Study Desk

"The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

and they sent this letter with them: "The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: Greetings.

it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message.

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Paul wanted this man to leave with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.

When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;

But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"

And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas;

And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house.

And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and was overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with his whole household.

and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them to leave the city.

And according to Paul's custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women.