Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins (Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)
1 CPDV Now there were, in the Church at Antioch, prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas, and Simon, who was called the Black, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. BSB BSB: Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. 3 CPDV Then, fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, they sent them away. BSB BSB: And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus 4 CPDV And having been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. And from there they sailed to Cyprus. BSB BSB: So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
5 CPDV And when they had arrived at Salamis, they were preaching the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John in the ministry. BSB BSB: When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
6 CPDV And when they had traveled throughout the entire island, even to Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesu. BSB BSB: They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
8 CPDV But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) stood against them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the Faith. BSB BSB: But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
9 CPDV Then Saul, who is also called Paul, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him, BSB BSB: Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
10 CPDV and he said: “So full of every deceit and of all falsehoods, son of the devil, enemy of all justice, you never cease to subvert the righteous ways of the Lord! BSB BSB: and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11 CPDV And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you. And you will be blinded, not seeing the sun for a length of time.” And immediately a fog and a darkness fell over him. And wandering around, he was seeking someone who might lead him by the hand. BSB BSB: Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 CPDV Then the proconsul, when he had seen what was done, believed, being in wonder over the doctrine of the Lord. BSB BSB: When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
In Pisidian Antioch 13 CPDV And when Paul and those who were with him had sailed from Paphos, they arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Then John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
15 CPDV Then, after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: “Noble brothers, if there is in you any word of exhortation to the people, speak.” BSB BSB: After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
17 CPDV The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there. BSB BSB: The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
18 CPDV And throughout a time of forty years, he endured their behavior in the desert. BSB BSB: He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.
19 CPDV And by destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land among them by lot, BSB BSB: And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
20 CPDV after about four hundred and fifty years. And after these things, he gave them judges, even until the prophet Samuel. BSB BSB: All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21 CPDV And later on, they petitioned for a king. And God gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. BSB BSB: Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22 CPDV And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’ BSB BSB: After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
23 CPDV From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel. BSB BSB: From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
24 CPDV John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. BSB BSB: Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 CPDV Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’ BSB BSB: As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But there is One coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
27 CPDV For those who were living in Jerusalem, and its rulers, heeding neither him, nor the voices of the Prophets that are read on every Sabbath, fulfilled these by judging him. BSB BSB: The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28 CPDV And although they found no case for death against him, they petitioned Pilate, so that they might put him to death. BSB BSB: And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
29 CPDV And when they had fulfilled everything that had been written about him, taking him down from the tree, they placed him in a tomb. BSB BSB: When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 CPDV Yet truly, God raised him up from the dead on the third day. BSB BSB: But God raised Him from the dead,
31 CPDV And he was seen for many days by those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even now are his witnesses to the people. BSB BSB: and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
32 CPDV And we are announcing to you that the Promise, which was made to our fathers, BSB BSB: And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33 CPDV has been fulfilled by God for our children by raising up Jesus, just as it has been written in the second Psalm also: ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.’ BSB BSB: He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
34 CPDV Now, since he raised him from the dead, so as to no longer return to corruption, he has said this: ‘I will give to you the holy things of David, the faithful one.’ BSB BSB: In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 CPDV And also then, in another place, he says: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption.’ BSB BSB: So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’
36 CPDV For David, when he had ministered to his generation in accordance with the will of God, fell asleep, and he was placed next to his fathers, and he saw corruption. BSB BSB: For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
37 CPDV Yet truly, he whom God has raised from the dead has not seen corruption. BSB BSB: But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 CPDV Therefore, let it be known to you, noble brothers, that through him is announced to you remission from sins and from everything by which you were not able to be justified in the law of Moses. BSB BSB: Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39 CPDV In him, all who believe are justified. BSB BSB: Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 CPDV Therefore, be careful, lest what was said by the Prophets may overwhelm you: BSB BSB: Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:
41 CPDV ‘You despisers! Look, and wonder, and be scattered! For I am working a deed in your days, a deed which you would not believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.’ ” BSB BSB: ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
A Light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1–6)
42 CPDV Then, as they were departing, they asked them if, on the following Sabbath, they might speak these words to them. BSB BSB: As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
43 CPDV And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many among the Jews and the new worshipers were following Paul and Barnabas. And they, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. BSB BSB: After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 CPDV Yet truly, on the following Sabbath, nearly the entire city came together to hear the Word of God. BSB BSB: On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 CPDV Then the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with envy, and they, blaspheming, contradicted the things that were being said by Paul. BSB BSB: But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
46 CPDV Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly: “It was necessary to speak the Word of God first to you. But because you reject it, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. BSB BSB: Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 CPDV For so has the Lord instructed us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” BSB BSB: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 CPDV Then the Gentiles, upon hearing this, were gladdened, and they were glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as believed were preordained to eternal life. BSB BSB: When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 CPDV Now the word of the Lord was disseminated throughout the entire region. BSB BSB: And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.
50 CPDV But the Jews incited some devout and honest women, and the leaders of the city. And they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they drove them away from their parts. BSB BSB: The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
51 CPDV But they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, went on to Iconium. BSB BSB: So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 CPDV The disciples were likewise filled with gladness and with the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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