|
|
|
|
1. The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers: Barnabas, Simon, nicknamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, Saul.
|
1. Now G1161 there were G2258 in G2596 the G3588 church G1577 that was G5607 at G1722 Antioch G490 certain G5100 prophets G4396 and G2532 teachers G1320 ; as G5037 G3739 Barnabas G921 , and G2532 Simeon G4826 that was called G2564 Niger G3526 , and G2532 Lucius G3066 of Cyrene G2956 , and G5037 Manaen G3127 , which had been brought up with G4939 Herod G2264 the G3588 tetrarch G5076 , and G2532 Saul G4569 .
|
|
2. One day as they were worshiping God--they were also fasting as they waited for guidance--the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do."
|
2. As G1161 they G846 ministered G3008 to the G3588 Lord G2962 , and G2532 fasted G3522 , the G3588 Holy G40 Ghost G4151 said G2036 , Separate G873 G1211 me G5037 G3427 G5037 Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul G4569 for G1519 the G3588 work G2041 whereunto G3739 I have called G4341 them G846 .
|
|
3. So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.
|
3. And when G5119 they had fasted G3522 and G2532 prayed G4336 , and G2532 laid G2007 their hands G5495 on them G846 , they sent them away G630 .
|
|
4. Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus.
|
4. So G3767 they G3778 , being G3303 sent forth G1599 by G5259 the G3588 Holy G40 Ghost G4151 , departed G2718 unto G1519 Seleucia G4581 ; and G5037 from thence G1564 they sailed G636 to G1519 Cyprus G2954 .
|
|
5. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.
|
5. And G2532 when they were G1096 at G1722 Salamis G4529 , they preached G2605 the G3588 word G3056 of God G2316 in G1722 the G3588 synagogues G4864 of the G3588 Jews G2453 : and G1161 they had G2192 also G2532 John G2491 to their minister G5257 .
|
|
6. They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard
|
6. And G1161 when they had gone through G1330 the G3588 isle G3520 unto G891 Paphos G3974 , they found G2147 a certain G5100 sorcerer G3097 , a false prophet G5578 , a Jew G2453 , whose G3739 name G3686 was Barjesus G919 :
|
|
7. who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God's Word firsthand from them.
|
7. Which G3739 was G2258 with G4862 the G3588 deputy of the country G446 , Sergius G4588 Paulus G3972 , a prudent G4908 man G435 ; who G3778 called for G4341 Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul G4569 , and desired G1934 to hear G191 the G3588 word G3056 of God G2316 .
|
|
8. But Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer.
|
8. But G1161 Elymas G1681 the G3588 sorcerer G3097 ( for G1063 so G3779 is his name by interpretation G3177 G846 G3686 ) withstood G436 them G846 , seeking G2212 to turn away G1294 the G3588 deputy G446 from G575 the G3588 faith G4102 .
|
|
9. But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said,
|
9. Then G1161 Saul G4569 , ( who G3588 also G2532 is called Paul G3972 ,) filled G4130 with the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 G2532 , set his eyes G816 on G1519 him G846 ,
|
|
10. "You bag of wind, you parody of a devil--why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God.
|
10. And said G2036 , O G5599 full G4134 of all G3956 subtlety G1388 and G2532 all G3956 mischief G4468 , thou child G5207 of the devil G1228 , thou enemy G2190 of all G3956 righteousness G1343 , wilt thou not G3756 cease G3973 to pervert G1294 the G3588 right G2117 ways G3598 of the Lord G2962 ?
|
|
11. But now you've come up against God himself, and your game is up. You're about to go blind--no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.
|
11. And G2532 now G3568 , behold G2400 , the hand G5495 of the G3588 Lord G2962 is upon G1909 thee G4571 , and G2532 thou shalt be G2071 blind G5185 , not G3361 seeing G991 the G3588 sun G2246 for G891 a season G2540 . And G1161 immediately G3916 there fell G1968 on G1909 him G846 a mist G887 and G2532 a darkness G4655 ; and G2532 he went about G4013 seeking G2212 some to lead him by the hand G5497 .
|
|
12. When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.
|
12. Then G5119 the G3588 deputy G446 , when he saw G1492 what was done G1096 , believed G4100 , being astonished G1605 at G1909 the G3588 doctrine G1322 of the G3588 Lord G2962 .
|
|
13. From Paphos, Paul and company put out to sea, sailing on to Perga in Pamphylia. That's where John called it quits and went back to Jerusalem.
|
13. Now G1161 when Paul G3972 and his company G4012 loosed G321 from G575 Paphos G3974 , they came G2064 to G1519 Perga G4011 in Pamphylia G3828 : and G1161 John G2491 departing G672 from G575 them G846 returned G5290 to G1519 Jerusalem G2414 .
