1 NOW there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30 But God raised him from the dead:
31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

1Nowe there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certaine Prophets and teachers: as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had bene brought vp with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.

2As they ministred to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke whereunto I haue called them.

3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their handes on them, they sent them away.

4 So they being sent forth by the holy Ghost, departed vnto Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Iewes: and they had also Iohn to their Minister.

6And when they had gone thorow the Ile vnto Paphos, they found a certaine sorcerer, a false prophet, a Iewe, whose name was Bariesus:

7Which was with the deputie of the countrey Sergius Paulus, a prudent man: who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to heare the word of God.

8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turne away the deputy from the faith.

9Then Saul (who also is called Paul) filled with the holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischiefe, thou child of the deuil, thou enemie of all righteousnesse, wilt thou not cease to peruert the right wayes of the Lord?

11And now behold, the hand of the Lord is vpon thee, & thou shalt be blind, not seeing the Sunne for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkenes, and he went about, seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12Then the Deputie when he sawe what was done, beleeued, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and Iohn departing from them, returned to Hierusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sate downe.

15And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent vnto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye haue any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16Then Paul stood vp, and beckning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that feare God, giue audience.

17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arme brought he them out of it.

18And about the time of fourtie yeeres suffered he their maners in the wildernesse.

19And when he had destroyed seuen nations in the land of Chanaan, he diuided their land to them by lot:

20And after that he gaue vnto them iudges, about the space of foure hundred and fifty yeeres vntill Samuel the Prophet.

21And afterward they desired a King, and God gaue vnto them Saul the sonne of Cis, a man of the tribe of Beniamin, by the space of fourty yeres.

22And when he had remoued him, hee raised vp vnto them Dauid to be their king, to whom also he gaue testimonie, and said, I haue found Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man after mine own heart, which shal fulfill all my wil.

23Of this mans seed hath God, according to his promise, raised vnto Israel a Sauiour, Iesus:

24When Iohn had first preached before his coming, the baptisme of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25And as Iohn fulfilled his course, he said, Whom thinke ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there commeth one after me, whose shooes of his feete I am not worthy to loose.

26Men and brethren, children of the stocke of Abraham, and whosoeuer among you feareth God, to you is the word of this saluation sent.

27For they that dwell at Hierusalem, & their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read euery Sabbath day, they haue fulfilled them in condemning him.

28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slaine.

29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they tooke him downe from the tree, and layd him in a Sepulchre.

30But God raised him frō the dead:

31And he was seene many dayes of them which came vp with him from Galilee to Hierusalem, who are his witnesses vnto the people.

32And we declare vnto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made vnto the fathers,

33God hath fulfilled the same vnto vs their children, in that he hath raised vp Iesus againe, as it is also written in the second Psalme: Thou art my Sonne, this day haue I begotten thee.

34And as concerning that he raised him vp from the dead, now no more to returne to corruption, he said on this wise, I will giue you the sure mercies of Dauid.

35Wherfore he saith also in another Psalme, Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption.

36For Dauid after he had serued his owne generation by the will of God, fell on sleepe, and was laide vnto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37But hee whom God raised againe, saw no corruption.

38 Be it knowen vnto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes.

39And by him all þt beleeue, are iustified from all things, from which ye could not be iustified by the Law of Moses.

40Beware therefore, least that come vpon you which is spoken of in the Prophets,

41Behold, yee despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I worke a worke in your dayes, a worke which you shall in no wise beleeue, though a man declare it vnto you.

42And when the Iewes were gone out of the Synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43Now when the Congregation was broken vp, many of the Iewes, and religious Proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who speaking to them, perswaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole citie together to heare the word of God.

45But when the Iewes saw the multitudes, they were filled with enuie, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting, and blaspheming.

46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first haue bene spoken to you: but seeing yee put it from you, and iudge your selues vnworthy of euerlasting life, loe, we turne to the Gentiles.

47For so hath the Lord cōmanded vs, saying, I haue set thee to bee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for saluation vnto the ends of the earth.

