The Scriptures (ISR 1998) 1And in the assembly that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: both Barnaḇah and Shim‛on who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaḥĕm who had been brought up with Herodes the district ruler, and Sha’ul. 2And as they were doing service to the Master and fasted, the Set-apart Spirit said, “Separate unto Me Barnaḇah and Sha’ul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then having fasted and prayed, and having laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4So they, having been sent out by the Set-apart Spirit, went down to Seleukeia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5And having come into Salamis, they proclaimed the word of Elohim in the congregations of the Yehuḏim. And they also had Yoḥanan as an attendant. 6And having passed through all the island to Paphos, they found a certain magician, a false prophet, a Yehuḏite whose name was Bar-Yehoshua, 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man, having called for Barnaḇah and Sha’ul, earnestly sought to hear the word of Elohim. 8But Elumas the magician – for so his name is translated – withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the belief. 9Then Sha’ul, filled with the Set-apart Spirit, looked intently at him, 10and said, “O son of the devil, filled with all deceit and all recklessness, you enemy of all righteousness, shall you not cease perverting the straight ways of יהוה? 11“And now, see, the hand of יהוה is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And instantly a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12And having seen what took place, the proconsul believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Master. 13And having put out from Paphos, Sha’ul and those with him came to Perge in Pamphulia. And Yoḥanan, having left them, returned to Yerushalayim. 14But passing through from Perge, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the congregation on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15And after the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, the rulers of the congregation sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, speak.” 16And Sha’ul, standing up and motioning with his hand said, “Men, Yisra’ĕlites, and those fearing Elohim, listen: 17“The Elohim of this people Yisra’ĕl did choose our fathers, and exalted the people in their sojourning in the land of Mitsrayim, and with a high arm He brought them out of it. 18“Now for a time of about forty years He sustained them in the wilderness. 19“And having destroyed seven nations in the land of Kena‘an, He gave their land to them as an inheritance. 20“And after that He gave judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Shemu’ĕl the prophet. 21“But then they asked for a sovereign, and Elohim gave them Sha’ul the son of Qish, a man of the tribe of Binyamin, for forty years. 22“And having removed him, He raised up for them Dawiḏ as sovereign, to whom also He gave witness and said, ‘I have found Dawiḏ the son of Yishai, a man after My own heart, who shall do all My desires.’ 23“From this one’s seed, according to the promise, Elohim raised up for Yisra’ĕl a Saviour, יהושע, 24after Yoḥanan had first proclaimed the immersion of repentance to all the people of Yisra’ĕl, before His coming. 25“And as Yoḥanan was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not He. But see, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ 26“Men, brothers, sons of the race of Aḇraham, and those among you fearing Elohim, to you the word of this deliverance has been sent, 27for those dwelling in Yerushalayim, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have filled them in having judged Him. 28“And having found not one cause for death, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29“And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning Him, taking Him down from the timber, they laid Him in a tomb. 30“But Elohim raised Him from the dead, 31and He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galil to Yerushalayim, who are His witnesses to the people. 32“And we bring you the Good News, the promise made to the fathers, 33that Elohim has filled this for us, their children, having raised up יהושע, as it has also been written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son, today I have brought You forth.’ 34“And that He raised Him out of the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has said thus, ‘I shall give you the trustworthy kindnesses of Dawiḏ.’ 35“For this reason He also says in another Psalm, ‘You shall not give Your Kind One to see corruption.’ 36“For Dawiḏ, indeed, having served his own generation by the counsel of Elohim, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption, 37but He whom Elohim raised up saw no corruption. 38“Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this One forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and by Him everyone who believes is declared right from all sins from which you were not able to be declared right by the Torah of Mosheh. 40“Watch then that what was said in the prophets does not come upon you: 41“See, you despisers, marvel and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you would in no way believe if someone were to declare it to you.’ ” 42And when the Yehuḏim went out of the congregation, the gentiles begged to have these words spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43And when the meeting of the congregation had broken up, many of the Yehuḏim and of the worshipping converts followed Sha’ul and Barnaḇah, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the favour of Elohim. 44And on the next Sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the Word of Elohim. 45But when the Yehuḏim saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. And contradicting and speaking evil, they opposed what Sha’ul was saying. 46But speaking boldly, Sha’ul and Barnaḇah said, “It was necessary that the word of Elohim should be spoken to you first, but since you thrust it away, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the gentiles. 47“For so the Master has commanded us, ‘I have set you to be a light to the gentiles, that you should be for deliverance to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48And when the gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Word of יהוה. And as many as had been appointed to everlasting life believed. 49And the Word of יהוה was being spread throughout the entire country. 50But the Yehuḏim stirred up the worshipping and noble women and the chief men of the city, and raised up persecution against Sha’ul and Barnaḇah, and threw them out of their borders. 51And shaking off the dust from their feet against them, they came to Ikonion. 52And the taught ones were filled with joy and the Set-apart Spirit. |