|
|
14. From Perga the rest of them traveled on to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the meeting place and took their places.
|
14. But G1161 when they G846 departed G1330 from G575 Perga G4011 , they came G3854 to G1519 Antioch G490 in Pisidia G4099 , and G2532 went G1525 into G1519 the G3588 synagogue G4864 on the G3588 sabbath G4521 day G2250 , and sat down G2523 .
|
|
15. After the reading of the Scriptures--God's Law and the Prophets--the president of the meeting asked them, "Friends, do you have anything you want to say? A word of encouragement, perhaps?"
|
15. And G1161 after G3326 the G3588 reading G320 of the G3588 law G3551 and G2532 the G3588 prophets G4396 the G3588 rulers of the synagogue G752 sent G649 unto G4314 them G846 , saying G3004 , Ye men G435 and brethren G80 , if G1487 ye have G2076 G1722 G5213 any word G3056 of exhortation G3874 for G4314 the G3588 people G2992 , say on G3004 .
|
|
16. Paul stood up, paused and took a deep breath, then said, "Fellow Israelites and friends of God, listen.
|
16. Then G1161 Paul G3972 stood up G450 , and G2532 beckoning G2678 with his hand G5495 said G2036 , Men G435 of Israel G2475 , and G2532 ye that fear G5399 God G2316 , give audience G191 .
|
|
17. God took a special interest in our ancestors, pulled our people who were beaten down in Egyptian exile to their feet, and led them out of there in grand style.
|
17. The G3588 God G2316 of this G5127 people G2992 of Israel G2474 chose G1586 our G2257 fathers G3962 , and G2532 exalted G5312 the G3588 people G2992 when G1722 they dwelt as strangers G3940 in G1722 the land G1093 of Egypt G125 , and G2532 with G3326 a high G5308 arm G1023 brought G1806 he them G846 out of G1537 it G846 .
|
|
18. He took good care of them for nearly forty years in that godforsaken wilderness
|
18. And G2532 about G5613 the time G5550 of forty years G5063 suffered he their manners G5159 G846 in G1722 the G3588 wilderness G2048 .
|
|
19. and then, having wiped out seven enemies who stood in the way, gave them the land of Canaan for their very own--
|
19. And G2532 when he had destroyed G2507 seven G2033 nations G1484 in G1722 the land G1093 of Canaan G5477 , he divided their land to them by lot G2624 G846 G1093 G846 .
|
|
20. a span in all of about four hundred fifty years. "Up to the time of Samuel the prophet, God provided judges to lead them.
|
20. And G2532 after G3326 that G5023 he gave G1325 unto them judges G2923 about the space of G5613 four hundred G5071 and G2532 fifty G4004 years G2094 , until G2193 Samuel G4545 the G3588 prophet G4396 .
|
|
21. But then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of Benjamin. After Saul had ruled forty years,
|
21. And afterward G2547 they desired G154 a king G935 : and G2532 God G2316 gave G1325 unto them G846 Saul G4549 the son G5207 of Kish G2797 , a man G435 of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Benjamin G958 , by the space of forty G5062 years G2094 .
|
|
22. God removed him from office and put King David in his place, with this commendation: 'I've searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He's a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.'
|
22. And G2532 when he had removed G3179 him G846 , he raised up G1453 unto them G846 David G1138 to be their king G1519 G935 ; to whom G3739 also G2532 he gave testimony G3140 , and said G2036 , I have found G2147 David G1138 the G3588 son of Jesse G2421 , a man G435 after G2596 mine own G3450 heart G2588 , which G3739 shall fulfil G4160 all G3956 my G3450 will G2307 .
|
|
23. "From out of David's descendants God produced a Savior for Israel, Jesus, exactly as he promised--
|
23. Of G575 this man G5127 's seed G4690 hath God G2316 according G2596 to his promise G1860 raised G1453 unto Israel G2474 a Savior G4990 , Jesus G2424 :
|
|
24. but only after John had thoroughly alerted the people to his arrival by preparing them for a total life-change.
|
24. When John G2491 had first preached G4296 before G4253 his G846 coming G1529 G4383 the baptism G908 of repentance G3341 to all G3956 the G3588 people G2992 of Israel G2474 .
|
|
25. As John was finishing up his work, he said, 'Did you think I was the One? No, I'm not the One. But the One you've been waiting for all these years is just around the corner, about to appear. And I'm about to disappear.'
|
25. And G1161 as G5613 John G2491 fulfilled G4137 his course G1408 , he said G3004 , Whom G5101 think G5282 ye that I G3165 am G1511 ? I G1473 am G1510 not G3756 he. But G235 , behold G2400 , there cometh G2064 one after G3326 me G1691 , whose G3739 shoes G5266 of his feet G4228 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G514 to loose G3089 .