48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordeined to eternall life, beleeued.

49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50But the Iewes stirred vp the deuout and honourable women, and the chiefe men of the citie, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51But they shooke off the dust of their feete against them, and came vnto Iconium.

52And the disciples were filled with ioy, and with the holy Ghost.

 

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. 4 So they, sent forth by the holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had John also as their assistant. 6 When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a magician named Bar-Jesus who was a Jewish false prophet. 7 He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right, full of every sort of deceit and fraud. Will you not stop twisting the straight paths of (the) Lord? 11 Even now the hand of the Lord is upon you. You will be blind, and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately a dark mist fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord. 13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered (into) the synagogue and took their seats. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, "My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak." 16 So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it 18 and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. 19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20 at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel (the) prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.' 23 From this man's descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.' 26 "My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent. 27 The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath. 28 For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death, 29 and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are (now) his witnesses before the people. 32 We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, 'You are my son; this day I have begotten you.' 34 And that he raised him from the dead never to return to corruption he declared in this way, 'I shall give you the benefits assured to David.' 35 That is why he also says in another psalm, 'You will not suffer your holy one to see corruption.' 36 Now David, after he had served the will of God in his lifetime, fell asleep, was gathered to his ancestors, and did see corruption. 37 But the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 You must know, my brothers, that through him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, (and) in regard to everything from which you could not be justified under the law of Moses, 39 in him every believer is justified. 40 Be careful, then, that what was said in the prophets not come about: 41 'Look on, you scoffers, be amazed and disappear. For I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if someone tells you.'" 42 As they were leaving, they invited them to speak on these subjects the following sabbath. 43 After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God. 44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.  

