Acts 13

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

2. And as they were ministering and fasting to the Lord, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate both Barnabas and Saul to Me for the work to which I have called them.”

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

4. So then, after being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus.

5. And when they came to Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John as an assistant.

6. And when they had gone through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-jesus.

7. He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who called Barnabas and Saul to him, desiring to hear the Word of God.

8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so was his name interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

9. But Saul, who was also called Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him,

10. And said, “O full of all guile and all craftiness, you son of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?

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

12. And after seeing what had happened, the proconsul believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13. Then Paul and his company sailed away from Paphos and came to Perga of Pamphylia; but John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

14. Now after passing through from Perga, they came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they 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 said to them, “Men, brethren, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, speak.”

16. Then Paul stood up and, after beckoning with his hand, said, “Men, Israelites, and those who fear God, listen to me.

17. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were sojourning in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm brought them out of it.

18. And for a period of about forty years, He put up with their manners in the desert.

19. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land to them by lot.

20. And after these things, He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21. And then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22. And after removing him, He raised up David to be their king; to whom He also gave testimony, saying, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will perform all My will.’

23. Of this man’s seed has God according to His promise raised up to Israel a Savior, Jesus,

24. After 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, “Who do you suppose that I am? I am not He; but behold, there is One Who comes after me, of Whom I am not worthy to loose the sandals of His feet.”

26. Men, brethren, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the message of this salvation was sent;

27. For those who were dwelling in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor the voices of the prophets who are read every Sabbath, have themselves fulfilled them in condemning Him.

28. And though no one found any cause worthy of death, they begged Pilate to execute Him.

29. And when they had carried out all things that were written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb;

30. But God raised Him from the dead.

31. And He appeared for many days to those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.

32. And we are announcing the gospel to you—the promise made to the fathers—that God has fulfilled this to us, their children, having raised up Jesus;

33. As it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today have I begotten You.’

34. And to confirm that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He spoke in this manner: ‘I will give You the faithful mercies of David.’

35. Accordingly, he also says in another place, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

36. For David, after ministering to his own generation by the counsel of God, died, and was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption.

37. But the One Whom God raised up did not see corruption.

38. Therefore, be it known to you, men and brethren, that through this Man the remission of sins is preached to you.

39. And in Him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40. Take heed, therefore, lest that which is spoken in the Prophets come upon you:

41. ‘Behold, you despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work that you will in no way believe, even if one declares it to you.’ “

42. And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles entreated him that these words might be spoken to them on the next Sabbath.

43. Now after the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and the proselytes who worshiped there followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44. And on the coming Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the Word of God.

45. But when they saw the multitude, the Jews were filled with envy; and they spoke against the things proclaimed by Paul, and were contradicting and blaspheming.

46. But Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, saying, “It was necessary for the Word of God to be spoken to you first; but since you reject it and do not judge yourselves worthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles;

47. For so the Lord has enjoined upon us: ‘I have set You for a light of the Gentiles that You should be for salvation unto the uttermost parts of the earth.’ “

48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced; and they glorified the Word of the Lord, and believed, as many as were appointed to eternal life.

49. And the Word of the Lord was carried throughout the entire country.

50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the principal men of the city, and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.

51. And after shaking the dust off their feet against them, they came to Iconium.

52. Then the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.