巴拿巴和掃羅接受差遣
1安提阿教會中有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴、綽號「黑人」的希緬、古利奈人路求、與分封王希律一同長大的馬念以及掃羅。 2一天，他們正在敬拜主、禁食的時候，聖靈對他們說：「要為我把巴拿巴和掃羅分別出來，好讓他們做我呼召他們去做的事。」 3於是，他們禁食禱告並把手按在巴拿巴和掃羅身上，然後差遣他們出去。
4二人受聖靈差遣，下到西流基，從那裡乘船去塞浦路斯。 5他們到了撒拉米，就在當地的猶太會堂傳講上帝的道。約翰·馬可作他們的助手。
6他們走遍全島，遠至帕弗，在那裡遇見一個冒充先知的猶太術士巴·耶穌。 7這人和當地的士求·保羅總督常有來往。士求·保羅是個聰明人，他邀請了巴拿巴和掃羅來，要聽上帝的道。 8但希臘名字叫以呂馬的那個術士反對使徒，試圖攔阻總督信主。 9又名保羅的掃羅被聖靈充滿，盯著他說： 10「你這魔鬼的兒子，充滿了詭詐和邪惡，是一切正義之敵，到現在還想歪曲主的正道嗎？ 11現在主要親手懲罰你，使你瞎眼，暫時不見天日！」
他頓覺眼前一片漆黑，只好四處摸索，求人領他走路。 12總督看見所發生的事，對主的道感到驚奇，就信了。
保羅傳揚基督
13保羅和同伴從帕弗乘船到旁非利亞的別加。約翰·馬可在那裡離開他們回耶路撒冷去了。 14他們由別加繼續前行，來到彼西底區的安提阿。在安息日那天，他們進了會堂坐下來。 15讀完律法書和先知書後，會堂主管派人告訴他們：「弟兄們，如果你們有什麼勸勉眾人的話，請講。」
16保羅站起來向大家揮手示意，說：「各位以色列同胞和各位敬畏上帝的外族朋友們，請聽我說。 17以色列的上帝揀選了我們的祖先，讓他們在埃及寄居期間人丁興旺成為大族，後來祂伸出臂膀帶領他們離開埃及。 18他們在曠野漂泊的那四十年間，上帝一直照顧、容忍他們。 19後來上帝又滅了迦南境內的七族，把土地分給他們作產業。 20前後歷時約四百五十年。之後，上帝又為他們設立士師，直到撒母耳先知的時代。
21「後來，他們求上帝為他們立一位王，上帝就選立便雅憫支派中基士的兒子掃羅為王，執政四十年。 22之後，上帝廢掉掃羅，選立大衛作王，並為他作證說，『我找到了耶西的兒子大衛，他是合我心意的人，他必遵行我一切的旨意。』 23上帝照自己的應許，從大衛的後裔中為以色列人立了一位救主，就是耶穌。 24在耶穌還未公開露面以前，約翰已經勸告以色列人要悔改，接受洗禮。 25約翰在工作快要完成的時候說，『你們以為我是誰？我不是基督。在我之後來的那位，我連給祂解鞋帶也不配。』
26「弟兄們，各位亞伯拉罕的子孫和敬畏上帝的外族人啊，這救恩之道原是傳給我們的。 27可是耶路撒冷的人和他們的官長不知道耶穌是基督，雖然每個安息日都誦讀先知的信息，卻把基督判死罪。這正應驗了先知們的話。 28他們雖然找不到判祂死罪的理由，卻強求彼拉多將祂處死。 29祂受死的記載全部應驗之後，有人把祂從十字架上取下來，安放在石墓裡。 30但上帝卻使祂從死裡復活。 31之後有許多天，那些從加利利跟隨祂上耶路撒冷的人都看見過祂，他們如今在百姓中都是祂的見證人。 32我們要報給你們一個好消息，上帝給我們祖先的應許， 33祂藉著使耶穌復活已為我們做子孫的成就了。正如詩篇第二篇所說，
『你是我的兒子，
我今日成為你父親。』
34聖經曾這樣記載上帝使祂從死裡復活、永不朽壞的事，
『我必將應許大衛的聖潔、
可靠的恩福賜給你們。』
35又在詩篇上說，
『你必不讓你的聖者身體朽壞。』
36「大衛在世時遵行上帝的旨意，最後死了，葬在他祖先那裡，肉身也朽壞了。 37然而，上帝使之復活的那位卻沒有朽壞。 38所以，弟兄們，你們應該知道，赦罪的信息是藉著耶穌傳給你們的。 39你們靠遵行摩西律法不能被稱為義人，只有信靠耶穌才能被稱為義人。 40你們要當心，免得先知說的話應驗在你們身上，
41『藐視真理的人啊，看吧！
你們要在驚懼中滅亡，
因為我要在你們的時代行一件事，
即使有人告訴你們，
你們也不會信。』」
42保羅和巴拿巴離開會堂時，會堂裡的人請求他們下一個安息日再來講道。 43許多猶太人和誠心改信猶太教的外族人都跟隨保羅和巴拿巴，二人就與他們談論，勸勉他們要堅定不移地信靠上帝的恩典。
44到了下一個安息日，幾乎全城的人都聚集起來，要聽上帝的道。 45猶太人看見那麼多人聚集，充滿嫉妒，便反駁保羅所講的，誹謗他。 46保羅和巴拿巴毫不畏懼地說：「上帝的道本該先傳給你們，你們既然拒絕接受，認為自己不配得永生，我們現在就把這道傳給外族人。 47因為主這樣吩咐我們，
『我已使你成為外族人的光，
好把救恩帶到地極。』」
48外族人聽後，非常歡喜，頌讚主的道。凡被選定得永生的人都信了主。 49主的道傳遍了那個地方。
50但猶太人煽動虔誠的貴婦和城中顯要迫害保羅和巴拿巴，將二人趕出城去。 51保羅和巴拿巴便當眾跺掉腳上的塵土13·51 表示兩不相干，參見馬太福音10·14。，去了以哥念。 52門徒滿心喜樂，被聖靈充滿。
1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said. “I have appointed them to do special work.” 3The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.
Events on Cyprus
4Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet. 7He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God’s word. 8But the evil magician named Elymas opposed them. The name Elymas means Magician. He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer. 9Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him, 10“You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to go blind. For a while you won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.”
Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.
Paul Preaches in Pisidian Antioch
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, “Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”
16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, “Fellow Israelites, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country. 18He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert. 19And he destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share. 20All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years. 22God removed him and made David their king. Here is God’s witness about him. ‘David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,’ he said. ‘David will do everything I want him to do.’
