1 N ow there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

In the church in the city of Antioch there were preachers and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of the country of Cyrene, Manaen of Herod’s family, and Saul.

2 A nd as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

While they were worshiping the Lord and eating no food so they could pray better, the Holy Spirit said, “Let Barnabas and Saul be given to Me for the work I have called them to.” Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch

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

These preachers and teachers went without food during that time and prayed. Then they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them away.

4 S o they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

They were sent by the Holy Spirit to the city of Seleucia. From there they went by ship to the island of Cyprus.

5 A nd when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.

When they went to shore at the city of Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the Jewish place of worship. John Mark was with them as their helper.

6 A nd when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;

They went over Cyprus as far as the city of Paphos. While there, they found a Jew who did witchcraft. He was a false preacher named Barjesus.

7 w ho was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

Sergius Paulus was the leader of the country and a man who knew much. Barjesus was with Sergius Paulus. Sergius Paulus asked Barnabas and Saul to come to him so he might hear the Word of God.

8 B ut Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

But Elymas (as he called himself), the man who did witchcraft, worked against Barnabas and Saul. He tried to keep the leader of the country from putting his trust in the Lord.

9 B ut Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

Saul, whose other name was Paul, was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked at Elymas.

10 a nd said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Then Saul said, “You false preacher and trouble-maker! You son of the devil! You hate what is right! Will you always be turning people from the right ways of the Lord?

11 A nd now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt 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 some to lead him by the hand.

And now look! The hand of the Lord is on you. You will become blind. For a time you will not be able to see the sun.” At once it became dark to Elymas, and he could not see. He asked people to take him by the hand to lead him from place to place.

12 T hen the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

The leader of the country put his trust in the Lord because he saw what had happened. He was surprised and wondered about the teaching of the Lord.

13 N ow Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

Paul and those with him went by ship from Paphos to the city of Perga in the country of Pamphylia. John Mark did not go with them but went back to Jerusalem. Paul Preaches in Antioch

14 B ut they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

From Perga they went on to the city of Antioch in the country of Pisidia. On the Day of Rest they went into the Jewish place of worship and sat down.

15 A nd after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

After the leaders had read from the Jewish Law and the writings of the early preachers, they sent to them saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of comfort and help for the people, say it now.”

16 A nd Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:

Paul got up. He raised his hand and said, “Jewish men and you who honor God, listen!

17 T he God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it.

The God of the Jews chose our early fathers and made them a great people during the time they lived in the land of Egypt. With a strong hand He took them out from there.

18 A nd for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.

For about forty years He took care of them in the desert.

19 A nd when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:

He destroyed the people of seven nations in the land of Canaan. Then He divided the land and gave it to them as their own.

20 a nd after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

For about 450 years He let them have special leaders. They had these leaders until the time of Samuel.

21 A nd afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.

“Then they wanted a king. God gave them Saul who was the son of Kish from the family group of Benjamin. He was king forty years.

22 A nd when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.

When God took Saul as king from them, He made David to be their king. He said, ‘David, Jesse’s son, will please My heart. He will do all I want done.’

23 O f this man's seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;

“From this man’s family, God gave to the Jews the One Who saves from the punishment of sin as He had promised. He is Jesus.

24 w hen John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Before Jesus came, John had preached to all the Jews that they should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and turned from them.

25 A nd as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.

When John was near the end of his work, he asked, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the Christ. No, but He is coming later and I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes!’

26 B rethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.

“Men and brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and all of you who honor God, listen! This news of being able to be saved from the punishment of sin has been sent to you.

27 F or they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

The people of Jerusalem and their leaders did not know Him. They did not understand the words from the early preachers. These words were read to them every Day of Rest. But they did the very thing the early preachers had said they would do by handing Him over to die.

28 A nd though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.

They could find no reason that He should die, but they asked Pilate to have Him killed.

29 A nd when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.

When everything was done that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a grave.

30 B ut God raised him from the dead:

But God raised Him from the dead.

31 a nd he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people.

For many days He was seen by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are the ones who tell the people about Him.

32 A nd we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,

“We bring you the Good News about the promise made to our early fathers.

33 t hat God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

God has finished this for us who are their children. He did this by raising Jesus from the dead. It is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father.’

34 A nd as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.

God proved that Jesus was His Son by raising Him from the dead. He will never die again. He has said, ‘I will complete the promises made to David.’

35 B ecause he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption.

“In another Psalm He says, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to go back to dust!’

36 F or David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

David was a good leader for the people of his day. He did what God wanted. Then he died and was put into a grave close to his father’s grave. His body went back to dust.

37 b ut he whom God raised up saw no corruption.

But God raised this One (Christ) to life. He did not go back to dust.

38 B e it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:

“Men and brothers, listen to this. You may be forgiven of your sins by this One I am telling you about.

39 a nd by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Everyone who puts his trust in Christ will be made right with God. You will be made free from those things the Law of Moses could not make you free from.

40 B eware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets:

But look out! The writings of the early preachers tell of many things that you do not want to happen to you.

41 B ehold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

‘Listen, you who doubt and laugh at the truth will die. I will do a work during your days. It will be a work that you will not believe even if someone tells you about it.’”

42 A nd as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath.

As Paul and Barnabas went out of the Jewish place of worship, the people asked them to talk about these things on the next Day of Rest.

43 N ow when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

The people went from the place of worship. Many Jews and others who had become Jews followed Paul and Barnabas as they talked to the Jews. They told them to keep on trusting in the loving-favor of God. Paul and Barnabas Go to the People Who Are Not Jews

44 A nd the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

Almost all of the people of the town came to hear the Word of God on the next Day of Rest.

45 B ut when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.

The Jews were filled with jealousy when they saw so many people. They spoke against the things Paul said by saying he was wrong. They also spoke against God.

46 A nd Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas said to the people in plain words, “We must preach the Word of God to you first. But because you put it aside, you are not good enough for life that lasts forever. So we will go to the people who are not Jews.

47 F or so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Lord gave us a work to do. He said, ‘You are to be a light to the people who are not Jews. You are to preach so that men over all the earth can be saved from the punishment of their sins.’”

48 A nd as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

The people who were not Jews were glad when they heard this. They were thankful for the Word of God. Those who were chosen for life that lasts forever believed.

49 A nd the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.

The Word of God was preached over all that land.

50 B ut the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.

The Jews worked on the feelings of the women who were religious and respected. They worked on the leading men of the city also. They worked against Paul and Barnabas and made them leave their city.

51 B ut they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off from their feet against them and went to the city of Iconium.

52 A nd the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.

The missionaries were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.