18
This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life."
19
Those, however, who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, delivering the Message to none but Jews.
20
But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.
21
The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.
22
When tidings of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.
23
On getting there he was delighted to see the grace which God had bestowed; and he encouraged them all to remain, with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.
24
For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.
25
Then Barnabas paid a visit to Tarsus to try to find Saul.
26
He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of `Christians.'
27
At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,
28
one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)