Dual Panel1Now there were in the church at Antioch both prophets and teachersBarnabas, Simeon surnamed Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen the fosterbrother of the governor Herod, and Saul.
2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, saying, "Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me for a task to which I have called them."
3At this, after further fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and set them free for this work.
4So these two, sent out at the Holy Spirit's command, went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed off to Cyprus.
5On their arrival at Salamis they began to proclaim God's message in the Jewish synagogues, having John as their assistant.
6As they made their way through the island as far as Paphos they came across a man named BarJesus, a Jew who was both a false prophet and a magician.
7This man was attached to Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, who was himself a man of intelligence. He had sent for Barnabas and Saul as he was anxious to hear God's message.
8But Elymas the magician (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them, doing his best to dissuade the proconsul from accepting the faith.
9Then Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, eyed him closely
10and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all true goodness, you monster of trickery and evil, is it not high time you gave up trying to pervert the truth of the Lord?
11Now listen, the Lord himself will touch you, for some time you will not see the light of the sunyou will be blind!" Immediately a mist and then an utter blackness came over his eyes, and he went round trying to find someone to lead him by the hand.
12When the proconsul saw what had happened he believed, for he was shaken to the core at the Lord's teaching.
13Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and went to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and turned back to Jerusalem,
14but they continued their journey through Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and took their seats.
15After the reading of the Law and Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them with a message, "Men and brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, by all means speak."
16So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, began: "Men of Israel and all of you who fear God, listen to me.
17The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made them into a great people while they were exiles in the land of Egypt. Then he lifted up his arm and led them out of that land.
18Yes, and he sustained them for some forty years in the desert.
19He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan before he gave them that land as their inheritance
20for some four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.
21Then when they begged for a king God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, to be their king for forty years.
22After he had deposed him he raised David to the throne, a man of whom God himself bore testimony in the words, 'I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who shall do all my will.'
23From the descendants of this man, according to his promise, God has brought Jesus to Israel to be their saviour.
24John came before him to prepare his way, preaching the baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel.
25Indeed, as John reached the and of his time he said these words: 'What do you think I am? I am not he. But know this, someone comes after me whose shoelace I am not fit to untie!"
26"Men and brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has now been sent!
27For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers refused to recognise him or to understand the voice of the prophets which are read every Sabbath dayeven though in condemning him they fulfilled these very prophecies!
28For though they found no cause for putting him to death, they begged Pilate to have him executed.
29And when they had completed everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.
30But God raised him from the dead.
31For, many days he was seen by those who had come up from Galilee to Jerusalem with him, and these men are now his witnesses to the people.
32And as for us we tell you the good news that the promise made to our forefathers
33has come truethat, in raising up Jesus, God has fulfilled it for us their children. This is endorsed in the second psalm: 'Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.'
34And as for the fact of God's raising him from the dead, never to return to corruption, he has spoken in these words: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'
35And then going further he says in another psalm, 'Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption'.
36For David, remember, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation fell asleep and was laid with his ancestors. He did in fact 'see corruption',
37but this man whom God raised never saw corruption!
38It is therefore imperative, men and brothers, that every one of you should realize that forgiveness of sins is now proclaimed to you through this man.
39And through faith in him a man is absolved from all those things from which the Law of Moses could never set him free.
40Take care then that this saying of the prophets should never apply to you:
41Behold, 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."
42As they were going out the people kept on asking them to say all this again on the following Sabbath.
43After the meeting of the synagogue broke up many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who spoke personally to them and urged them to put their trust in the grace of God.
44On the next Sabbath almost the entire population of the city assembled to hear the message of the Lord,
45but when the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with jealousy and contradicted what Paul was saying, covering him with abuse.
46At this Paul and Barnabas did not mince their words but said, "We felt it our duty to speak the message of God to you first, but since you spurn it and evidently do not think yourselves fit for eternal life, watch us now as we turn to the gentiles!
47Indeed the Lord has commanded us to do so in the words: I have set thee for a light of the gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth."
48When the gentiles heard this they were delighted and thanked God for his message. All those who were destined for eternal life believed,
49and the Word of the Lord spread over the whole country.
50But the Jews worked upon the feelings of devout and reputable women and of the leading citizens, and succeeded in starting a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from the district.
51But they on their part simply shook off the dust from their feet in protest and went on to Iconium.
52And the disciples continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.