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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Acts 13 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/acts/13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/acts/13-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Acts 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/12.htm" title="Acts 12">◄</a> Acts 13 <a href="../acts/14.htm" title="Acts 14">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Barnabas and Saul Are Chosen and Sent</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_1"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.1" class="v44_13_1">1</span>The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod's<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> close friend, and Saul. </span><span class="v44_13_2"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.2" class="v44_13_2">2</span>While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating,<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.2!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.” </span><span class="v44_13_3"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.3" class="v44_13_3">3</span>Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_4"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.4" class="v44_13_4">4</span>After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. </span><span class="v44_13_5"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.5" class="v44_13_5">5</span>They arrived at Salamis and began to preach God's message in the synagogues. They also had John<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.5!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> as a helper.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_6"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.6" class="v44_13_6">6</span>Barnabas and Saul went all the way to the city of Paphos on the other end of the island, where they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He practiced witchcraft and was a false prophet. </span><span class="v44_13_7"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.7" class="v44_13_7">7</span>He also worked for Sergius Paulus, who was very smart and was the governor of the island. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear God's message, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul. </span><span class="v44_13_8"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.8" class="v44_13_8">8</span>But Bar-Jesus, whose other name was Elymas, was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_9"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.9" class="v44_13_9">9</span>Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas </span><span class="v44_13_10"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.10" class="v44_13_10">10</span>and said, “You son of the devil! You are a liar, a crook, and an enemy of everything that is right. When will you stop speaking against the true ways of the Lord? </span><span class="v44_13_11"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.11" class="v44_13_11">11</span>The Lord is going to punish you by making you completely blind for a while.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_11">Suddenly the man's eyes were covered by a dark mist, and he went around trying to get someone to lead him by the hand. </span><span class="v44_13_12"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.12" class="v44_13_12">12</span>When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_13"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.13" class="v44_13_13">13</span>Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. But John<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.13!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> left them and went back to Jerusalem. </span><span class="v44_13_14"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.14" class="v44_13_14">14</span>The rest of them went on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Then on the Sabbath they went to the synagogue and sat down.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_15"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.15" class="v44_13_15">15</span>After the reading of the Law and the Prophets,<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.15!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the leaders sent someone over to tell Paul and Barnabas, “Friends, if you have anything to say that will help the people, please say it.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_16"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.16" class="v44_13_16">16</span>Paul got up. He motioned with his hand and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_16">People of Israel, and everyone else who worships God, listen! </span><span class="v44_13_17"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.17" class="v44_13_17">17</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.17!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The God of Israel chose our ancestors, and he let our people prosper while they were living in Egypt. Then with his mighty power he led them out, </span><span class="v44_13_18"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.18" class="v44_13_18">18</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.18!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and for about 40 years he took care of<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.18!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> them in the desert. </span><span class="v44_13_19"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.19" class="v44_13_19">19</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.19!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave their land to our people. </span><span class="v44_13_20"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.20" class="v44_13_20">20</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.20!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> All this happened in about 450 years.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_20">Then God gave our people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel, </span><span class="v44_13_21"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.21" class="v44_13_21">21</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.21!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> but the people demanded a king. So for 40 years God gave them King Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. </span><span class="v44_13_22"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.22" class="v44_13_22">22</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.22!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_23"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.23" class="v44_13_23">23</span>God promised that someone from David's family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus. </span><span class="v44_13_24"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.24" class="v44_13_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But before Jesus came, John was telling everyone in Israel to turn back to God and be baptized. </span><span class="v44_13_25"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.25" class="v44_13_25">25</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.25!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, “Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_26"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.26" class="v44_13_26">26</span>Now listen, you descendants of Abraham! Pay attention, all of you Gentiles who are here to worship God! Listen to this message about how to be saved, because it is for everyone. </span><span class="v44_13_27"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.27" class="v44_13_27">27</span>The people of Jerusalem and their leaders didn't realize who Jesus was. And they didn't understand the words of the prophets they read each Sabbath. So they condemned Jesus just as the prophets had said.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_28"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.28-Acts.13.29" class="v44_13_28">28-29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.28-Acts.13.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_28">After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the cross<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.28-Acts.13.29!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and placed in a tomb. </span><span class="v44_13_30"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.30" class="v44_13_30">30</span>But God raised him from death! </span><span class="v44_13_31"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.31" class="v44_13_31">31</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.31!