Barnabas and Saul Are Chosen and Sent
1 In the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (who had been brought up with Governor Herod ), and Saul. 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them.”
3 They fasted and prayed, placed their hands on them, and sent them off.
In Cyprus
4 Having been sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia and sailed from there to the island of Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues. They had John Mark with them to help in the work.
6 They went all the way across the island to Paphos, where they met a certain magician named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who claimed to be a prophet. 7 He was a friend of the governor of the island, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor called Barnabas and Saul before him because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But they were opposed by the magician Elymas (that is his name in Greek), who tried to turn the governor away from the faith. 9 Then Saul—also known as Paul—was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician 10 and said, “You son of the Devil! You are the enemy of everything that is good. You are full of all kinds of evil tricks, and you always keep trying to turn the Lord's truths into lies! 11 The Lord's hand will come down on you now; you will be blind and will not see the light of day for a time.”
At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes, and he walked around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he believed; for he was greatly amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
In Antioch in Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga, a city in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem. 14 They went on from Perga and arrived in Antioch in Pisidia, and on the Sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law of Moses and from the writings of the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message: “Friends, we want you to speak to the people if you have a message of encouragement for them.” 16 Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak:
“Fellow Israelites and all Gentiles here who worship God: hear me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors and made the people a great nation during the time they lived as foreigners in Egypt. God brought them out of Egypt by his great power, 18 and for forty years he endured them in the desert. 19 He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and made his people the owners of the land. 20 All of this took about 450 years.
“After this he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 And when they asked for a king, God gave them Saul son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, to be their king for forty years. 22 After removing him, God made David their king. This is what God said about him: ‘I have found that David son of Jesse is the kind of man I like, a man who will do all I want him to do.’ 23 It was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the Savior of the people of Israel, as he had promised. 24 Before Jesus began his work, John preached to all the people of Israel that they should turn from their sins and be baptized. 25 And as John was about to finish his mission, he said to the people, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one you are waiting for. But listen! He is coming after me, and I am not good enough to take his sandals off his feet.’
26 “My fellow Israelites, descendants of Abraham, and all Gentiles here who worship God: it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent! 27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their leaders did not know that he is the Savior, nor did they understand the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Yet they made the prophets' words come true by condemning Jesus. 28 And even though they could find no reason to pass the death sentence on him, they asked Pilate to have him put to death. 29 And after they had done everything that the Scriptures say about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from death, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now witnesses for him to the people of Israel. 32-33 And we are here to bring the Good News to you: what God promised our ancestors he would do, he has now done for us, who are their descendants, by raising Jesus to life. As it is written in the second Psalm,
‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.’
34 And this is what God said about raising him from death, never to rot away in the grave:
‘I will give you the sacred and sure blessings
that I promised to David.’
35 As indeed he says in another passage,
‘You will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.’
36 For David served God's purposes in his own time, and then he died, was buried with his ancestors, and his body rotted in the grave. 37 But this did not happen to the one whom God raised from death. 38-39 All of you, my fellow Israelites, are to know for sure that it is through Jesus that the message about forgiveness of sins is preached to you; you are to know that everyone who believes in him is set free from all the sins from which the Law of Moses could not set you free. 40 Take care, then, so that what the prophets said may not happen to you:
41 ‘Look, you scoffers! Be astonished and die!
For what I am doing today
is something that you will not believe,
even when someone explains it to you!’”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to come back the next Sabbath and tell them more about these things. 43 After the people had left the meeting, Paul and Barnabas were followed by many Jews and by many Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism. The apostles spoke to them and encouraged them to keep on living in the grace of God.
44 The next Sabbath nearly everyone in the town came to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; they disputed what Paul was saying and insulted him. 46 But Paul and Barnabas spoke out even more boldly: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we will leave you and go to the Gentiles. 47 For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us:
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
so that all the world may be saved.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Lord's message; and those who had been chosen for eternal life became believers.
