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Acts 13

1In the assembly at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands on them, they sent them off.

4So, sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5When they reached Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. 6After traveling through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician and Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the magician—for that is how his name is translated—opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him 10and said, “You are full of every kind of deceit and villainy, a son of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness! Will you not stop twisting the Lord's straight ways? 11Now look, the Lord's hand is upon you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12Then, when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John withdrew from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14They traveled on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, speak.” 16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said:

“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and lifted up the people during their stay in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted arm he brought them out of it, 18and for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19After bringing down seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave their land as an inheritance. 20All this took about four hundred fifty years. After these things, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22After removing him, he 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 all that I will.’ 23From this man's offspring, according to promise, God brought Israel a Savior, Jesus. 24Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25As John was completing his course, he used to say, ‘What do you suppose I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

26“Brothers, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God: the word of this salvation has been sent to us. 27For those living in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the voices of the prophets read every Sabbath. 28Though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29When they had accomplished everything written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead. 31For many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32And we proclaim to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers: 33God has fulfilled it for our children by raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’ 34And that he raised him from the dead, never again to return to decay, he has said in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and faithful blessings of David.’ 35Therefore he also says in another place, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ 36For David, after serving God's purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 37But the one God raised did not see decay. 38So let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and from everything from which you could not be acquitted by the law of Moses, 39everyone who believes is acquitted through him. 40So take care that what was spoken in the prophets does not come upon you:

41“‘Look, you scoffers! Marvel and vanish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you will certainly not believe even if someone tells you in detail.’”

42As they went out, the people begged that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43When the synagogue gathering broke up, many Jews and devout converts followed Paul and Barnabas. They spoke with them and urged them to remain in God's grace.

44The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and contradicted what Paul was saying, speaking abusively. 46Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly: “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look, we are turning to the nations. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you as a light for the nations, that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’” 48When the nations heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirring up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and driving them out of their territory. 51They shook the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Translation notes 8

13:15, 26, 38 — Brothers. The conventional address includes the Greek word for men; “Brothers” renders the address naturally without establishing that no women could hear the speech.

13:1, 9 — Names. Niger is a Latin name meaning “black”; the text does not establish Simeon's ancestry. Manaen's description can mean a childhood companion or foster brother. Saul's other name, Paul, is introduced here without saying that his name was changed at conversion.

13:8–10 — Elymas and the straight ways. The narrator connects “Elymas” with “magician”; the exact derivation is uncertain. “Son of the devil” characterizes him, while “straight ways” retains an image also found in Luke 3:4–5.

13:18–20 — Wilderness and years. “Put up with” follows the base; another reading means “cared for.” The base places the approximately 450 years before the judges, rather than making it the duration of their rule. The preceding period as a whole is in view.

13:24–25 — John's saying. “Baptism of repentance” and untying sandals connect with Luke 3:3, 16. The Greek here has no word for “strap,” so that detail is not imported.

13:33–37 — Children, raising, and decay. “Our children” follows the base; a strong alternative reads “us, their children.” “Raising up” may refer to bringing Jesus onto the scene or to resurrection, made explicit in verse 34. The sonship quotation is Psalm 2:7; the following quotations concern David's promised blessings and the Holy One not seeing decay. “Blessings” supplies an English noun for a Greek substantive adjective.

13:38–39 — Acquitted. The Greek verb often translated “justified” or “declared righteous” is used here with “from.” “Acquitted” conveys release from charges or sins; “freed” is another rendering. This is a contextual choice, not a change to James 2.

13:43–50 — Jews, nations, and appointment. Many Jews believe in verse 43; “the Jews” in the opposition scenes refers to the opponents in that narrative, not to every Jewish person. “Nations” means Gentiles. “Had been appointed” preserves the passive without supplying an explanation of when or how God appoints people to life.