23“From this man’s family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised. 24Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel. 25John was coming to the end of his work. ‘Who do you suppose I am?’ he said. ‘I am not the one you are looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.’
26“Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus. By finding him guilty, they made the prophets’ words come true. These are read every Sabbath day. 28The people and their rulers had no reason at all for sentencing Jesus to death. But they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29They did everything that had been written about Jesus. Then they took him down from the cross. They laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead. 31For many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about Jesus.
32“We are telling you the good news. What God promised our people long ago 33he has done for us, their children. He has raised up Jesus. This is what is written in the second Psalm. It says,
“ ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your father.’ (Psalm 2:7)
34God raised Jesus from the dead. He will never rot in the grave. As God has said,
“ ‘Holy and sure blessings were promised to David.
I will give them to you.’ (Isaiah 55:3)
35In another place it also says,
“ ‘You will not let your holy one rot away.’ (Psalm 16:10)
36“David carried out God’s purpose while he lived. Then he died. He was buried with his people. His body rotted away. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not rot away.
38“My friends, here is what I want you to know. I announce to you that your sins can be forgiven because of what Jesus has done. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. Moses’ law could not make you right in God’s eyes. 40Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets spoke about happen to you. They said,
41“ ‘Look, you who make fun of the truth!
Wonder and die!
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You wouldn’t believe it even if someone told you.’ ” (Habakkuk 1:5)
42Paul and Barnabas started to leave the synagogue. The people invited them to say more about these things on the next Sabbath day. 43The people were told they could leave the service. Many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Many Gentiles who faithfully worshiped the God of the Jews did the same. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They tried to get them to keep living in God’s grace.
44On the next Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered. They gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.
46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly. “We had to speak God’s word to you first,” they said. “But you don’t accept it. You don’t think you are good enough for eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles. 47This is what the Lord has commanded us to do. He said,
“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles.
You will bring salvation to the whole earth.’ ” (Isaiah 49:6)
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad. They honored the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord spread through the whole area. 50But the Jewish leaders stirred up the important women who worshiped God. They also stirred up the men who were leaders in the city. The Jewish leaders tried to get the women and men to attack Paul and Barnabas. They threw Paul and Barnabas out of that area. 51Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet. This was a warning to the people who had opposed them. Then Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium. 52The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