49 The word of the Lord spread everywhere in that region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the leading men of the city and the Gentile women of high social standing who worshiped God. They started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their region. 51 The apostles shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went on to Iconium. 52 The believers in Antioch were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
Barnabas un Saula īpašais uzdevums
1 Antiohijas draudzē bija pravieši un skolotāji: Barnaba, Sīmanis, saukts Nigers, kirēnietis Lūkijs un Manaēns, kas bija uzaudzināts kopā ar tetrarhu Hērodu, un Sauls. 2 Kad viņi kalpoja Kungam un gavēja, Svētais Gars sacīja: “Nošķiriet man Barnabu un Saulu tam darbam, uz kuru es tos esmu aicinājis.” 3 Tad, gavējuši un Dievu pielūguši, viņi uzlika tiem rokas un tos atlaida.
Apustuļi sludina Kiprā
4 Bet viņi, Svētā Gara sūtīti, nonāca Seleukijā un no turienes kuģoja uz Kipru. 5 Nokļuvuši Salamīnā, viņi sludināja Dieva vārdu jūdu sinagogās. Arī Jānis bija viņiem par palīgu. 6 Izgājuši cauri visai salai līdz pat Pafai, viņi tur sastapa kādu magu, viltus pravieti, jūdu vīru, vārdā Barjēzus, 7 viņš bija tuvs prokonsulam Sergijam Paulam, saprātīgam vīram. Tas uzaicināja pie sevis Barnabu un Saulu, jo gribēja dzirdēt Dieva vārdu. 8 Bet mags Elima – tā viņu sauc grieķiski – stājās viņiem pretim, cenzdamies prokonsulu novērst no ticības. 9 Sauls, saukts arī Pāvils, Svētā Gara pilns, to cieši uzlūkojis, 10 sacīja: “Tu, velna bērns, pilns visādu viltību un blēdību, jebkādas taisnības ienaidnieks, vai tu nerimsies sagrozīt Kunga taisnos ceļus? 11 Un, redzi, tagad Kunga roka ir pret tevi, un tu būsi akls un neredzēsi saules gaismu līdz savam laikam.” Un tūdaļ pār viņu nāca akla tumsa, un viņš taustīdamies meklēja pēc kāda, kas viņu vestu aiz rokas. 12 Tad prokonsuls, redzēdams, kas notiek, kļuva ticīgs un bija pārsteigts par Kunga mācību.
Pāvils un Barnaba Pisidijas Antiohijā
13 No Pafas Pāvils ar pavadoņiem aizkuģoja uz Pergi Pamfīlijā, bet Jānis, no viņiem nošķīries, atgriezās Jeruzālemē. 14 Turpinot ceļu no Perges, viņi nonāca Pisidijas Antiohijā un sabata dienā iegāja sinagogā un apsēdās. 15 Pēc lasījuma no bauslības un praviešu grāmatām sinagogas vadītāji sūtīja pēc viņiem, sacīdami: “Brāļi, ja jums ir kāds stiprinājuma vārds tautai, tad sakiet to.” 16 Pāvils piecēlās, ar roku deva zīmi un sacīja: “Israēlieši un jūs pārējie, kas bīstaties Dieva, klausieties! 17 Israēla tautas Dievs izredzēja mūsu tēvus un paaugstināja savu tautu, kad tā dzīvoja svešatnē Ēģiptes zemē, un ar varenu roku viņus no tās izveda, un 18 četrdesmit gadus tuksnesī viņš tos pacieta. 19 Viņš izdeldēja septiņas tautas Kanaānas zemē un deva viņu zemi mantojumā savai tautai. 20 Tā pagāja kādi četrsimt piecdesmit gadi. Pēc tam viņš tiem deva soģus līdz pat pravietim Samuēlam. 21 Kad tauta prasīja, lai tai būtu ķēniņš, Dievs viņiem deva Saulu, Kīša dēlu, vīru no Benjāmina cilts, kurš valdīja četrdesmit gadus. 22 Tad Dievs, atmetis Saulu, iecēla pār tiem ķēniņu Dāvidu, par viņu liecinādams: es esmu atradis Jišaja dēlu Dāvidu, vīru pēc mana prāta , kas darīs visu manu gribu. 