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_32"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.32" class="v44_13_32">32</span>God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news </span><span class="v44_13_33"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.33" class="v44_13_33">33</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.33!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_33">“You are my son because today</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_33">I have become your Father.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_34"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.34" class="v44_13_34">34</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.34!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_34">“I will make to you</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_34">the same holy promises</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_34">that I made to David.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="mi"><span class="v44_13_35"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.35" class="v44_13_35">35</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.35!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> And in another psalm it says, “God will never let the body of his Holy One decay.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_36"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.36" class="v44_13_36">36</span>When David was alive, he obeyed God. Then after he died, he was buried in the family grave, and his body decayed. </span><span class="v44_13_37"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.37" class="v44_13_37">37</span>But God raised Jesus from death, and his body did not decay.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_38"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.38" class="v44_13_38">38</span>My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins. </span><span class="v44_13_39"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.39" class="v44_13_39">39</span>But everyone who has faith in Jesus is set free. </span><span class="v44_13_40"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.40" class="v44_13_40">40</span>Make sure what the prophets have said doesn't happen to you. They said,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_41"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.41" class="v44_13_41">41</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.41!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> “Look, you people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_41">who make fun of God!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_41">Be amazed</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_41">and disappear.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_41">I will do something today</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_41">that you won't believe,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_41">even if someone</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_41">tells you about it!”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_42"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.42" class="v44_13_42">42</span>As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people begged them to say more about these same things on the next Sabbath. </span><span class="v44_13_43"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.43" class="v44_13_43">43</span>After the service, many Jews and a lot of Gentiles who worshiped God went with them. Paul and Barnabas begged them all to remain faithful to God, who had treated them with undeserved grace.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_44"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.44" class="v44_13_44">44</span>The next Sabbath almost everyone in town came to hear the message about the Lord.<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.44!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v44_13_45"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.45" class="v44_13_45">45</span>When the Jewish people saw the crowds, they were very jealous. They insulted Paul and spoke against everything he said.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_46"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.46" class="v44_13_46">46</span>But Paul and Barnabas bravely said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_13_46">We had to tell God's message to you before we told it to anyone else. But you rejected the message! This proves that you don't deserve eternal life. Now we are going to the Gentiles. </span><span class="v44_13_47"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.47" class="v44_13_47">47</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.47!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The Lord has given us this command,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_47">“I have placed you here</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_47">as a light</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_47">for the Gentiles.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_47">You are to take</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_13_47">the saving power of God</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_13_47">to people everywhere on earth.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_48"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.48" class="v44_13_48">48</span>This message made the Gentiles glad, and they praised what they had heard about the Lord.<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.48!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Everyone who had been chosen for eternal life then put their faith in the Lord.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_49"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.49" class="v44_13_49">49</span>The message about the Lord spread all over this region. </span><span class="v44_13_50"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.50" class="v44_13_50">50</span>But the Jewish leaders went to some of the important men in the town and to some respected women who were religious. They turned them against Paul and Barnabas and started making trouble for them. They even chased them out of this part of the country.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_51"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.51" class="v44_13_51">51</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.51!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from that place off their feet<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.13.51!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and went on to the city of Iconium.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_13_52"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.13.52" class="v44_13_52">52</span>But the Lord's followers in Antioch were very happy and were filled with the Holy Spirit.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Herod's: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.2 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">going without eating: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jews often went without eating as a way of showing how much they loved God. This is also called “fasting.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.5 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">John: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Whose other name was Mark (see 12.12,25).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">John: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 13.5.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.15 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Law and the Prophets: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.18 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">took care of: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts have “put up with.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.28-29 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">cross: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This translates a Greek word that means “wood,” “pole,” or “tree.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.44 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Lord: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts have “God.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.48 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Lord: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts have “God.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">13.51 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">shook the dust from that place off their feet: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This was a way of showing rejection.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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