Study Desk

For David, after he had served his own generation with the will of God, passed away; though he was a greater man than his fathers, yet he saw corruption.

But he whom God raised did not see corruption.

Now when the congregation was dismissed, a great many Jews, and also proselytes who feared God, followed Paul and Bar''na-bas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day the whole city gathered to hear the word of God.

Then Paul and Bar''na-bas said to them boldly, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: but because you reject it, you have decided against yourselves and you are unworthy of everlasting life, so behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

But the Jews stirred up the chief men of the city and the rich women who worshipped God with them, so that they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Bar''na-bas, and expelled them beyond their borders.

And saying, Men, what are you doing? We also are ordinary human beings like you, who preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein,

Strengthening the souls of the converts, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and telling them that only through much tribulation can we enter into the kingdom of God.

And as the whole congregation was gathered together, they related everything that God had done to them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders; and they reported everything that God had done with them.

And after much controversy, Simon Peter rose up and said to them, Men and brethren, you know that from the early days God chose that from my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe.

And God, who knows what is in the heart, has testified concerning them, and has given them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.

Now therefore why do you tempt God by putting a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Then the whole congregation was silent, and listened to Paul and Barnabas, who were declaring the miracles and signs among the Gentiles and everything which God had wrought by their hands.

Simon Peter has told you how God from the beginning chose a people from the Gentiles for his name.

The works of God are known from the very beginning.

Because of this I say, Do not trouble those who turn to God from among the Gentiles:

Paul also and Bar''na-bas remained in An''ti-och, teaching and preaching the word of God, with many others also.

And some days after, Paul said to Bar''na-bas, Let us return and visit the brethren in every city where we have preached the word of God and see how they do.