23 Kā Dievs bija solījis, no šī dzimuma viņš cēla Israēlam Pestītāju Jēzu; 24 pirms viņa nākšanas Jānis sludināja visam Israēlam grēku nožēlas un atgriešanās kristību. 25 Pabeidzis savas gaitas, Jānis sacīja: es neesmu tas, par ko jūs mani turat. Bet, redzi, pēc manis nāk tas, kuram es neesmu cienīgs sandales atraisīt. – 26 Brāļi, Ābrahāma cilts dēli, un jūs, kas bīstaties Dieva, – šis pestīšanas vārds ir mums sūtīts. 27 Jeruzālemes iedzīvotāji un to vadoņi viņu neatzina un notiesāja, liekot piepildīties praviešu vārdiem, ko lasa ik sabatā. 28 Un, lai gan nekādu nāves vainu pie viņa neatrada, tie lūdza Pilātu viņu nogalināt. 29 Kad viss bija piepildīts, kas par viņu rakstīts, viņš tika noņemts no krusta un guldīts kapā. 30 Bet Dievs viņu uzmodināja no miroņiem, 31 un daudzas dienas viņš bija redzams tiem, kas līdz ar viņu bija atnākuši no Galilejas uz Jeruzālemi, un tagad tie ir viņa liecinieki tautā. 32 Mēs jums pasludinām prieka vēsti, ko Dievs apsolīja tēviem 33 un ko piepildījis mums, viņu bērniem, augšāmceldams Jēzu, kā rakstīts otrajā psalmā: tu esi mans Dēls, es tevi šodien dzemdināju. 34 To, ka Dievs viņu ir augšāmcēlis no mirušajiem un viņš vairs neatgriezīsies iznīcībā, Dievs ir izteicis tā: es jums došu svētumu, kā reiz bija solīts Dāvidam. 35 Tādēļ citviet rakstīts: tu neļausi savam Svētajam pieredzēt iznīcību. 36 Dāvids pēc Dieva gribas savu laiku kalpoja, nomira un tika guldīts blakus tēviem un pieredzēja iznīcību. 37 Bet tas, kuru Dievs augšāmcēla, iznīcību nepiedzīvoja. 38 Tad nu, mīļie brāļi, lai jums top zināms, ka caur viņu jums pasludināta grēku piedošana, un no visa, no kā pēc Mozus bauslības jūs nevarējāt tikt attaisnoti, 39 ikviens, kas tic, esat viņā attaisnoti. 40 Tad nu pielūkojiet, lai pār jums nenāk tas, ko jau pravieši teikuši: 41 raugiet, jūs nicinātāji, brīnieties un izzūdiet, jo jūsu dienās es darīšu darbu, tādu darbu, ka jūs neticēsit, ja jums kāds to stāstītu. 42 Pāvilam un Barnabam ejot ārā, ļaudis aicināja viņus arī nākamajā sabatā runāt šos vārdus. 43 Draudze izklīda, un daudzi jūdi un dievbijīgie prosēlīti sekoja Pāvilam un Barnabam, kuri viņus uzrunāja un mudināja turēties pie Dieva žēlastības. 44 Nākamajā sabatā gandrīz visa pilsēta sapulcējās klausīties Kunga vārdu. 45 Ļaužu pūli ieraugot, jūdus pārņēma skaudība, un viņi zaimoja, runādami pretī Pāvila sacītajam. 46 Pāvils un Barnaba viņiem drosmīgi atbildēja: “Dieva vārdam vispirms vajadzēja tikt sludinātam jums, bet, kad jūs to atgrūžat un neturat sevi par mūžīgās dzīvības cienīgiem, redzi, tad mēs vēršamies pie pagāniem. 47 Jo tā mums ir pavēlējis Kungs: es tevi esmu licis par gaismu pagāniem, lai tu būtu par pestīšanu līdz zemes galam. 48 Pagāni, to dzirdot, priecājās un slavēja Kunga vārdu, un tie, kas bija izraudzīti mūžīgai dzīvībai, ticēja. 49 Un Kunga vārds izplatījās pa visu zemi. 50 Tad jūdi sakūdīja cienījamas un dievbijīgas sievietes un pilsētas ievērojamākos vīrus, un tie sāka vajāt Pāvilu un Barnabu un izdzina viņus no sava apgabala. 51 Bet viņi, nokratījuši pret tiem putekļus no savām kājām, aizgāja uz Ikoniju. 52 Un mācekļi kļuva prieka un Svētā Gara pilni.