afterwards (having rejected that God should reign over them) they desired a king (like other nations): and God gave to them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up to them David to be their king; to whom also He testified to them, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who shall do all my will.

23 Of this man's seed (according to the flesh) has God, brought His promise (to pass), raising to Israel a Savior, Jesus:

24 When John had first preached before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, Whom do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes one after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to unloose (but I need Him to serve me).

 

26 Men and brethren, children of the family of Abraham, and whoever among you reveres (and looks to) God (alone to be preserved), unto you is the word of this salvation sent.

 

27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, along with their rulers, because they did not know (or recognize) Him (as Christ, the Messiah), nor (did they heed) the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day (that spoke exclusively of Him), (yet) they have fulfilled their prophecies in condemning Him.

 

28 And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet they demanded that Pilate put Him to death (on a tree).

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

30 But God raised Him from the dead:

31 And He was seen many days by them who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people (of His resurrection).

 

32 And we declare unto you the good news, how that the promise (of eternal life), which was made to the fathers,

 

33 How that God has fulfilled the same (promise) to us, their children, in that He has raised up Jesus (as the firstborn from the dead); as it is also written in the second psalm, You are My Son, this day have I begotten you (from the dead in an incorruptible body).

 

34 Since then, He raised Him up from the dead, not ever to (see death or) return to corruption (again), He has spoken on this way, I will (make an everlasting covenant with you even) give you the sure mercies of David.

 

35 Therefore, also in another psalm, He said, You shall not (leave My soul in the grave, nor) allow Your Holy One (the Word who came in flesh) to see corruption.

36 For David, after he had served his own generation through the will of God, fell asleep, and was added to the fathers, and saw corruption:

37 But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38 Be it known to you therefore, men and brethren, that through this One (Christ Jesus, who is both the savior and Lord) is the forgiveness of sins proclaimed to you (sending away our death and corruption):

 

39 And by Him everyone that believes (in Him) is justified from all things (through His divinity, healing our flesh from death), from (the sting of death) which you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that which is spoken of in the prophets come on you;

41 Behold, you (scoffers and) despisers, (who are filled with) wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall not believe, though a man declares it to you.

 

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles sought that these (same) words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 When the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and new converts followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And (when) the next sabbath day came, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and slandering to defame them.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas, increasing in boldness (and confidence), said, It was necessary that the word of God should have been spoken to you (Jews) first: but since you reject it (thrusting it from you), and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

 

47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, so that you should be My salvation unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

 

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified (greatly esteeming) the word of the Lord: and as many as believed were ordained to eternal life.

 

49 And (because of this) the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their district.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet (as a testimony) against them, and they went to Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.