|
|
26. "Dear brothers and sisters, children of Abraham, and friends of God, this message of salvation has been precisely targeted to you.
|
26. Men G435 and brethren G80 , children G5207 of the stock G1085 of Abraham G11 , and G2532 whosoever among G1722 you G5213 feareth G5399 God G2316 , to you G5213 is the G3588 word G3056 of this G5026 salvation G4991 sent G649 .
|
|
27. The citizens and rulers in Jerusalem didn't recognize who he was and condemned him to death.
|
27. For G1063 they that dwell G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem G2419 , and G2532 their G846 rulers G758 , because they knew him not G50 G5126 , nor G2532 yet the G3588 voices G5456 of the G3588 prophets G4396 which are read G314 every G2596 G3956 sabbath day G4521 , they have fulfilled G4137 them in condemning G2919 him.
|
|
28. They couldn't find a good reason, but demanded that Pilate execute him anyway.
|
28. And G2532 though they found G2147 no G3367 cause G156 of death G2288 in him, yet desired G154 they Pilate G4091 that he G846 should be slain G337 .
|
|
29. They did just what the prophets said they would do, but had no idea they were following to the letter the script of the prophets, even though those same prophets are read every Sabbath in their meeting places. "After they had done everything the prophets said they would do, they took him down from the cross and buried him.
|
29. And G1161 when G5613 they had fulfilled G5055 all G537 that was written G1125 of G4012 him G846 , they took him down G2507 from G575 the G3588 tree G3586 , and laid G5087 him in G1519 a sepulcher G3419 .
|
|
30. And then God raised him from death.
|
30. But G1161 God G2316 raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead G3498 :
|
|
31. There is no disputing that--he appeared over and over again many times and places to those who had known him well in the Galilean years, and these same people continue to give witness that he is alive.
|
31. And he G3739 was seen G3700 many G4119 days G2250 of them which came up with G4872 him G846 from G575 Galilee G1056 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 , who G3748 are G1526 his G846 witnesses G3144 unto G4314 the G3588 people G2992 .
|
|
32. "And we're here today bringing you good news: the Message that what God promised the fathers
|
32. And G2532 we G2249 declare unto you glad tidings G2097 G5209 , how that the G3588 promise G1860 which was made G1096 unto G4314 the G3588 fathers G3962 ,
|
|
33. has come true for the children--for us! He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm: My Son! My very own Son! Today I celebrate you!
|
33. G3754 God G2316 hath fulfilled G1603 the same G5026 unto us G2254 their G846 children G5043 , in that he hath raised up Jesus again G450 G2424 ; as G5613 it is also G2532 written G1125 in G1722 the G3588 second G1208 psalm G5568 , Thou G4771 art G1488 my G3450 Son G5207 , this day G4594 have I G1473 begotten G1080 thee G4571 .
|
|
34. "When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good--no going back to that rot and decay for him. That's why Isaiah said, 'I'll give to all of you David's guaranteed blessings.'
|
34. And G1161 as concerning that G3754 he raised him up G450 G846 from G1537 the dead G3498 , now no more G3371 to G3195 return G5290 to G1519 corruption G1312 , he said G2046 on this wise G3779 , I will give G1325 you G5213 the G3588 sure G4103 mercies G3741 of David G1138 .
|
|
35. So also the psalmist's prayer: 'You'll never let your Holy One see death's rot and decay.'
|
35. Wherefore G1352 he saith G3004 also G2532 in G1722 another G2087 psalm, Thou shalt not G3756 suffer G1325 thine G4675 Holy One G3741 to see G1492 corruption G1312 .
|
|
36. "David, of course, having completed the work God set out for him, has been in the grave, dust and ashes, a long time now.
|
36. For G1063 David G1138 , after he G3303 had served G5256 his own G2398 generation G1074 by the G3588 will G1012 of God G2316 , fell on sleep G2837 , and G2532 was laid G4369 unto G4314 his G848 fathers G3962 , and G2532 saw G1492 corruption G1312 :
|
|
37. But the One God raised up--no dust and ashes for him!
|
37. But G1161 he, whom G3739 God G2316 raised again G1453 , saw G1492 no G3756 corruption G1312 .
|
|
38. I want you to know, my very dear friends, that it is on account of this resurrected Jesus that the forgiveness of your sins can be promised.
|
38. Be G2077 it known G1110 unto you G5213 therefore G3767 , men G435 and brethren G80 , that G3754 through G1223 this man G5127 is preached G2605 unto you G5213 the forgiveness G859 of sins G266 :
|
|
39. He accomplishes, in those who believe, everything that the Law of Moses could never make good on. But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is declared good and right and whole before God.
