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Common English Bible CEB
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
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The church at Antioch included prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (nicknamed Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood friend of Herod the ruler), 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.”
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As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake."
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
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After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on these two and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
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After the Holy Spirit sent them on their way, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
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In Salamis they proclaimed God's word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant.
6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
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They traveled throughout the island until they arrived at Paphos. There they found a certain man named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who was a false prophet and practiced sorcery.
7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
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He kept company with the governor of that province, an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul since he wanted to hear God's word.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
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But Elymas the sorcerer (for that's what people understood his name meant) opposed them, trying to steer the governor away from the faith.
9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,
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Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Saul, also known as Paul, glared at Bar-Jesus and
10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
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said, "You are a deceiver and trickster! You devil! You attack anything that is right! Will you never stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord into crooked paths?
11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
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Listen! The Lord's power is set against you. You will be blind for a while, unable even to see the daylight." At once, Bar-Jesus' eyes were darkened, and he began to grope about for someone to lead him around by the hand.
12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
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When the governor saw what had taken place, he came to believe, for he was astonished by the teaching about the Lord.
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
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Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia. John deserted them there and returned to Jerusalem.
14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
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They went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath, they entered and found seats in the synagogue there.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
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After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders invited them, "Brothers, if one of you has a sermon for the people, please speak."
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
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Standing up, Paul gestured with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites and Gentile God-worshippers, please listen to me.
17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;
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The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors. God made them a great people while they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. With his great power, he led them out of that country.
18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness;
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For about forty years, God put up with them in the wilderness.
19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance.
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God conquered seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the Israelites their land as an inheritance.
20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
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This happened over a period of about four hundred fifty years. “After this, he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.
21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
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The Israelites requested a king, so God gave them Saul, Kish's son, from the tribe of Benjamin, and he served as their king for forty years.
22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
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After God removed him, he raised up David to be their king. God testified concerning him, ‘I have found David, Jesse's son, a man who shares my desires. Whatever my will is, he will do.'
23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
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From this man's descendants, God brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, just as he promised.
24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
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Before Jesus' appearance, John proclaimed to all the Israelites a baptism to show they were changing their hearts and lives.
25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
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As John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I'm not the one you think I am, but he is coming after me. I'm not worthy to loosen his sandals.'
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
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“Brothers, children of Abraham's family, and you Gentile God-worshippers, the message about this salvation has been sent to us.
27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
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The people in Jerusalem and their leaders didn't recognize Jesus. By condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
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Even though they didn't find a single legal basis for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.
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When they finished doing everything that had been written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.
30 But God raised him from the dead,
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But God raised him from the dead!
31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
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He appeared over many days to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors
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“We proclaim to you the good news. What God promised to our ancestors,
33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’
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he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it was written in the second psalm, You are my son; today I have become your father.
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
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“God raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be subjected to death's decay. Therefore, God said, I will give to you the holy and firm promises I made to David.
35 So it is also stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
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In another place it is said, You will not let your holy one experience death's decay.
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.
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David served God's purpose in his own generation, then he died and was buried with his ancestors. He experienced death's decay,
37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
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but the one whom God has raised up didn't experience death's decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
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"Therefore, brothers and sisters, know this: Through Jesus we proclaim forgiveness of sins to you. From all those sins from which you couldn't be put in right relationship with God through Moses' Law,
39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
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through Jesus everyone who believes is put in right relationship with God.
40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
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Take care that the prophets' words don't apply to you:
41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ”
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Look, you scoffers, marvel and die. I'm going to do work in your day — a work you won't believe even if someone told you."
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
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As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to speak about these things again on the next Sabbath.
43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
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When the people in the synagogue were dismissed, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism accompanied Paul and Barnabas, who urged them to remain faithful to the message of God's grace.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
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On the next Sabbath, almost everyone in the city gathered to hear the Lord's word.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
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When the Jews saw the crowds, they were overcome with jealousy. They argued against what Paul was saying by slandering him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
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Speaking courageously, Paul and Barnabas said, "We had to speak God's word to you first. Since you reject it and show that you are unworthy to receive eternal life, we will turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
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This is what the Lord commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that you could bring salvation to the end of the earth."
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
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When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the Lord's word. Everyone who was appointed for eternal life believed,
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
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and the Lord's word was broadcast throughout the entire region.
50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
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However, the Jews provoked the prominent women among the Gentile God-worshippers, as well as the city's leaders. They instigated others to harass Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their district.
51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.
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Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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Because of the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the disciples were overflowing with happiness.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible