43
After the people had left the meeting, Paul and Barnabas were followed by many Jews and by many Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism. The apostles spoke to them and encouraged them to keep on living in the grace of God.
44
The next Sabbath nearly everyone in the town came to hear the word of the Lord.
45
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; they disputed what Paul was saying and insulted him.
46
But Paul and Barnabas spoke out even more boldly: "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we will leave you and go to the Gentiles.
47
For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us: 1 "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that all the world may be saved.' "
48
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Lord's message; and those who had been chosen for eternal life became believers.
49
The word of the Lord spread everywhere in that region.
50
But the Jews stirred up the leading men of the city and the Gentile women of high social standing who worshiped God. They started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their region.