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Acts

Describes the early Christian church's formation and spread, from Jerusalem to Rome, focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 13

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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.

*In the church in Antioch, there were prophets and teachers like Barnabas, Simeon (called Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen who grew 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.

*While they served God and didn't eat, the Holy Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the task He had chosen them for.

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

*After they didn't eat and talked to God, they touched them and let them go.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

*So they, guided by the Holy Spirit, left for Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus from there.

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.

*At Salamis, they shared God's message in the Jewish synagogues and had John to help them.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

*After they traveled to Paphos across the island, they met a fake prophet and sorcerer who was a Jewish man named Barjesus.

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.

*Sergius Paulus, a smart leader, asked to meet Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to listen to what God had to say.

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

*But Elymas, a magician, opposed them, trying to make the official change his beliefs.

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

*Then Saul, who is also called Paul, full of holy power, looked at 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?

*He said, "You're very cunning and full of trouble, you child of the devil, you enemy of goodness. Why won't you stop twisting the right paths that the Lord wants?"

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.

*Now, see, God's hand is on you, and you will be blind. You won't see the sun for a while. Right away, a fog and darkness covered him, and he searched for someone to guide him.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

*Then the officer, seeing what happened, believed, being surprised by the Lord's teaching.

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

*After Paul and his group left Paphos, they went to a place called Perga in Pamphylia. Meanwhile, John separated from them and went back 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.

*After leaving Perga, they arrived in Antioch in Pisidia and visited the synagogue on a rest day (Saturday). They sat down there.

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.

*After they read from the law and prophets, the synagogue leaders asked the disciples, "Men and fellow believers, if you have any encouraging message for the people, please share it now."

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

*Then Paul stood up, gesturing with his hand, said, "Israelites and those who respect God, please listen."

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.

*God picked the ancestors of the Israelites and made their people important while they were visitors in Egypt's land. He powerfully saved them from there.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

*For forty years, they lived in the wilderness and he let them develop their ways.

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

*Then after destroying seven countries in the land of Canaan, he gave their land to the people by drawing lots.

20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

*Then, for around 450 years, he provided them with judges until there was a prophet named Samuel.

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.

*Afterward, they wanted a king, so God chose Saul, from the Benjamin tribe, for 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.

*Then, after taking away the previous leader, God chose David to be their king. He promised David, "I have discovered that you, David, the son of Jesse, are a person who truly understands me and will do everything I want."

23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

*God, as promised, raised Jesus, a savior for Israel, from the descendants of this man.

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

*When John initially shared the message of repentance through baptism with all the Israeli people before Jesus arrived.

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.

*As John finished his journey, he asked, "Who do you think I am?" He replied, "I'm not the one you're looking for." Then he added, "Look, someone is coming after me, and I'm not even good enough to untie his shoelaces."

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.

*Dear people, descendants of Abraham, and anyone who respects God, this message of saving grace is for you.

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.

*Those living in Jerusalem and their leaders, since they didn't know him and hadn't heard the messages from the prophets that were read each Sabbath, they ended up condemning him.

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

*Even though they didn't find a reason to kill him, the people still wanted Pilate to execute him.

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.

*When they completed everything written about him, they removed him from the cross and placed him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

*But God brought him back to life.

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.

*He was seen for many days by those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are witnesses to the people.

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

*We announce good news to you: the promise given to the ancestors is now fulfilled.

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.

*God has kept his promise to us by bringing back Jesus from the dead, just like it says in the second Psalm: "You are my son, today I have given birth to you."

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.

*Regarding raising him from the dead and not going back to decay, he said, "I'll provide you with David's guaranteed kindness."

35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

*So, in another song, it says that you must not let your Holy One experience decay.

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:

*For David, who followed God's plan and helped his generation, later slept and joined his ancestors, becoming decayed.

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

*But the one God brought back to life didn't see any decay.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

*Know this, people: Through this person, the forgiveness of sins is being shared with you.

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

*By him, all believers are made right from everything, that you couldn't be made right by Moses' law.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

*So be careful not to experience what the prophets warned about.

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.

*Look, you who disregard others, be amazed and disappear! For I am doing something remarkable during your time, something you won't believe even if someone tells you about it.

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.

*After the Jews left the synagogue, the non-Jews asked to hear those teachings on the following rest day.

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.

*After the gathering ended, lots of Jews and religious followers of Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. They talked to them and convinced them to keep experiencing God's kindness.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

*On the following Saturday, nearly everyone in the city gathered to listen to teachings about 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.

*But when the Jews saw the large crowd, they became envious and spoke against what Paul said, arguing and insulting.

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.

*Then Paul and Barnabas became brave and said, "It was important for God's message to be shared with you first. But since you reject it and think you don't deserve eternal life, now we will share it with non-Jewish people."

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.

*The Lord has told us to make this message: He chose you to guide people who are not Jewish, so you can save them no matter where they are in the world.

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.

*When non-Jews heard about this, they were happy and praised God's message. Many who were meant to have everlasting life believed in it.

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

*The Lord's message spread everywhere in the whole area.

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.

*But the Jews made the religious and respected women, and the important city leaders, angry at Paul and Barnabas, causing them to be persecuted and forced to leave their area.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

*But they shook off the dust from their feet towards them and went to a place called Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

*The followers felt very happy, and they also had the Holy Spirit within them.

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