Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 13
Barnabas and Saul Are Sent
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been raised with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them away.
Cyprus: Saul Is Also Called Paul
Sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant. After traveling through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus who was a magician and false prophet. He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God’s word. But Elymas the magician—that is how his name is translated—opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at him and said, “You are full of every kind of deceit and fraud, son of the devil and enemy of all righteousness! Will you never stop twisting the Lord’s straight ways? Now look—the Lord’s hand is against you. You will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell over him, and he went around looking for people to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he trusted, astonished at the Lord’s teaching.
Paul Speaks in Pisidian Antioch
Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, speak.” Paul stood, motioned with his hand, and said, “People of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great while they lived as foreigners in Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave their land to Israel as an inheritance, over a period of about four hundred fifty years. After this he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. After removing him, God raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do everything I desire.’ From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus. Before Jesus came, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not he. But look—one is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
The Word of This Salvation
“Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God: the word of this salvation has been sent to us.
The people living in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus or understand the voices of the prophets read every Sabbath, yet by condemning him they fulfilled those words.
Although they found no reason for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.
When they had completed everything written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead.
For many days he appeared to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people.
We announce to you the good news that the promise made to our ancestors
God has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus, just as it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.’
And that God raised him from the dead, never again to return to decay, he expressed this way:
‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy blessings promised to David.’
Therefore he also says in another Psalm:
‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and saw decay.
But the one God raised did not see decay.
Forgiveness and Being Set Right
“Therefore let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Through him everyone who trusts is set right from everything from which you could not be set right by the Law of Moses.
So watch out that what was spoken in the Prophets does not happen to you:
‘Look, you scoffers!
Be amazed and perish,
because I am doing a work in your days,
a work you will certainly not trust
even if someone tells you about it.’”
The Word Spreads Through the Region
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next Sabbath.
When the synagogue gathering ended, many Jewish people and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. They spoke with them and urged them to continue in God’s grace.
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the Lord’s word.
But when some Jewish opponents saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and contradicted what Paul was saying, insulting him.
Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly: “It was necessary for God’s word to be spoken to you first. Since you push it away and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look—we are turning to the Gentiles.
For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
so that you may bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.’”
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the Lord’s word, and all who had been appointed to eternal life trusted.
The Lord’s word spread throughout the whole region.
But some Jewish opponents stirred up the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They provoked persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region.
Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.