Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins (Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)
3 UEB After they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on these men, they sent them off. BSB BSB: And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus 4 UEB So Barnabas and Saul obeyed the Holy Spirit and went down to Seleucia; from there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. BSB BSB: So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
5 UEB When they were in the city of Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John Mark as their assistant. 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 UEB When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar Jesus. 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 UEB But Elymas "the magician" (that is how his name is translated) opposed them; he tried 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 UEB But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him intensely. BSB BSB: Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
10 UEB and said, "You son of the devil, you are full of all kinds of deceit and wickedness. You are an enemy of every kind of righteousness. You will never stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord, will you? 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 UEB Now look, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will become blind. You will not see the sun for a while." Immediately there fell on Elymas a mist and darkness; he started going around asking people to 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 UEB After the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astonished at the teaching about 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 UEB Now Paul and his friends set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left 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 UEB After the reading of the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people here, say it." 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 UEB The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people numerous when they stayed in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them out of it. 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 UEB For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. BSB BSB: He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.
19 UEB After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave our people their land for an inheritance. BSB BSB: And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
20 UEB All these events took place over four hundred and fifty years. After all these things, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. BSB BSB: All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21 UEB Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, to be king 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 UEB After God removed him from the kingship, he raised up David to be their king. It was about David that God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who does all I want him to do.' 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 UEB From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, as he promised to do. BSB BSB: From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
24 UEB This began to happen when, before Jesus came, John first announced the 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 UEB As John was finishing his work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But listen, one is coming after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' 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 UEB For they who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, did not recognize him, and they fulfilled sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning 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 UEB Even though they found no good cause for death in him, they asked Pilate to kill him. BSB BSB: And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
29 UEB When they had completed all the things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid 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 UEB But God raised him from the dead. BSB BSB: But God raised Him from the dead,
31 UEB He was seen for many days by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These people are now 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 UEB So we are telling you the good news that what God promised to our fathers BSB BSB: And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33 UEB 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.' 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 UEB The fact that he raised him up from the dead so that his body would never decay, God has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.' 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 UEB This is why he also says in another Psalm, 'You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.' BSB BSB: So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’
36 UEB For when David had served the desires of God in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was laid with his fathers and his body experienced decay. 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 UEB But he whom God raised up experienced no decay. BSB BSB: But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 UEB So let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you forgiveness of sins. BSB BSB: Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39 UEB By him every one who believes is justified from all the things which the law of Moses could not justify you. BSB BSB: Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 UEB So then be careful that the thing the prophets spoke about does not happen to you: BSB BSB: Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:
41 UEB 'Look, you despisers, and be astonished and then perish; For I am doing a work in your days, A work that you shall never believe, even if someone announces 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 UEB As Paul and Barnabas left, the people begged them that they might speak these same words again the next Sabbath. BSB BSB: As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
43 UEB When the synagogue meeting ended, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged 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 UEB On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of the Lord. BSB BSB: On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 UEB When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and spoke against the things that were said by Paul and insulted him. BSB BSB: But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
46 UEB But Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing you push it away from yourselves and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, see, we will 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 UEB For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts 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 UEB As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 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 UEB The word of the Lord was spread out through the whole region. BSB BSB: And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.
50 UEB But the Jews urged on the devout and important women, as well as the leading men of the city. These stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out beyond the border of their city. 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 UEB But Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet against them. Then they went to the city of Iconium. BSB BSB: So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 UEB And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.