|
39. And G2532 by G1722 him G5129 all G3956 that believe G4100 are justified G1344 from G575 all things G3956 , from which G3739 ye could G1410 not G3756 be justified G1344 by G1722 the G3588 law G3551 of Moses G3475 .
|
|
40. "Don't take this lightly. You don't want the prophet's sermon to describe you:
|
40. Beware G991 therefore G3767 , lest G3361 that come G1904 upon G1909 you G5209 , which is spoken of G2046 in G1722 the G3588 prophets G4396 ;
|
|
41. Watch out, cynics; Look hard--watch your world fall to pieces. I'm doing something right before your eyes That you won't believe, though it's staring you in the face."
|
41. Behold G1492 , ye despisers G2707 , and G2532 wonder G2296 , and G2532 perish G853 : for G3754 I G1473 work G2038 a work G2041 in G1722 your G5216 days G2250 , a work G2041 which G3739 ye shall in no wise G3364 believe G4100 , though G1437 a man G5100 declare G1555 it unto you G5213 .
|
|
42. When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath.
|
42. And G1161 when the G3588 Jews G2453 were gone G1826 out of G1537 the G3588 synagogue G4864 , the G3588 Gentiles G1484 besought G3870 that these G5023 words G4487 might be preached G2980 to them G848 the G3588 next G3342 sabbath G4521 .
|
|
43. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace.
|
43. Now G1161 when the G3588 congregation G4864 was broken up G3089 , many G4183 of the G3588 Jews G2453 and G2532 religious G4576 proselytes G4339 followed G190 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 : who G3748 , speaking to G4354 them G846 , persuaded G3982 them G846 to continue G1961 in the G3588 grace G5485 of God G2316 .
|
|
44. When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God.
|
44. And G1161 the G3588 next G2064 sabbath day G4521 came almost the whole city together G4863 G4975 G3588 G3956 G4172 to hear G191 the G3588 word G3056 of God G2316 .
|
|
45. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.
|
45. But G1161 when the G3588 Jews G2453 saw G1492 the G3588 multitudes G3793 , they were filled G4130 with envy G2205 , and G2532 spake against G483 those things which were spoken G3004 by G5259 Paul G3972 , contradicting G483 and G2532 blaspheming G987 .
|
|
46. But Paul and Barnabas didn't back down. Standing their ground they said, "It was required that God's Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you want no part of it--you've made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal life--the door is open to all the outsiders. And we're on our way through it,
|
46. Then G1161 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 waxed bold G3955 , and said G2036 , It was G2258 necessary G316 that the G3588 word G3056 of God G2316 should first G4412 have been spoken G2980 to you G5213 : but G1161 seeing G1894 ye put it from you G683 G846 , and G2532 judge G2919 yourselves G1438 unworthy G3756 G514 of everlasting G166 life G2222 , lo G2400 , we turn G4762 to G1519 the G3588 Gentiles G1484 .
|
|
47. following orders, doing what God commanded when he said, I've set you up as light to all nations. You'll proclaim salvation to the four winds and seven seas!"
|
47. For G1063 so G3779 hath the G3588 Lord G2962 commanded G1781 us G2254 , saying, I have set G5087 thee G4571 to be a light G1519 G5457 of the Gentiles G1484 , that thou G4571 shouldest be G1511 for G1519 salvation G4991 unto G2193 the ends G2078 of the G3588 earth G1093 .
|
|
48. When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God--they honored God's Word by receiving that life.
|
48. And G1161 when the G3588 Gentiles G1484 heard G191 this , they were glad G5463 , and G2532 glorified G1392 the G3588 word G3056 of the G3588 Lord G2962 : and G2532 as many as G3745 were G2258 ordained G5021 to G1519 eternal G166 life G2222 believed G4100 .
|
|
49. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.
|
49. And G1161 the G3588 word G3056 of the G3588 Lord G2962 was published G1308 throughout G1223 all G3650 the G3588 region G5561 .
|
|
50. Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave.
|
50. But G1161 the G3588 Jews G2453 stirred up G3951 the G3588 devout G4576 and G2532 honorable G2158 women G1135 , and G2532 the G3588 chief men G4413 of the G3588 city G4172 , and G2532 raised G1892 persecution G1375 against G1909 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 , and G2532 expelled G1544 them G846 out of G575 their G848 coasts G3725 .
|
|
51. Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium,
|
51. But G1161 they G3588 shook off G1621 the G3588 dust G2868 of their G848 feet G4228 against G1909 them G846 , and came G2064 unto G1519 Iconium G2430 .
|
|
52. brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples.
|
52. And G1161 the G3588 disciples G3101 were filled G4137 with joy G5479 , and G2532 with the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 .
|