In 12:24,25 Barnabas takes Saul. Later Paul takes Barnabas who accepts second position. See 13:13.
v1.  Antioch, birth place of foreign missions and third largest city of the Roman empire of that day.  Teachers included Niger, who either had black hair or was one of the first black men of the early church. Lightfoot thinks Lucius may have been Luke, the writer of Acts. While Manaen was apparently educated with Herod, their lives took altogether different turns. Like Moses, Manaen preferred life with God’s people than the luxuries of court life with Herod. See 12:1 on Herods.
v2. The Holy Spirit acted in response to their dedication in fasting.
v3. Laying on of hands showed the blessing of both the Church and the Lord.
v4. The church should recognize it is actually the Holy Spirit calling and sending. Seleucia, 5 miles up river from the Mediterranean, was the seaport for Antioch, 16 miles inland. Cyprus is 148 by 15 or 20 miles, with Salamis on the east coast 130 miles southwest of Antioch.
v5. John Mark, cousin of Barnabas, Col. 4:10, was an assistant, maybe a “go fer”, maybe helped with new converts, baptism and follow up.
v6. Preached their way to Paphos on west end. A cult center for the polluted worship of Aphrodite. Sorcerer, Greek “magos” identical to word for honorable wise men of Mt. 2:1 with their astrology superstitions, or a fraudulent wizard as here. Bar-jesus (son of Jesus or Joshua, a common name) (Elymas, possibly Jewish name for sorcerer) was a Jewish demonized occultist.
v7. The deputy or proconsul, was a governor appointed by the Roman senate, whereas procurators were appointed by the emperor.
v8. Cults are still trying to persuade new converts from the faith.
v9. Transition of Saul to Paul, first in v 13.. It was common for a ruler to give his name to someone as an honor. Vespasian gave his name Flavius to Josephus. Possibly Sergius Paulus gave Saul his last name to honor the great victory wrought over Satan in that conversion. Some out of Israel gave a Greek name and a Jewish name to a boy. Paul may have already been Saul’s Greek name which means “little”. He may have been small of stature, but he considered himself little before God and chief of sinners. Most likely, Saul was called by his Roman name Paul after his conversion and he kept that as he began working considerably with Gentiles.
v10-12. After chiding Jewish Elymas for being a child of the devil instead of child of a savior, Paul blinds him by the power of the Lord, causing the Gentile deputy, Sergius Paulus, to believe. This pictures the comparison of Israel being blind and Gentiles seeing.
v13. 180 miles across the water to Perga, where Artemis, the nature goddess was worshiped. Did Mark resent being a “go fer”? And Paul taking leadership that had been his cousin’s? Or the obstacles too much, Perga being noted for malaria and having to pass 100 miles through robber infested land? or homesick for his mother’s large home? At any rate he is a quitter at this point.
v14. 100 miles inland from Perga to Antioch of Pisidia, which was actually across the border in Phrygia, the important center for east-west traffic.
v15. The Law was read publicly till it was burned and forbidden by Antiochus Epiphanies, then they started reading from the Prophets. The group called Psalms (See content of divisions, Luke 24:44 comments.) though a part of their Scriptures, was for some unknown reason not read in the synagogues. The local ruler-elder of the synagogue { plural in larger places] had full control. The Great Sanhedrin determined his eligibility, but he was elected by the people. Customary to give guests and notables an opportunity to speak in synagogues.
v16. Paul tactfully accepts the opportunity, addressing Jews and devout, but as yet unsaved, Gentiles, .
v17-22. He recounts familiar history of Israel and prophecy of Messiah. The 450 years could contrive to mean the period of the judges. Also correct in original Greek to include 400 in Egypt, 40 in the desert under Moses and Joshua’s first 10 of victories.  The seven nations overthrown are listed in Deut. 7:1. Saul was killed in battle, but v 22 points out, “the Lord removed him”. David sinned, but he repented. Some break Paul’s messages into 1. Preparation for Messiah, 16-25; 2. Rejection, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, 26-37; 3. Application and appeal, 38-41.
v23-29. He proceeds to proclaim Christ as the one who fulfills the prophecies, even to his unfair trial, death and burial. He cites John as the forerunner and the people and rulers at Jerusalem as being ignorant of Scripture in condemning Christ.
v30. Repeatedly Paul stresses the resurrection.
v31-37. He gives proof of resurrection and fulfillment of more prophecies. Paul quotes from Ps. 2:7 in v 33; Isa. 55:3 in v 34; and Ps. 16:10 in v35.
v38. Forgiveness of sins is through Christ.
v39. Justification is through Christ, which the law of Moses could not do.
v40,41. A warning plea for the people to believe.
v42. The Jews left, thinking it over, but the Gentiles wanted to hear more.
v43. After the service many Jews and Gentiles both were persuaded to believe.
v44,45. First only Gentiles who were proselyte Jews came, but now the whole city responded. This made hard core Jews jealous, so they contradicted and blasphemed (spoke abusively to) the things Paul said.
v46. This was the turning point in Paul’s ministry.  He and Barnabas had fulfilled their obligation of going to the Jew first, but as the Jews rejected, they frankly told them they were turning to the Gentiles. Jew first because: 1. The Old Testament  message and promises were Jewish. 2. Only after the Jews rejected could Paul devote himself to Gentiles. 3. The Jews must believe before the Kingdom can come.
v47-49. He cited prophecy of Isaiah 49:6 to back up his position. Being a light to the Gentiles referred to Israel, Isa. 49:3, to Jesus, Lk. 2:29-32, and to Paul. This brought rejoicing to the Gentiles and the Word spread all over the region. Ordained, v 48 properly implies, a present operation of Divine grace working faith in the hearers but does not deny that they were foreordained. The Jews rejected the grace that was offered.
v50. The Jews skillfully aroused the influential ones to condone persecution and expel Paul and Barnabas, not just from the city, but from their province.
v51. Shook dust off their feet as commanded Lk. 9:5; 10:11. When Jews left a Gentile country they shook off the dust of their feet to show their revulsion to them. This was a symbolic testimony against the city, and was done in the sight of city leaders at the gate.  Iconium was in province of Galatia.
v52. The disciples did not leave in defeat but in joy of what was accomplished through the Holy Spirit.
A thought on missions. 85% of church members and 95% of pastors and missionaries come through Sunday School.