Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)

1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen who had been educated with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul; 2and as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them. 3Then having fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away.

On Cyprus

4These therefore being sent forth by the holy Spirit came down to Seleucia, and from thence they sailed away to Cyprus. 5And when they arrived at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John for their assistant. 6And going quite through the island even to Paphos, they found there a certain magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus. 7Who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an understanding man: who calling for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the magician (for so his name signifies) withstood them endeavouring to turn away the proconsul from the faith. 9Then Saul, who also is called Paul, being filled with the holy Spirit, and looking earnestly at him, 10said, O thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, who art full of all deceit and craft, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing even the sun for a time. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness; and groping about he sought for somebody to lead him by the hand. 12Then the proconsul, seeing what was done, believed, being struck with admiration at the doctrine of the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

13Now Paul and those that were with him loosing from Paphos, came to Perga in Pamphylia: but John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14And they passing on from Perga came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and sat down. 15And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation to the people, deliver it. 16Then Paul stood up, and made a sign with his hand, and said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17#NAME? 18And about forty years He bare with their behaviour in the wilderness. 19And destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their country for an inheritance. 20And after these things, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, He gave them judges till Samuel the prophet. 21And then they desired a king: and God gave them Saul the Son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years. 22And having removed him, He raised up David for their king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will perform all my will. 23Of this man's seed, according to the promise, hath God raised up to Israel Jesus the Saviour: 24John having preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, Whom do ye take me to be? I am not He: but behold there cometh one after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.

26---Men and brethren, children of the race of Abraham, and all those among you that fear God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their rulers, not knowing Him, have indeed fulfilled the words of the prophets, which are read every sabbath-day, in condemning Him. 28And though they found in Him no capital offence, yet they desired of Pilate that He might be put to death. 29And when they had finished all things that were written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30But God raised Him from the dead: 31and He was seen for many days by those that came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32And we bring you good tidings, 33that the promise made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled unto us their children, having raised up Jesus again: as it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee." 34And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to the place of corruption, He hath said thus, "I will give you the sure mercies of David." 35Wherefore he saith also in another place, Thou wilt not suffer thine holy One to see corruption. 36Now David having served his own generation according to the will of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption: but He whom God raised, 37did not see corruption. 38Be it known therefore unto you, brethren, that through Him is preached unto you the remission of sins: 39and by Him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, least what is spoken in the prophets come upon you,

41"Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish; for I do a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though any one should declare it unto you."

A Light for the Gentiles

42As they went out of the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles desired that these words might be spoken to them on the following sabbath. 43And when the synagogue was broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who addressing themselves to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44And on the next sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the word of God. 45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, opposing and reviling him. 46Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said, It was necessary that the word of God should be first spoken to you; but since ye reject it, and judge not yourselves worthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles:

47for so the Lord hath commanded us, saying, "I have appointed thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the utmost part of the earth."

48And when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were determined for eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord was spread through the whole country: 50but the Jews stirred up devout and honorable women, and the heads of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territories. 51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the holy Spirit.